Lorentz and CPT violation in the Standard-Model Extension

TL;DR

This paper surveys the theoretical framework and experimental efforts to detect tiny violations of Lorentz and CPT symmetries in subatomic physics, which could indicate new physics beyond the Standard Model.

Contribution

It provides an overview of how effective field theory models potential Lorentz and CPT violations and summarizes current experimental searches for such effects.

Findings

Effective field theory describes potential Lorentz and CPT violations.

Experimental efforts have placed stringent bounds on symmetry violations.

Theoretical models suggest possible violations from quantum gravity effects.

Abstract

Lorentz and CPT invariance are among the symmetries that can be investigated with ultrahigh precision in subatomic physics. Being spacetime symmetries, Lorentz and CPT invariance can be violated by minuscule amounts in many theoretical approaches to underlying physics that involve novel spacetime concepts, such as quantized versions of gravity. Regardless of the underlying mechanism, the low-energy effects of such violations are expected to be governed by effective field theory. This talk provides a survey of this idea and includes an overview of experimental efforts in the field.