What is it about?
After detecting gamma-ray emission from the Crab Pulsar up to energies of more than one TeV (https://magic.mpp.mpg.de/outsid…/results/magic-highlights-1/), the MAGIC collaboration has analyzed this high-quality data sample to find deviations from Einstein's theory of special relativity. Einstein claimed in 1905 that the velocity of massless particles (like the photons) in vacuum must be independent of their energy. However, many current theories try to reconcile quantum theory with Einstein's second great invention, his theory of general relativity from 1915, and require deviations from the principles of special relativity. We have now tested such deviations to high precision in a complicated analysis and shown that pulsars are very well suited to carry out such tests at almost the same precision as those made with Gamma-ray Bursts. The results have been published in the prestigeous journal Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series (ApJS 232 (2017) 9). Einstein could however not be refuted, this time.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
For the first time, a robust statistical treatment of the periodic light signals from pulsars is used to compute limits on Lorentz Invariance. The statistical discussion is to be considered a seminal work for future studies in the field
Perspectives
As soon as new data from MAGIC, or other IACTs, or with the future instruments such as CTA will arrive, deeper searches could be done using the pulsed light from pulsar neutron star to obtain limits on Lorentz Invariance.
Dr Michele Doro
University of Padova
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Teraelectronvolt pulsed emission from the Crab Pulsar detected by MAGIC, Astronomy and Astrophysics, January 2016, EDP Sciences,
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201526853.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
