Karlsruhe 2011 – scientific programme

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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 12: QCD (Theorie) / Quantenfeldtheorie

T 12.3: Talk

Friday, April 1, 2011, 14:35–14:50, 30.23: 10-1

Consistency of modified Maxwell theory: microcausality and unitarity — Frans Klinkhamer — Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe

Recent prototypes of a unification of quantum theory and gravitation such as string theory or loop quantum gravity can, under certain assumptions, lead to Lorentz symmetry breaking. In the low energy limit violation of Lorentz invariance can be described in the framwork of an effective quantum field theory. Background fields are introduced that manifestly break Lorentz symmetry and lead to a deformation of the Standard Model of particle physics.

Modified Maxwell theory, which is a modification of the photon sector, will be presented. The Lorentz-violating part of the theory is described by 19 free parameters. In order to reduce the number of parameters, the theory will be restricted to physically interesting cases.

Theses cases have been examined with respect to consistency concerning microcausality and unitarity. The results of these examinations will be presented and conclusions made.