Possible Spontaneous Breaking of Lorentz and CPT Symmetry

TL;DR

This paper discusses the theoretical possibility that Lorentz and CPT symmetries could spontaneously break in unified theories like string theory, and develops an extended standard model incorporating these effects.

Contribution

It introduces a formalism for including Lorentz and CPT violation into a low-energy effective field theory, extending the standard model to account for these potential symmetry breakings.

Findings

Developed an extended standard model with Lorentz and CPT-breaking terms

Presented a formalism for incorporating symmetry-breaking effects

Discussed implications for the QED sector

Abstract

One possible ramification of unified theories of nature such as string theory that may underlie the conventional standard model is the possible spontaneous breakdown of Lorentz and CPT symmetry. In this talk, the formalism for inclusion of such effects into a low-energy effective field theory is presented. An extension of the standard model that includes Lorentz- and CPT-breaking terms is developed. The restriction of the standard model extension to the QED sector is then discussed.