Vacuum Cerenkov radiation

Angular momentum modulation of vortex Cherenkov radiation in optical waveguides

Vortex free-electron radiation has attracted considerable interest because of its promising potential for applications in communication, high-density radiation sources, and particle detection. Here, we reveal angular momentum modulation of vortex Cherenkov radiation using subwavelength silicon waveguides. The topological charge of vortex radiation field can be controlled by the position parameters of two electron beams based on the rotational symmetry. Besides, the spin angular momentum is accompanied by the excited orbital angular momentum due to the spin-orbit interaction of light. In particular, the periodic evolution of spin and orbital angular momenta are demonstrated by breaking the symmetry of the waveguide. Our results provide a novel mechanism for flexibly regulating vortex electron radiation and exploring electro-optical interaction.

New Constraint for Isotropic Lorentz Violation from LHC Data

New calculations for the kinematics of photon decay to fermions in vacuo under an isotropic violation of Lorentz invariance (LV), parametrized by the standard-model extension, are presented in this Letter and used to interpret prompt photon production in LHC data. The measurement of inclusive prompt photon production at the LHC Run 2, with photons observed up to a transverse energy of 2.5 TeV, provides the lower bound κ[over ˜]_{tr}>-1.06×10^{-13} on the isotropic coefficient κ[over ˜]_{tr} at 95% confidence level. This result improves over the previous bound from hadron colliders by a factor of 55. The calculations for the kinematics of photon decay have further potential use to constrain LV coefficients from the appearance of fermion pairs.

(Gravitational) Vacuum Cherenkov Radiation

This work reviews our current understanding of Cherenkov-type processes in vacuum that may occur due to a possible violation of Lorentz invariance. The description of Lorentz violation is based on the Standard Model Extension (SME). To get an overview as general as possible, the most important findings for vacuum Cherenkov radiation in Minkowski spacetime are discussed. After doing so, special emphasis is put on gravitational Cherenkov radiation. For a better understanding, the essential properties of the gravitational SME are recalled in this context. The common grounds and differences of vacuum Cherenkov radiation in Minkowski spacetime and in the gravity sector are emphasized.

What do we know about Lorentz invariance?

The realization that Planck-scale physics can be tested with existing technology through the search for spacetime-symmetry violation brought about the development of a comprehensive framework, known as the gravitational standard-model extension (SME), for studying deviations from exact Lorentz and CPT symmetry in nature. The development of this framework and its motivation led to an explosion of new tests of Lorentz symmetry over the past decade and to considerable theoretical interest in the subject. This work reviews the key concepts associated with Lorentz and CPT symmetry, the structure of the SME framework, and some recent experimental and theoretical results.

Particle-accelerator constraints on isotropic modifications of the speed of light

The absence of vacuum Cherenkov radiation for 104.5 GeV electrons and positrons at the LEP collider at CERN combined with the observed stability of 300 GeV photons at the Tevatron constrains deviations of the speed of light relative to the maximal attainable speed of electrons. Within the standard-model extension, the limit -5.8x10(-12)<or=kappatr-4/3ce00<or=1.2x10(-11) is extracted, which sharpens previous bounds by more than 3 orders of magnitude. The potential for further refinements of this limit with terrestrial experiments and astrophysical observations is discussed.

Extended symmetrical classical electrodynamics

In this paper, we discuss a modification of classical electrodynamics in which "ordinary" point charges are absent. The modified equations contain additional terms describing the induced charges and currents. The densities of the induced charges and currents depend on the vector k and the vectors of the electromagnetic field, E and B . It is shown that the vectors E and B can be defined in terms of two four-potentials and the components of k are the components of a four-tensor of the third rank. The Lagrangian of the modified electrodynamics is defined. The conditions are derived at which only one four-potential determines the behavior of the electromagnetic field. It is also shown that static modified electrodynamics can describe the electromagnetic field in the inner region of an electric monopole. In the outer region of the electric monopole the electric field is governed by the Maxwell equations. It follows from boundary conditions at the interface between the inner and outer regions of the monopole that the vector k has a discrete spectrum. The electric and magnetic fields, energy, and angular momentum of the monopole are found for different eigenvalues of k .

Vacuum Cerenkov radiation in Lorentz-violating theories without CPT violation

In theories with broken Lorentz symmetry, Cerenkov radiation may be possible even in vacuum. We analyze the Cerenkov emissions that are associated with the least constrained Lorentz-violating modifications of the photon sector, calculating the threshold energy, the frequency spectrum, and the shape of the Mach cone. In order to obtain sensible results for the total power emitted, we must make use of information contained within the theory which indicates at what scale new physics must enter.

Searching for CPT violation with cosmic microwave background data from WMAP and BOOMERANG

We search for signatures of Lorentz and violations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and polarization anisotropies by using the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and the 2003 flight of BOOMERANG (B03) data. We note that if the Lorentz and symmetries are broken by a Chern-Simons term in the effective Lagrangian, which couples the dual electromagnetic field strength tensor to an external four-vector, the polarization vectors of propagating CMB photons will get rotated. Using the WMAP data alone, one could put an interesting constraint on the size of such a term. Combined with the B03 data, we found that a nonzero rotation angle of the photons is mildly favored: [Formula: See Text].

Modern Tests of Lorentz Invariance

Motivated by ideas about quantum gravity, a tremendous amount of effort over the past decade has gone into testing Lorentz invariance in various regimes. This review summarizes both the theoretical frameworks for tests of Lorentz invariance and experimental advances that have made new high precision tests possible. The current constraints on Lorentz violating effects from both terrestrial experiments and astrophysical observations are presented.