Published February 15, 2003 | Version v1
Journal article

Generalized Lorentz invariance with an invariant energy scale

  • 1. Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, N2J 2W9 (Canada)
  • 2. Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, N2J 2W9 (Canada)
  • 3. Theoretical Physics, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ (United Kingdom)

Description

The hypothesis that the Lorentz transformations may be modified at Planck scale energies is further explored. We present a general formalism for theories which preserve the relativity of inertial frames with a nonlinear action of the Lorentz transformations on momentum space. Several examples are discussed in which the speed of light varies with energy and elementary particles have a maximum momenta and/or energy. Energy and momentum conservation are suitably generalized and a proposal is made for how the new transformation laws apply to composite systems. We then use these results to explain the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray anomaly and we find a form of the theory that explains the anomaly, and leads also to a maximum momentum and a speed of light that diverges with energy. We finally propose that the spatial coordinates be identified as the generators of translation in Minkowski spacetime. In some examples this leads to a commutative geometry, but with an energy dependent Planck constant

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Journal Volume
67
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 044017-044017.12
ISSN
0556-2821
CODEN
PRVDAQ

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2003 The American Physical Society