Gravitational and quantum bounds on the photon mass

Abstract

Two upper bounds on the photon mass are estimated by means of new conceptual approaches. One of them is found by analyzing the deflection of a massive photon (described by Proca electrodynamics) by an external weak gravitational field. We take as inputs the most recent measurements of the gravitational bending of radio waves by the Sun obtained via the VLBI (very long baseline interferometry). The other one is based on the computation of the anomalous electron magnetic moment in the framework of Proca electrodynamics. The resulting bounds (m(grav) similar to 1.7 x 10(-11) MeV, m(quant) similar to 1.6 x 10(-10) MeV) are of the same order of magnitude as other existing upper limits, but higher than those recently found.