Quentin's Research Interests
Attention Space Physics students with an interest in
theory!
I have several research projects related to my research
area which I have designed with the Space Physics curriculum in mind.
Anyone interested is encouraged to come and talk to me
(email:baileyq@erau.edu).
My research is currently focused on the theoretical and experimental
aspects of testing Lorentz symmetry, the spacetime symmetry of Special
Relativity.
The motivation for this work is twofold.
First, Lorentz symmetry is a cornerstone of modern physics.
As such, it should be an experimental precedent to test this principle
in as many ways as possible. Second, recent work on fundamental
theories of physics, that attempt to unify the Standard Model of
particle physics and General Relativity, has pointed to the possibility
of deviations from perfect Lorentz symmetry. In the ongoing search for
new physics, high-precision, typically low-energy
tests of Lorentz symmetry offer a promising alternative to conventional
high-energy accelerator experiments.
My own work,
in the publications below,
has been focused on the electromagnetic and gravitational
sectors of a general theoretical framework for testing Lorentz symmetry
called the Standard-Model Extension (SME).
Information about the SME theoretical and
experimental program,
including links to refereed journal articles, books,
and popular magazine articles,
can be found at this link:
Information about CPT and Lorentz Violation.
Publications:
- Testing Lorentz Symmetry with Gravity,
in V.A. Kostelecky,
(editor), CPT and Lorentz Symmetry IV, World Scientific, 2008.
link
- Signals for Lorentz Violation in Post-Newtonian Gravity
(with V.A. Kostelecky), Phys. Rev. D 74, 045001, 2006.
link
- Lorentz-Violating Electromagnetostatics, in V.A.
Kostelecky,
(editor), CPT and Lorentz Symmetry III, World Scientific, 2005.
link
- Lorentz-Violating Electrostatics and Magnetostatics
(with V.A. Kostelecky), Phys. Rev. D 70, 076006, 2004.
link
In the SME formalism,
Lorentz violation for a given particle type (species)
is described by its coefficients for
Lorentz violation.
In certain special cases,
we can visualize these coefficients as a
background field of arrows,
pointing in some direction,
that affects our measuring apparatus (rods and clocks) as they move
or rotate through the background.
This is illustrated in the animation above for blue and green
rods and clocks.
As the two sets of rods and clocks rotate their
relative lengths and ticking rates will change if Lorentz symmetry
is violated.
Pure-gravity sector SME analysis:
- Holger Mueller, Sheng-wey Chiow, Sven Herrmann, Steven Chu,
Keng-Yeow Chung, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 031101 (2008).
link
- James B.R. Battat, John F. Chandler,
Christopher W. Stubbs, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 241103 (2007).
link
- James B.R. Battat, John F. Chandler,
Christopher W. Stubbs,
in V.A. Kostelecky, (editor), CPT and Lorentz Symmetry IV, World
Scientific, 2008.
link
A summary of the current experimental constraints on
the many coefficients for Lorentz violation in the SME can be found
here.
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