Deformed Lorentz Symmetry and Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays

Abstract

Lorentz symmetry violation (LSV) is often discussed using models of the $THεμ$ type which involve, basically, energy independent parameters. However, if LSV is generated at the Planck scale or at some other fundamental length scale, it can naturally preserve Lorentz symmetry as a low-energy limit (deformed Lorentz symmetry, DLS). Deformed relativistic kinematics (DRK) would be consistent with special relativity in the limit $k$ (wave vector) $\to ~0$ and allow for a deformed version of general relativity and gravitation. We present an updated discussion of the possible implications of this pattern for cosmic-ray physics at very high energy. A $\approx ~10^{-6}$ LSV at Planck scale, leading to a DLS pattern, would potentially be enough to produce very important observable effects on the properties of cosmic rays at the $\approx \~10^{20} eV$ scale (absence of GZK cutoff, stability of unstable particles, lower interaction rates, kinematical failure of the parton model...). We compare our approach with more recent similar claims made by S. Coleman and S. Glashow from models of the $THεμ$ type.