Bounds on Lorentz and CPT Violation from the Earth-Ionosphere Cavity

TL;DR

This paper explores how natural resonances in the Earth-ionosphere cavity can be used to set new constraints on Lorentz and CPT violation, providing the first terrestrial bounds on certain Lorentz-violating coefficients.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of testing Lorentz invariance using natural electromagnetic resonances in the Earth-ionosphere cavity, establishing new terrestrial constraints.

Findings

Constraints on Lorentz-violating coefficients at 10^{-20} GeV level

First terrestrial bounds on dimension-three Lorentz violation

Resonance analysis offers a new testing avenue for fundamental symmetries

Abstract

Electromagnetic resonant cavities form the basis of many tests of Lorentz invariance involving photons. The effects of some forms of Lorentz violation scale with cavity size. We investigate possible signals of violations in the naturally occurring resonances formed in the Earth-ionosphere cavity. Comparison with observed resonances places the first terrestrial constraints on coefficients associated with dimension-three Lorentz-violating operators at the level of 10^{-20} GeV.