Published October 15, 2007 | Version v1
Journal article

General very special relativity is Finsler geometry

  • 1. DAMTP, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge University, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 OWA (United Kingdom)
  • 2. Departament ECM, Facultat de Fisica, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona (Spain)
  • 3. George P. and Cynthia W. Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242 (United States)

Description

We ask whether Cohen and Glashow's very special relativity model for Lorentz violation might be modified, perhaps by quantum corrections, possibly producing a curved space-time with a cosmological constant. We show that its symmetry group ISIM(2) does admit a 2-parameter family of continuous deformations, but none of these give rise to noncommutative translations analogous to those of the de Sitter deformation of the Poincare group: space-time remains flat. Only a 1-parameter family DISIMb(2) of deformations of SIM(2) is physically acceptable. Since this could arise through quantum corrections, its implications for tests of Lorentz violations via the Cohen-Glashow proposal should be taken into account. The Lorentz-violating point-particle action invariant under DISIMb(2) is of Finsler type, for which the line element is homogeneous of degree 1 in displacements, but anisotropic. We derive DISIMb(2)-invariant wave equations for particles of spins 0, (1/2), and 1. The experimental bound, |b|<10-26, raises the question ''Why is the dimensionless constant b so small in very special relativity?''

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. D, Particles Fields
Journal Volume
76
Journal Issue
8
Journal Page Range
p. 081701-081701.5
ISSN
0556-2821
CODEN
PRVDAQ

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2007 The American Physical Society