Lorentz invariance violation and charge (non)conservation: A general theoretical frame for extensions of the Maxwell equations

Journal Article · Fri Jan 14 23:00:00 EST 2005 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.71.025007· OSTI ID:20705864

Laemmerzahl, Claus; Macias, Alfredo; Mueller, Holger ^[1]

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1. ZARM, University of Bremen, Am Fallturm, 28359 Bremen (Germany)

All quantum gravity approaches lead to small modifications in the standard laws of physics which in most cases lead to violations of Lorentz invariance. One particular example is the extended standard model (SME). Here, a general phenomenological approach for extensions of the Maxwell equations is presented which turns out to be more general than the SME and which covers charge nonconservation (CNC), too. The new Lorentz invariance violating terms cannot be probed by optical experiments but need, instead, the exploration of the electromagnetic field created by a point charge or a magnetic dipole. Some scalar tensor theories and higher dimensional brane theories predict CNC in four dimensions and some models violating special relativity have been shown to be connected with CNC. Its relation to the Einstein Equivalence Principle has been discussed. Because of this upcoming interest, the experimental status of electric charge conservation is reviewed. Up to now there seem to exist no unique tests of charge conservation. CNC is related to the precession of polarization, to a modification of the 1/r-Coulomb potential, and to a time dependence of the fine structure constant. This gives the opportunity to describe a dedicated search for CNC.

• OSTI ID: 20705864
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Journal Name: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 71; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
C INVARIANCE
CHARGE CONSERVATION
COULOMB FIELD
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
EQUIVALENCE PRINCIPLE
FINE STRUCTURE
GRAVITATION
LORENTZ INVARIANCE
MAGNETIC DIPOLES
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
POINT CHARGE
POLARIZATION
QUANTUM GRAVITY
RELATIVITY THEORY
SCALARS
STANDARD MODEL
TENSORS
TIME DEPENDENCE