This work explores the possibility of resorting to neutrino phenomenology to detect evidence of new physics, caused by the residual signals of the supposed quantum structure of spacetime. In ...particular, this work investigates the effects on neutrino oscillations and mass hierarchy detection, predicted by models that violate Lorentz invariance, preserving the spacetime isotropy and homogeneity. Neutrino physics is the ideal environment where conducting the search for new “exotic” physics, since the oscillation phenomenon is not included in the original formulation of the minimal Standard Model (SM) of particles. The confirmed observation of the neutrino oscillation phenomenon is, therefore, the first example of physics beyond the SM and can indicate the necessity to resort to new theoretical models. In this work, the hypothesis that the supposed Lorentz Invariance Violation (LIV) perturbations can influence the oscillation pattern is investigated. LIV theories are indeed constructed assuming modified kinematics, caused by the interaction of massive particles with the spacetime background. This means that the dispersion relations are modified, so it appears natural to search for effects caused by LIV in physical phenomena governed by masses, as in the case of neutrino oscillations. In addition, the neutrino oscillation phenomenon is interesting since there are three different mass eigenstates and in a LIV scenario, which preserves isotropy, at least two different species of particle must interact.
It is well-known that the universe is opaque to the propagation of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) since these particles dissipate energy during their propagation interacting with the ...background fields present in the universe, mainly with the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) in the so-called GZK cut-off phenomenon. Some experimental evidence seems to hint at the possibility of a dilation of the GZK predicted opacity sphere. It is well-known that kinematical perturbations caused by supposed quantum gravity (QG) effects can modify the foreseen GZK opacity horizon. The introduction of Lorentz Invariance Violation can indeed reduce, and in some cases making negligible, the CMB-UHECRs interaction probability. In this work, we explore the effects induced by modified kinematics in the UHECR lightest component phenomenology from the QG perspective. We explore the possibility of a geometrical description of the massive fermions interaction with the supposed quantum structure of spacetime in order to introduce a Lorentz covariance modification. The kinematics are amended, modifying the dispersion relations of free particles in the context of a covariance-preserving framework. This spacetime description requires a more general geometry than the usual Riemannian one, indicating, for instance, the Finsler construction and the related generalized Finsler spacetime as ideal candidates. Finally we investigate the correlation between the magnitude of Lorentz covariance modification and the attenuation length of the photopion production process related to the GZK cut-off, demonstrating that the predicted opacity horizon can be dilated even in the context of a theory that does not require any privileged reference frame.
It is well known that a fundamental theorem of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) set in flat spacetime ensures the CPT invariance of the theory. This symmetry is strictly connected to the Lorentz ...covariance, and consequently to the fundamental structure of spacetime. Therefore it may be interesting to investigate the possibility of departure from this fundamental symmetry, since it can furnish a window to observe possible effects of a more fundamental quantum gravity theory in a “lower energy limit”. Moreover, in the past, the inquiry of symmetry violations provided a starting point for new physics discoveries. A useful physical framework for this kind of search is provided by astroparticle physics, thanks to the high energy involved and to the long path travelled by particles accelerated by an astrophysical object and then revealed on Earth. Astrophysical messengers are therefore very important probes for investigating this sector, involving high energy photons, charged particles, and neutrinos of cosmic origin. In addition, one can also study artificial neutrino beams, investigated at accelerator experiments. Here we discuss the state of art for all these topics and some interesting new proposals, both from a theoretical and phenomenological point of view.
Homogeneously Modified Special relativity Torri, Marco Danilo Claudio; Antonelli, Vito; Miramonti, Lino
European physical journal. C, Particles and fields,
09/2019, Letnik:
79, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This work explores a Standard Model extension possibility, that violates Lorentz invariance, preserving the space-time isotropy and homogeneity. In this sense HMSR represents an attempt to introduce ...an isotropic Lorentz Invariance Violation in the elementary particle SM. The theory is constructed starting from a modified kinematics, that takes into account supposed quantum effects due to interaction with the space-time background. The space-time structure itself is modified, resulting in a pseudo-Finsler manifold. The SM extension here provided is inspired by the effective fields theories, but it preserves covariance, with respect to newly introduced modified Lorentz transformations. Geometry perturbations are not considered as universal, but particle species dependent. Non universal character of the amended Lorentz transformations allows to obtain visible physical effects, detectable in experiments by comparing different perturbations related to different interacting particles species.
Ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) may interact with photon backgrounds and thus the universe is opaque to their propagation. Many Lorentz Invariance Violation (LIV) theories predict a dilation ...of the expected horizon from which UHECRs can arrive to Earth, in some case even making the interaction probability negligible. In this work, we investigate this effect in the context of the LIV theory that goes by the name of Homogeneously Modified Special Relativity (HMSR). In this work, making use of a specifically modified version of the SimProp simulation program in order to account for the modifications introduced by the theory to the propagation of particles, the radius of the proton opacity horizon (GZK sphere), and the attenuation length for the photopion production process are simulated and the modifications of these quantities introduced by the theory are studied.
Homogeneously Modified Special relativity (HMSR) Torri, Marco Danilo Claudio; Antonelli, Vito; Miramonti, Lino
The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields,
09/2019, Letnik:
79, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This work explores a Standard Model extension possibility, that violates Lorentz invariance, preserving the space-time isotropy and homogeneity. In this sense HMSR represents an attempt to introduce ...an isotropic Lorentz Invariance Violation in the elementary particle SM. The theory is constructed starting from a modified kinematics, that takes into account supposed quantum effects due to interaction with the space-time background. The space-time structure itself is modified, resulting in a pseudo-Finsler manifold. The SM extension here provided is inspired by the effective fields theories, but it preserves covariance, with respect to newly introduced modified Lorentz transformations. Geometry perturbations are not considered as universal, but particle species dependent. Non universal character of the amended Lorentz transformations allows to obtain visible physical effects, detectable in experiments by comparing different perturbations related to different interacting particles species.
In this paper, we aim to explore the interplay between neutrinos and quantum gravity, illustrating some proposals about the use of these particles as probes for the supposed quantized structure of ...spacetime. The residual signatures of a more fundamental theory of quantum gravity can manifest themselves modifying the free particle dispersion relations and the connected velocity. In neutrino sector these supposed effects can modify the time of flight for astrophysical particles with different energies and can affect the usual neutrino oscillation pattern introducing species depending perturbations. We will highlight how perturbations caused by non-standard interactions in the solar neutrino sector can mimic the presumed quantum gravity effects. In fact, the mathematical formulation of non-standard interactions is equivalent to that of CPT-odd perturbations. We will, therefore, emphasize the need to identify the nature of different contributions in order to disentangle them in the search for quantum gravity effects. As a final point we will discuss the possibility to detect in the neutrino sector decoherence effects caused by the quantum gravity supposed perturbations. By reviewing current experimental constraints and observations, we seek to shed light on the intricate relationship between neutrinos and quantum gravity, and discuss the challenges and future directions in this fascinating field of research.
We explore the possibility to geometrize the interaction of massive fermions with the quantum structure of space–time, trying to create a theoretical background, in order to explain what some recent ...experimental results seem to implicate on the propagation of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR). We will investigate part of the phenomenological implications of this approach on the predicted effect of the UHECR suppression, in fact recent evidences seem to involve the modification of the GZK cut-off phenomenon. The search for an effective theory, which can explain this physical effect, is based on Lorentz Invariance Violation (LIV), which is introduced via Modified Dispersion Relations (MDRs). Furthermore we illustrate that this perspective implies a more general geometry of space–time than the usual Riemannian one, indicating, for example, the opportunity to resort to Finsler theory.
It is well-known that the Universe is opaque to the propagation of Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) since these particles dissipate energy during their propagation interacting with the Cosmic ...Microwave Background (CMB) mainly in the so-called GZK cut-off phenomenon. Some experimental evidence seems to hint at the possibility of a dilation of the GZK predicted opacity sphere. It is well-known that kinematical perturbations caused by supposed quantum gravity (QG) effects can modify the foreseen GZK opacity horizon. The introduction of Lorentz Invariance Violation (LIV) can indeed reduce, in some cases making negligible, the CMB-UHECRs interaction probability. In this work we explore the effects induced by modified kinematics in the UHECRs phenomenology from the QG perspective. We explore the possibility of a geometrical description of the massive fermions interaction with the supposed quantum structure of spacetime in order to introduce a Lorentz covariance modifification. The kinematics is amended modifying the Dispersion Relations (DRs) of free particles in the context of a covariance-preserving framework. This spacetime description requires a more general geometry than the usual Riemannian one, indicating for instance the Finsler construction and the related generalized Finsler spacetime as ideal candidates. Finally we investigate the correlation between the magnitude of Lorentz covariance modification and the attenuation length of the photopion production process related to the GZK cut-off, demonstrating that the predicted opacity horizon can be dilated even in the context of a theory that does not require any privileged reference frame.
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