Thermodynamic Constraints on Photon Mass from the CMB Blackbody Spectrum
Abstract
This preprint investigates thermodynamic constraints on a finite photon mass using deviations from the cosmic microwave background (CMB) blackbody spectrum. By modifying the photon dispersion relation and comparing with COBE/FIRAS and Planck 2018 data, an upper bound on the photon mass is derived. The resulting spectral deformation is shown to admit an effective Generalized Inverse Gaussian (GIG) representation, highlighting the sensitivity of CMB thermodynamics to extremely small departures from exact gauge invariance.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 30 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint