Phenomenology of Lorentz-Conserving Noncommutative QED

Abstract

Recently a version of Lorentz-conserving noncommutative field theory (NCFT) has been suggested. The underlying Lie algebra of the theory is the same as that of Doplicher, Fredenhagen, and Roberts. In Lorentz-conserving NCFT the matrix parameter {theta}^{mu nu} which characterizes the canonical NCFT's is promoted to an operator {theta hat}^{mu nu} that transforms as a Lorentz tensor. In this paper, we calculate phenomenological consequences of the QED version of this theory by looking at various collider processes. In particular we calculate modifications to Moller scattering, Bhabha scattering, e^+e^- --> mu^+ mu^- and e^+e^- --> gamma gamma. We obtain bounds on the noncommutativity scale from the existing experiments at LEP and make predictions for what may be seen in future collider experiments.