Observational Limits on Quantum Geometry Effects

Abstract

Using a form of modified dispersion relations derived in the context of quantum geometry, we investigate limits set by current observations on potential corrections to Lorentz invariance. We use a phenomological model in which there are separate parameters for photons, leptons, and hadrons. Constraints on these parameters are derived using thresholds for the processes of photon stability, photon absorption, vacuum Cerenkov radiation, pion stability, and the GZK cutoff. Although the allowed region in parameter space is tightly constrained, non-vanishing corrections to Lorentz symmetry due to quantum geometry are consistent with current astrophysical observations.