Astrophysical Neutrinos in Testing Lorentz Symmetry

Abstract

An overview of searches related to neutrinos of astronomical and astrophysical origin performed within the framework of the Standard-Model Extension is provided. For this effective field theory, key definitions, intriguing physical consequences, and the mathematical formalism are summarized within the neutrino sector to search for effects from a background that could lead to small deviations from Lorentz symmetry. After an introduction to the fundamental theory, examples of various experiments within the astronomical and astrophysical context are provided. Order-of-magnitude bounds of SME coefficients are shown illustratively for the tight constraints that this sector allows us to place on such violations.

Keywords

• Lorentz violation
• models beyond the standard model
• neutrino interactions
• cosmic-ray interactions
• elementary particle processes
• relativity and gravitation