Experimental Challenges for Quantum Gravity

Abstract

The existence of a new fundamental scale may lead to modified dispersion relations for particles at high energies. Such modifications seem to be realized with the Planck scale in certain descriptions of quantum gravity. We apply effective field theory to this problem and identify dimension 5 operators that would lead to cubic modifications of dispersion relations for Standard Model particles. We also discuss other issues related to this approach including various experimental bounds on the strength of these interactions. Further we sketch a scenario where mixing of these operators with dimensions 3 and 4 due to quantum effects is minimal.