Is the Lorentz limiting speed equal to the Speed of Light? Photons vs Neutrino tests

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether the Lorentz limiting speed differs from the observed speed of light by proposing tests using Michelson-Morley experiments and neutrino speed measurements, highlighting current competitive limits and implications for photon propagation.

Contribution

It introduces a framework to test if the Lorentz limiting speed exceeds the observed light speed using existing experimental methods.

Findings

Current experiments place competitive limits on the Lorentz limiting speed.

Neutrino speed measurements can effectively test the Lorentz speed hypothesis.

Dispersive gamma-ray burst observations offer additional testing avenues.

Abstract

We discuss the possibility that the limiting speed (c_l) appearing in Lorentz equations might be different i.e., slightly larger than the observed speed of light (c_n). We show that such a possibility can be tested by state-of-the-art Michelson-Morley experiments, but also by careful measurement of neutrino speeds. It would indeed suffice to show that c_n < c_neutrinos <= c_l. Quite interestingly, current limits from both approaches are competitive, in some circumstances. We also comment on competing tests using gamma-ray burst, assuming a dispersive character for the propagation of light.