Tachyons and Fundamental Symmetries
A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Physics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 8268
Special Issue Editors
Interests: quantum electrodynamics; large-order perturbation theory; atomic physics and dynamic processes; laser physics; general relativity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: neutrinos as tachyons; alternate neutrino models; supernova neutrinos; physics education
Interests: neutrino symmetries; neutrino cosmology, and generalizations of quantum mechanics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
It is well known that tachyons (hypothetical particles traveling faster than light) are among the most intriguing and, perhaps, most controversial concepts recently discussed in the literature. We believe that it could be in the interest of the wider theoretical community to discuss tachyons and their role in fundamental symmetries in a Special Issue. Tachyons may be “unphysical" for many physicists because of their necessarily unusual properties. Indeed, one advantage claimed by the superstring compared to the bosonic string is that supersymmetry eliminates states with spacelike momenta. Notwithstanding this situation, however, theoretical arguments that would definitively rule them out are matters of ongoing debate, and the possibility of tachyons remains viable. From an experimental perspective, if tachyons exist, either they are yet to be discovered, or, if they are among the inhabitants of the Standard Model, there is one possible candidate—namely, the neutrino. While no extraordinary evidence exists to support this latter possibility, as long as only upper limits exist for the magnitude of the neutrino mass, and no neutrinos have been proven to have v < c, some (or all) neutrinos may indeed be tachyons. The strong tension between appearance and disappearance scintillation data, not resolvable by adding sterile neutrinos, suggests that radical rethinking of the neutrino mass hierarchy may be necessary, even perhaps including tachyonic neutrino states, which, as some theories indicate, might also provide understanding of the nature of dark energy. Based on the existing literature, other areas of relevance in supplying evidence pointing to tachyonic neutrinos would include supernovae, cosmic ray physics, and CPT or Lorentz-invariance violation. Some possible candidates for new neutrino models will involve Lorentz or CPT violation, while others will involve tachyonic neutrinos. In fact, there are already experimental indications of possible CPT violation coming out of some experiments. Areas of interest might include:
- Lorentz-violating extensions of the Standard Model;
- Pseudo-Hermitian Dirac neutrino models;
- Theoretical arguments against tachyons;
- Empirical evidence favoring or opposing tachyonic neutrinos;
- Quantization schemes for tachyons and connections to string theory;
- Tachyonic neutrinos and Lorentz and CPT violation;
- Specific neutrino models including tachyons;
- New symmetry principles accommodating tachyons;
- Phenomenological oddities and astrophysical observations;
- Tachyons and Tolman's Paradox.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich D. Jentschura
Prof. Dr. Robert Ehrlich
Prof. Dr. Alan Chodos
Prof. Dr. Jacek Ciborowski
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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