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Infrared Lorentz violation and slowly instantaneous electricity
Gia Dvali1, Michele Papucci, Matthew D Schwartz
1Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics, Department of Physics, New York University, New York 10003, USA. gd23@nyu.edu
Physical Review Letters
|August 11, 2005
Summary
This study explores a modified electromagnetism theory where electromagnetic waves have mass, potentially enabling faster-than-light communication via Coulomb forces. Experimental limits suggest a photon Compton wavelength as small as 6000 km.
Area of Science:
- Theoretical Physics
- Electromagnetism
- Quantum Field Theory
Background:
- Standard electromagnetism is based on Lorentz invariance, implying massless photons.
- Deviations from Lorentz invariance at large distances are explored in modified theories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a modified theory of electromagnetism that violates Lorentz invariance at large distances.
- To analyze the properties of electromagnetic waves and static forces in this modified theory.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of a modified electromagnetic theory.
- Examination of wave dispersion relations and static force laws.
- Application of experimental constraints to bound theoretical parameters.
Main Results:
- Electromagnetic waves acquire a mass (m), leading to a massive dispersion relation at distances > 1/m.
- The static force remains Coulombic, not Yukawa, despite massive waves.
- Faster-than-light communication is theoretically possible due to instant signal transmission, though signal buildup takes ~1/m.
Conclusions:
- The modified theory allows for superluminal communication under specific conditions.
- Experimental constraints suggest a photon Compton wavelength potentially as small as 6000 km.
- This bound is less stringent than for Lorentz-invariant massive photons due to the preserved Coulomb force.
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