Čerenkov effect in Lorentz-violating vacua

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.70.125010
• Publication Date: 2004-12-10T22:52:55Z
• Authors: Ralf Lehnert; Robertus Potting
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences

The emission of electromagnetic radiation by charges moving uniformly in a Lorentz-violating vacuum is studied. The analysis is performed within the classical Maxwell-Chern-Simons limit of the Standard-Model Extension and confirms the possibility of a Cerenkov-type effect. In this context, various properties of Cerenkov radiation including the rate, polarization, and propagation features, are discussed, and the backreaction on the charge is investigated. An interpretation of this effect supplementing the conventional one is given. The emerging physical picture leads to a universal methodology for studying the Cerenkov effect in more general situations.