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Luca Nanni

Publications and source records attributed to Luca Nanni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

Solving Wave Equations in the Space of Schwartz Distributions: The Beauty of Generalised functions in Physics

This paper concerns the study and resolution of wave equations in the space of Schwartz distributions. Wave phenomena are widespread in many branches of physics and chemistry, such as optics, gravitation, quantum mechanics, chemical waves and often arise from instantaneous sources represented by Schwartz distributions f. Hence, there is a need to study the Cauchy problem in the space of generalised functions. Specifically, it has been proven that the instantaneous source f can always be represented as an appropriate sum of single point like sources. Under this hypothesis, each wave equation with an instantaneous source f remains associated with an equation with a point-like source represented by a Dirac delta function. The solution to the associated equation is an elementary perturbation that propagates in spacetime, defined as the fundamental solution. We proved that the solution to a wave equation with source f is given by the convolution product between one of the fundamental solutions and the generalised function f representing the instantaneous source. We investigated the physical and mathematical properties of three dimensional, two dimensional, and one dimensional fundamental solutions. Notably, we proved that the three-dimensional solution described diffraction phenomena, whereas the other two described wave diffusion phenomena. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the transition from a diffractive to a diffusive regime occurs through the continuation of an ansatz generalised function. In this paper, we discuss possible applications to solid state physics and the resolution of crystallographic structures.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2024

The 1932 Majorana equation: a forgotten but surprisingly modern particle theory

The Standard Model is an up-to-date theory that best summarizes current knowledge in particle physics. Although some problems still remain open, it represents the leading model which all physicists refer to. One of the pillars which underpin the Standard Model is represented by the Lorentz invariance of the equations that form its backbone. These equations made it possible to predict the existence of particles and phenomena that experimental physics had not yet been able to detect. The first hint of formulating a fundamental theory of particles can be found in the 1932 Majorana equation, formulated when electrons and protons were the only known particles. Today we know that parts of the hypotheses set by Majorana were not correct, but his equation hid concepts that are found in the Standard Model. In this study, the Majorana equation is revisited and solved for free particles. The time-like, light-like and space-like solutions, represented by infinite-component wave functions, are discussed. Furthermore, by introducing subsidiary conditions on the mass term, it is possible to quantize both the fermionic and the bosonic towers, obtaining the mass spectrum of the entire family of charged leptons, baryons and mesons.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2023

Electromagnetic Field Theory in Superluminal Spacetime

Recently, a number of experimental observations on the superluminal group velocities of pulses propagating in dispersive media have led to reconsidering electromagnetism theory in an unconventional framework. To consider faster-than-light phenomena, it is not necessary to replace the current relativistic theory, but it is sufficient to extend it to superluminal motions in a way that preserves the principle of causality. In the present paper, a new approach to study superluminal motions is proposed, which avoids introducing unphysical complex quantities and allows for the formulation of equations that are covariant according to a hyperbolic metric. In the framework of this formalism, Maxwell equations and the single-photon wave equation are obtained through superluminal transformations of ordinary equations. It is shown that the covariant and contravariant components of the superluminal electromagnetic field determine its magnitude and direction, respectively. Furthermore, the solutions of the transformed Maxwell equations are X-shaped ways propagating in the superluminal spacetime region that is delimited by the infinite light cone and the two-sheet hyperboloid perpendicular to it. Instead, in quantum mechanics, the covariant and contravariant components of the electromagnetic field are proportional to the right- and left-handed helicities of the single photon, respectively.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2023

On photonic tunnelling and the possibility of superluminal transport of electromagnetic energy

Motivated by increased interest in experiments in which light appears to propagate by tunnelling at superluminal velocity, the Lorentz invariant theory proposed by Partha Ghose to explain these surprising effects is revisited. This theory is based on the Harish-Chandra formalism, which describes the relativistic dynamics of a massless spin-1 boson, like a photon. Via this formalism, the Bohmian average transport velocity of the electromagnetic energy is formulated. It is proved that, if the dielectric making the waveguide is nonabsorptive and nondispersive, this velocity can be superluminal. This result is validated in the framework of quantum electrodynamics, demonstrating that the average velocity of the photon inside the waveguide is given by the contribution of instantaneous superluminal velocities. This theory, therefore, suggests the optimal conditions for designing optical devices capable of locally transporting electromagnetic energy at superluminal velocities mitigating the signal attenuation.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2022

The Product Arbitrariness of Generalised Functions and its Role in Quantum Field Theory

In this study, the problem of the product arbitrariness of generalised functions in the framework of Schwartz distribution is addressed. This arbitrariness is responsible for the problem of infinities encountered in quantum field theory when higher order corrections are considered. The methods of Guttinger Konig and Hormander for getting rid of this arbitrariness are investigated.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2022

Time-dependent Interactions in Tunnelling Dynamics

In this paper, the tunnelling of a particle through a potential barrier is investigated in the presence of a time-dependent perturbation. The latter is attributed to the process of the energy measurement of the scattered particle. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation of the model is exactly solved. The calculation of the probability density inside the barrier proves that the tunnelling dynamics is determined not only by the transmitted and reflected waves but also by their interference. Furthermore, the interference term is time-dependent and contribute to the scattering process duration. The tunnelling time is calculated as the time to stop the flow of probability density inside the barrier. This is the minimum duration of the measurement process before detecting the particle beyond the barrier. Based on this, a new method of estimating the tunnelling time by energy experimental measuring is proposed.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2021

On the group theoretical approach to relativistic wave equations for arbitrary spin

Formulating a relativistic equation for particles with arbitrary spin remains an open challenge in theoretical physics. In this study, the main algebraic approaches used to generalize the Dirac and Kemmer Duffin equations for particles of arbitrary spin are investigated. It is proved that an irreducible relativistic equation formulated using spin matrices satisfying the commutation relations of the anti-de Sitter group leads to inconsistent results, mainly as a consequence of violation of unitarity and the appearance of a mass spectrum that does not reflect the physical reality of elementary particles. However, the introduction of subsidiary conditions resolves the problem of unitarity and restores the physical meaning of the mass spectrum. The equations obtained by these approaches are solved and the physical nature of the solutions is discussed.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2021

Theoretical Investigation of Subluminal Particles Endowed with Imaginary Mass

In this article, the general solution of the tachyonic Klein-Gordon equation is obtained as a Fourier integral performed on a suitable path in the complex \omega-plane. In particular, it is proved that under given boundary conditions this solution does not contain any superluminal components. On the basis of this result, we infer that all possible spacelike wave equations describe the dynamics of subluminal particles endowed with imaginary mass. This result is validated for the Chodos equation, used to describe the hypothetical superluminal behaviour of neutrino. In this specific framework it is proved that the wave packet propagates in spacetime with subluminal group velocities and that for enough small energies it behaves as a localized wave.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2020

Tachyonic Dirac Equation Revisited

In this paper, we revisit the two theoretical approaches for the formulation of the tachyonic Dirac equation. The first approach works within the theory of restricted relativity, starting from a Lorentz invariant Lagrangian consistent with a spacelike four-momentum. The second approach uses the theory of relativity extended to superluminal motions and works directly on the ordinary Dirac equation through superluminal Lorentz transformations. The equations resulting from the two approaches show mostly different, if not opposite, properties. In particular, the first equation violates the invariance under the action of the parity and charge conjugation operations. Although it is a good mathematical tool to describe the dynamics of a space-like particle, it also shows that the mean particle velocity is subluminal. In contrast, the second equation is invariant under the action of parity and charge conjugation symmetries, but the particle it describes is consistent with the classical dynamics of a tachyon. This study shows that it is not possible with the currently available theories to formulate a covariant equation that coherently describes the neutrino in the framework of the physics of tachyons, and depending on the experiment, one equation rather than the other should be used.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2020

Dynamics of Neutrino Wave Packet in the Tachyon-like Dirac Equation

In this study the tachyon-like Dirac equation, formulated by Chodos to describe superluminal neutrino, is solved. The analytical solutions are Gaussian wave packets obtained using the envelope method. It is shown that the superluminal neutrino behaves like a pseudo-tachyon, namely a particle with subluminal velocity and pure imaginary mass that fulfils the energy-momentum relation typical of classical tachyons. The obtained results are used to prove that the trembling motion of the particle position around the median, known as Zitterbewegung, also takes place for the superluminal neutrino, even if the oscillation velocity is always lower than the speed of light. Finally, the pseudo-tachyon wave packet is used to calculate the probability of oscillation between mass states, obtaining a formula analogous to the one obtained for the ordinary neutrino. This suggest that in the experiments concerning neutrino oscillation is not possible to distinguish tachyonic neutrinos from ordinary ones.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2020

Production of Tachyonic Neutrino in Matter

Recently, a new theory based on superluminal tunnelling has been proposed to explain the transition of highly energetic neutrinos propagating in matter to tachyonic states. In this work, we determine the possible mechanisms that lead neutrinos into a superluminal realm based on the assumption that ultrarelativistic neutrinos travelling in matter lose part of their energy with the emission of Bremsstrahlung radiation. The obtained photons, in turn, can create neutrino antineutrino pairs, one or both of which can be superluminal. We also prove that pair creation may occur with neutrino flavour oscillation provided that only one of them is a space-like particle. This suggests that mass oscillation and superluminal behaviour could be related phenomena. Finally, using the generalised Lorentz transformations, we formulate the Lagrangian of the kinematically allowed scattering processes. The structure of this Lagrangian is consistent with the formalism of the Standard Model. Based on this Lagrangian, at least one of the particles forming the pair must always be subluminal. The possibility that the pair creation process is mediated by a dark photon is also discussed.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2019

Evanescent Waves and Superluminal Behavior of Matter

An evanescent wave is a non-propagating wave with an imaginary wave vector. In this study, we prove that these are solutions of the tachyon-like Klein Gordon equation, and that in the tunneling of ultrarelativistic half integer spin particles they describe superluminal states arising from interactions between a particle and barrier. These states decay as a particle emerges from the opposite side of a potential barrier, conserving the same initial energy but not necessarily the same mass. The obtained theory is applied to the neutrino, to explain flavor oscillations during free flight and determine the conditions that maximize the probability of their occurrence.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2018

Particle Mass Oscillation through Tachyon Interaction

In this study, a novel theory to investigate the mass oscillation of particles is proposed. It has been proven that, at high-energy conditions, the fermion field described by Dirac Lagrangian interacts with the half-integer spin tachyon field with negative energy, causing the formation of composite particles whose mass depends on the total angular momentum. The proposed theory is based on a new interpretation of the Majorana equation for particles with arbitrary spin and shows that mass oscillation is a phenomenon in which the component of particle decay prevails over that of mixing mass states. Using the kinematic of Lemke for spacelike particle decay, we propose a mechanism able to explain the neutrino flavour change. The proposed mechanism is also investigated concerning the shape of its spectrum. Finally, the Lagrangian field of composite particles is formulated.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2018

Fermi theory of beta decay: A first attempt at electroweak unification

The purpose of this study, mainly historical and pedagogical, is to investigate the physical-mathematical similitudes of the spectroscopic and beta decay Fermi theories. Both theories were formulated using quantum perturbative theory that allowed obtaining equations whose algebraic structure and physical interpretation suggest that the two phenomena occur according to the same mechanism. Fermi, therefore, could have guessed well in advance of the times that the two theories could be unified into a single physical-mathematical model that led to different results depending on the considered energy. The electroweak unification found its full realization only in the 1960s within the Standard Model that, however, is mainly based on a mathematical approach. Retracing the reasoning made by Fermi facilitates the understanding of the physical foundations that underlie the unification of the electromagnetic and weak forces.

physics.hist-ph↗
arXiv2017

Determining a Quantum Theory of the Infinite-Component Majorana Field

In this paper, the quantum theory of the infinite-component Majorana field for the fermionic tower is formulated. This study proves that the energy states with increasing spin are simply composite systems made by a bradyon and antitachyons with half-integer spin. The quantum field describing these exotic states is obtained by the infinite sum of four-spinor operators, which each operator depends on the spin and the rest mass of the bradyon in its fundamental state. The interaction between bradyon-tachyon, tachyon-tachyon and tachyon-luxon has also been considered and included in the total Lagrangian. The obtained theory is consistent with the CPT invariance and the spin-statistics theorem and could explain the existence of new forms of matter not predictable within the standard model.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2017

Superluminal Tunneling of a Relativistic Half-Integer Spin Particle Through a Potential Barrier

This paper investigates the problem of a relativistic Dirac half integer spin free particle tunneling through a rectangular quantum-mechanical barrier. If the energy difference between the barrier and the particle is positive, and the barrier width is large enough, there is proof that the tunneling may be superluminal. For first spinor components of particle and antiparticle states, the tunneling is always superluminal regardless the barrier width. Conversely, the second spinor components of particle and antiparticle states may be either subluminal or superluminal depending on the barrier width. These results derive from studying the tunneling time in terms of phase time. For the first spinor components of particle and antiparticle states, it is always negative while for the second spinor components of particle and antiparticle states, it is always positive, whatever the height and width of the barrier. In total, the tunneling time always remains positive for particle states while it becomes negative for antiparticle ones. Furthermore, the phase time tends to zero, increasing the potential barrier both for particle and antiparticle states. This agrees with the interpretation of quantum tunneling that the Heisenberg uncertainty principle provides. This study results are innovative with respect to those available in the literature. Moreover, they show that the superluminal behaviour of particles occurs in those processes with high-energy confinement.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2017

Wave Packet Dynamics in the Majorana Equation

In the Majorana equation for particles with arbitrary spin, wave packets occur due to not only the uncertainty that affects position and momentum but also due to infinite components with decreasing mass that form the Majorana spinor. In this paper, we prove that such components contribute to increase the spreading of wave packets. Moreover, Zitterbewegung takes place in both the time propagation of Dirac wave packets and in Majorana wave packets. However, it shows a peculiar fine structure. Finally, group velocity always remains subluminal and contributions due to infinite components decrease progressively as spin increases.

physics.gen-ph↗