Possible cosmogenic neutrino constraints on Planck-scale Lorentz violation

Academic Article

Abstract

  • We study, within an effective field theory framework, $O(E^{2}/\Mpl^{2})$ Planck-scale suppressed Lorentz invariance violation (LV) effects in the neutrino sector, whose size we parameterize by a dimensionless parameter $\eta_{\nu}$. We find deviations from predictions of Lorentz invariant physics in the cosmogenic neutrino spectrum. For positive O(1) coefficients no neutrino will survive above $10^{19} \eV$. The existence of this cutoff generates a bump in the neutrino spectrum at energies of $10^{17} \eV$. Although at present no constraint can be cast, as current experiments do not have enough sensitivity to detect ultra-high-energy neutrinos, we show that experiments in construction or being planned have the potential to cast limits as strong as $\eta_{\nu} \lesssim 10^{-4}$ on the neutrino LV parameter, depending on how LV is distributed among neutrino mass states. Constraints on $\eta_{\nu} < 0$ can in principle be obtained with this strategy, but they require a more detailed modeling of how LV affects the neutrino sector.
  • Authors

  • Mattingly, David
  • Maccione, Luca
  • Galaverni, Matteo
  • Liberati, Stefano
  • Sigl, Guenter
  • Status

    Publication Date

  • February 2010
  • Keywords

  • cosmological neutrinos
  • quantum gravity phenomenology
  • ultra high energy cosmic rays
  • Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Start Page

  • 007
  • End Page

  • 007
  • Volume

  • 2010
  • Issue

  • 2