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  • The boltzmann equation and equilibrium thermodynamics in Lorentz-violating theories
    Publication . Potting, Robertus
    In this work, we adapt the foundations of relativistic kinetic theory and the Boltzmann equation to particles with Lorentz-violating dispersion relations. The latter are taken to be those associated to two commonly considered sets of coefficients in the minimal Standard-Model Extension. We treat both the cases of classical (Maxwell-Boltzmann) and quantum (Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein) statistics. It is shown that with the appropriate definition of the entropy current, Boltzmann's H-theorem continues to hold. We derive the equilibrium solutions and then identify the Lorentz-violating effects for various thermodynamic variables, as well as for Bose-Einstein condensation. Finally, a scenario with nonelastic collisions between multiple species of particles corresponding to chemical or nuclear reactions is considered.
  • Cosmic-ray fermion decay by emission of on-shell W bosons with CPT violation
    Publication . Colladay, D.; Noordmans, J. P.; Potting, Robertus
    We study CPT and Lorentz violation in the electroweak gauge sector of the Standard Model in the context of the Standard-Model Extension. In particular, we consider the Lorentz-violating and CPT-odd Chern-Simons like parameter for the W boson, which is thus far unbounded by experiment. We demonstrate that any nonzero value of this parameter implies that, for sufficiently large energies, one of the polarization modes of the W boson propagates with spacelike four-momentum. In this scenario, an emission of W bosons by ultra-high-energy cosmic rays is possible. We calculate the induced fermion energy-loss rate, and we deduce the first limit on the pertinent Lorentz-and CPT-violating parameter that couples to the W boson. Consistency between the quantum description in various reference frames is preserved by using a recently formulated covariant quantization procedure for massive photons and applying it to the W bosons.