Bounds on Stringy Quantum Gravity from Low Energy Existing Data

TL;DR

This paper uses existing low energy experiments testing Lorentz invariance to set strong bounds on string theory inspired quantum gravity models, significantly constraining their parameters and showing their susceptibility to experimental tests.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental bounds on string-inspired quantum gravity models from low energy data, surpassing previous astrophysical limits.

Findings

Bounds on D-particle mass: M > 1.2 x 10^5 M_P

Recoil speed limit: v < 2 x 10^{-27}c

Stringy quantum gravity models are highly testable with current experiments

Abstract

We show that existing low energy experiments, searching for the breaking of local Lorentz invariance, set bounds upon string theory inspired quantum gravity models that induce corrections to the propagation of fields. In the D-particle recoil model we find M > 1.2 x 10^5 M_P and v < 2 x 10^{-27}c for the mass and recoil speed of the D-particle, respectively. These bounds are \~10^8 times stronger than the latest astrophysical bounds. These results indicate that the stringy scenario for modified dispersion relations is as vulnerable to these types of tests as the loop quantum gravity schemes.