Radiative Corrections to and Connections Among Theories With Lorentz Violation and Time-Varying Couplings

<p>Different models containing Lorentz violation are studied in order to explore possible new physics beyond the standard model. In the electromagnetic sector, a time-variation in the fine structure constant &alpha is studied as a possible mechanism to generate Lorentz, CPT and gauge symmetry violations in quantum electrodynamics. The vacuum polarization diagram and fermion self-energy are studied in order to study the consequences of a time-varying &alpha on photon and fermion propagation. </p> <p> In the weak sector, light curves of type Ia supernovae---which decay at a rate set by the &beta-decay lifetimes of the <super>56</super>Ni and <super>56</super>Co produced in the explosion---are analyzed as a possible way to test any time variation in the Fermi constant G_F, which governs the strength of weak interactions at low energies. </p> <p>Finally, a theory of scalar and spinor fields, interacting through Yukawa and &phi<super>4</super> interactions, with Lorentz-violating operators included in the Lagrangian is considered. The leading quantum corrections in this theory are computed, showing the renormalizability of the theory at the leading order. In the pure scalar sector, the calculations can be generalized to higher orders and to include finite terms, because the theory can be solved in terms of its Lorentz-invariant version.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Campus Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics and Astronomy

Year

2011

Author dc:creator

• Ferrero, Alejandro

Contributors dc:contributor

• Brett David Altschul

• Physical Sciences and Mathematics
• Physics
• Lorentz and CPT Symmetries
• Renormalization
• Standard Model Extension
• Varying Constants

Statement dc:rights

• © 2011, Alejandro Ferrero

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/1744

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarcommons.sc.edu:etd-2745