Why 3-momenta + lorentz invariance = large energy?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between Lorentz invariance and the correspondence between large 3-momentum and large energy. Participants explore theoretical implications, particularly in the context of speculative models that may challenge established physics principles.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why large 3-momentum corresponds to large energy under Lorentz invariance, suggesting that without it, this relationship may not hold.
  • Others argue that in Newtonian mechanics, large 3-momentum does correspond to large energy, implying that this relationship is not solely dependent on Lorentz invariance.
  • A participant introduces a speculative model where Lorentz invariance is emergent at large distances, proposing that at small distances, large 3-momentum may not imply large energy, citing a specific dispersion relation.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the relationship between energy and 3-momentum could break down if Lorentz invariance does not apply at small scales, but notes that no experimental evidence currently supports this scenario.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the speculative nature of the proposed dispersion relation that could violate the established linkage between energy and momentum.
  • Participants discuss the standard dispersion relations in both relativistic and non-relativistic contexts, asserting that they imply large momentum leads to large energy.
  • Questions arise regarding the specific values and origins of coefficients in the proposed dispersion relation, but some participants redirect these inquiries to a different forum, indicating a boundary on the discussion's scope.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; there are multiple competing views regarding the implications of Lorentz invariance on the relationship between 3-momentum and energy, with some supporting established physics and others exploring speculative models.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to speculative hypotheses that lack experimental support, and there are unresolved questions about the implications of these models on established physics principles.

lucas_
Messages
413
Reaction score
23
Why is that when there is lorentz invariance. Large 3-momentum corresponds to a large energy. And if there was no lorentz invariance. Large 3-momentum does not necessarily need to correspond to a large energy?

What has Lorentz invariance got to do with 3-momentum having large energy or not?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
lucas_ said:
if there was no lorentz invariance. Large 3-momentum does not necessarily need to correspond to a large energy?

Why do you think this is true? In Newtonian mechanics, large 3-momentum does correspond to large energy.
 
PeterDonis said:
Why do you think this is true? In Newtonian mechanics, large 3-momentum does correspond to large energy.

This is the context:

Demystifier said:
To probe small spatial distances, one needs large 3-momenta. But if Lorentz invariance is emergent at large distances and not fundamental at small distances, then large 3-momentum does not necessarily need to correspond to a large energy. For instance, if the dispersion relation is something like
$$\omega^2=c_0+c_2{\bf k}^2+c_4{\bf k}^4+...$$
with ##c_0=m^2\geq 0##, ##c_2=1## and ##c_4<0##, then one can have small energy ##\omega## for a sufficiently large momentum ##|{\bf k}|##.

Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/volovik-vs-witten-vs-wen-etc.974294/#post-6202038

Kindly rephrase it because I don't understand the relationship between Lorentz invariance and 3-momentum having large energy or not. Thank you.
 
lucas_ said:
This is the context

It really, really helps, if you are asking a question based on a post in another thread, to give a link to that post, and quote from it, in your OP, instead of waiting for someone to ask for context.

What you are referring to is, as I've said in other threads, a post describing a speculative model with no evidence in its favor. Discussions of that speculative model (with references to papers in which it is published), as I have already said in other threads, belong in the Beyond the Standard Model forum, not this one.

lucas_ said:
I don't understand the relationship between Lorentz invariance and 3-momentum having large energy or not

That's because you're mixing up speculative hypotheses with actual established physics. As far as actual established physics, based on actual experimental results, is concerned, large 3-momentum does correspond to large energy.
 
Last edited:
“But if Lorentz invariance is emergent at large distances and not fundamental at small distances...”
The word “if” is important here. If Lorentz invariance does not apply at sufficiently small scales then the relationship between energy and three-momentum (the more of one, the more of the other) that we know and love might break down.

But that’s “if”. No experiment so far as ever come anywhere near the scale where such a thing might be observed, nor given us any reason to think it might happen.
 
Nugatory said:
the relationship between energy and three-momentum (the more of one, the more of the other) that we know and love might break down.

Note that it's not enough just for Lorentz invariance to no longer hold. As I pointed out earlier, even in Newtonian mechanics, large 3-momentum and large energy go together. The hypothesized dispersion relation that would cause this linkage to be violated is much more of a speculative hypothesis than just "Lorentz invariance breaks down".
 
PeterDonis said:
Note that it's not enough just for Lorentz invariance to no longer hold. As I pointed out earlier, even in Newtonian mechanics, large 3-momentum and large energy go together. The hypothesized dispersion relation that would cause this linkage to be violated is much more of a speculative hypothesis than just "Lorentz invariance breaks down".

What is supposed to be the normal dispersion relation formula and values that gives large momenta and large energy?

For instance, if the dispersion relation is something like
$$\omega^2=c_0+c_2{\bf k}^2+c_4{\bf k}^4+...$$
with ##c_0=m^2\geq 0##, ##c_2=1## and ##c_4<0##, then one can have small energy ##\omega## for a sufficiently large momentum ##|{\bf k}|##.
 
PeterDonis said:
Note that it's not enough just for Lorentz invariance to no longer hold
That’s right - perhaps the word “might” needs as much emphasis as the word “if”.
 
lucas_ said:
What is supposed to be the normal dispersion relation formula and values that gives large momenta and large energy?

The relativistic dispersion relation is ##E = \sqrt{p^2 + m^2}##. The non-relativistic one is ##E = p^2 / 2m##. Both of them obviously imply that large ##p## means large ##E##.
 
  • #10
PeterDonis said:
The relativistic dispersion relation is ##E = \sqrt{p^2 + m^2}##. The non-relativistic one is ##E = p^2 / 2m##. Both of them obviously imply that large ##p## means large ##E##.

What is its equivalent in terms of the following (in quote)? What are the normal values of
##c_0##, ##c_2## and ##c_4## ? Where does for example the term
$$c_2{\bf k}^2+c_4{\bf k}^4+...$$ come from?


For instance, if the dispersion relation is something like
$$\omega^2=c_0+c_2{\bf k}^2+c_4{\bf k}^4+...$$
with ##c_0=m^2\geq 0##, ##c_2=1## and ##c_4<0##, then one can have small energy ##\omega## for a sufficiently large momentum ##|{\bf k}|##.
 
  • #11
lucas_ said:
What is its equivalent in terms of the following (in quote)?

I have told you multiple times now that questions about the particular speculative hypothesis you are asking about need to be asked in the Beyond the Standard Model forum, not this one. There is even a thread on it in that forum; you've linked to it yourself. If you have questions about it, you can ask them there.

This thread is closed.
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 72 ·
3
Replies
72
Views
7K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 101 ·
4
Replies
101
Views
7K
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
4K
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
10K