Signatures of New Physics from HBT Correlations in UHECRs

TL;DR

This paper explores how noncommutative spacetime modifies quantum field correlations, proposing that ultra high energy cosmic rays can reveal signatures of spacetime noncommutativity through distinct HBT correlations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that twisted commutation relations in noncommutative spacetime lead to unique HBT correlations, offering a new way to detect spacetime noncommutativity via UHECR observations.

Findings

HBT correlations are altered by noncommutative geometry at high energies.

UHECRs can serve as probes for spacetime noncommutativity.

Distinct signatures in cosmic ray correlations can indicate noncommutative spacetime.

Abstract

Quantum fields written on noncommutative spacetime (Groenewold - Moyal plane) obey twisted commutation relations. In this paper we show that these twisted commutation relations result in Hanbury-Brown Twiss (HBT) correlations that are distinct from that for ordinary bosonic or fermionic fields, and hence can provide us useful information about underlying noncommutative nature of spacetime. The deviation from usual bosonic/fermionic statistics becomes pronounced at high energies, suggesting that a natural place is to look at Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs). Since the HBT correlations are sensitive only to the statistics of the particles, observations done with UHECRs are capable of providing unambiguous signatures of noncommutativity, without any detailed knowledge of the mechanism and source of origin of UHECRs.