Analysis of the consistency of parity-odd nonbirefringent modified Maxwell theory

2011/11/30 by Marco Schreck · 5 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Operator Algebra Research #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #CPT symmetry #Compton scattering #Gauge theory #Lorentz covariance #Lorentz transformation #Maxwell's equations #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Parity (physics) #Photon #Physics #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum mechanics #Theoretical physics #Unitarity #hep-ph #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevd.86.065038

published as Phys. Rev. D 86, 065038 (2012) · 41 pages, 28 figures

openalex publication_date 2012/09/26 · arxiv created 2012/11/11 · arxiv updated 2015/03/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

There exist two deformations of standard electrodynamics which describe Lorentz symmetry violation in the photon sector: CPT-odd Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory and CPT-even modified Maxwell theory. In this article, we focus on the parity-odd nonbirefringent sector of modified Maxwell theory. It is coupled to a standard Dirac theory of massive spin-1/2 fermions resulting in a modified quantum electrodynamics (QED). This theory is discussed with respect to properties such as microcausality and unitarity, where it turns out that these hold. Furthermore, a priori, the limit of the theory for vanishing Lorentz-violating parameters seems to be discontinuous. The modified photon polarization vectors are interweaved with preferred spacetime directions defined by the theory, and one vector even has a longitudinal part. That structure remains in the limit mentioned. Since it is not clear whether or not this behavior is a gauge artifact, the cross section for a physical process---modified Compton scattering---is calculated numerically. Despite the numerical instabilities occurring for scattering of unpolarized electrons off polarized photons in the second physical polarization state, it is shown that for Lorentz-violating parameters much smaller than one, the modified cross sections approach the standard QED results. Analytical investigations strengthen the numerical computations. Hence, the theory proves to be consistent, at least with regard to the investigations performed. This leads to the interesting outcome of the modification being a well-defined parity-odd extension of QED.

Citations

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• The OPERA neutrino velocity result and the synchronisation of clocks
• Measuring Time of Flight Using Satellite-Based Clocks
• New features of FORM
• Superluminal muon-neutrino velocity from a Fermi-point-splitting model of Lorentz violation
• Zur Quantenelektrodynamik ladungsfreier Felder
• Fermions with Lorentz-violating operators of arbitrary dimension
• Electrodynamics with Lorentz-violating operators of arbitrary dimension
• The Theory of Photons and Electrons: The Relativistic Quantum Field Theory of Charged Particles with Spin One-half
• Cosmic ray and neutrino tests of special relativity
• On the nature of quantum geometrodynamics
• Addendum: Ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray bounds on nonbirefringent modified Maxwell theory
• Faster-than-c Signals, Special Relativity, and Causality
• Lorentz-violating extension of the standard model
• Measurement of the neutrino velocity with the OPERA detector in the CNGS beam
• Data tables for Lorentz andCPTviolation
• Experimental Test of Parity Conservation in Beta Decay
• On the Quantum Theory of Radiation

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