In a groundbreaking study conducted at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the CMS collaboration has examined the behavior of top quarks in relation to Einstein's special theory of relativity. This research, reported on January 23, 2025, confirms that the fundamental principles of relativity remain intact, even under extreme conditions.
Central to this investigation is the concept of Lorentz symmetry, which asserts that experimental results are unaffected by the orientation or speed of the experiment. While special relativity has proven robust over time, some theoretical frameworks, particularly certain string theory models, suggest that at very high energies, the principles of relativity might break down, leading to observable effects based on experimental orientation.
The CMS collaboration's research focused on top quarks, the heaviest known elementary particles. By analyzing pairs of these quarks produced in proton-proton collisions, the team sought to identify any variations in production rates that could indicate Lorentz symmetry breaking. Given the Earth's rotation, the direction of the proton beams and the average direction of top quarks would fluctuate throughout the day. A consistent production rate would imply that Lorentz symmetry holds true.
The findings from the second run of the LHC show no deviations, supporting the validity of Einstein's theory. This research has established new limits on the potential magnitude of parameters that would indicate symmetry breaking, improving previous results by up to a factor of 100.
These results pave the way for future explorations of Lorentz symmetry using data from the LHC's third run. Moreover, they open avenues for investigating other heavy particles, including the Higgs boson and W and Z bosons, which can only be studied at the LHC. The implications of these discoveries could significantly enhance our understanding of fundamental physics and the universe's underlying principles.