Exploring Special Relative Locality with deSitter momentum-space

Relative Locality is a recent approach to the quantum-gravity problem which allows to tame nonlocality effects which may rise in some models which try to describe Planck-scale physics. I here explore the effect of Relative Locality on basic special-relativistic phenomena. In particular I study the deformations due to Relative Locality of special-relativistic transformation laws for momenta at all orders in the rapidity parameter $\xi$. I underline how those transformations also define the RL characteristic (momentum-dependent) invariant metric. I focus my analysis on the well studied deSitter momentum-space framework and I investigate the differences and similarities between this model and Special Relativity, from the definition of the boost parameter $\gamma$ to a first discussion of transverse-effects characteristic of Relative Locality on clocks observables.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Rainbow metric formalism and Relative Locality

This proceeding is based on a talk prepared for the XIII Marcell Grossmann meeting. We summarise some results of work in progress in collaboration with Giovanni Amelino-Camelia about momentum dependent (Rainbow) metrics in a Relative Locality framework and we show that this formalism is equivalent to the Hamiltonian formalization of Relative Locality obtained in arXiv:1102.4637.Comment: appears in Proceedings of the 13th Marcell Grossmann meeting on General Relativity, World Scientific, Singapore, (2014

Quantum Gravity phenomenology and metric formalism

In this proceedings for the MG14 conference, we discuss the construction of a phenomenology of Planck-scale effects in curved spacetimes, underline a few open issues and describe some perspectives for the future of this research line

The mechanics of active clays circulated by salts, acids and bases: Comprehensive version

An elastic-plastic model that accounts for electro-chemo-mechanical couplings in clays, due to the presence of dissolved salts and acids and bases, is developed here for the first time. To the authors' best knowledge, no other comprehensive project to embody the effects of pH in the elastic-plastic behavior of geomaterials has been attempted so far. Chemically sensitive clays are viewed as two-phase multi-species saturated porous media circulated by an electrolyte. The developments are embedded in the framework of the thermodynamics of multi-phase multi-species porous media. This approach serves to structure the model, and to motivate constitutive equations. The present extension capitalize upon the earlier developments by Gajo et al. [2002] and Gajo and Loret [2004], which were devoted to modeling chemo-mechanical couplings at constant pH. Four transfer mechanisms between the solid and fluid phases are delineated in the model: (1) hydration, (2) ion exchange, (3) acidification, (4) alkalinization. Thus all fundamental exchanges at particle level are fully taken into account. Only mineral dissolution is neglected, since experimental observations indicates a negligible role of mineral dissolution for active clays at room temperature. In particular, the newly considered mechanisms of acidification and alkalinization directly affect the electrical charge of clay particles and thus have a key role in the electro-chemo-mechanical couplings. These four mechanisms are seen as controlling both elastic and elasto-plastic behaviors. Depending on concentrations and ionic affinities to the clay mineral, these mechanisms either compete or cooperate to modify the compressibility and strength of the clay and may induce swelling (volume expansion) or shrinking (volume contraction). The framework is rich enough to allow for the simulations of recently performed laboratory experiments on clay samples submitted to intertwined mechanical and chemical loading programmes, involving large changes in ionic strengths and pH. This work is the comprehensive version of the paper published on the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 55(8), 1762-180

Dual redshift on Planck-scale-curved momentum spaces

Several approaches to the investigation of the quantum-gravity problem have provided "theoretical evidence" of a role for the Planck scale in characterizing the geometry of momentum space. One of the main obstructions for a full exploitation of this scenario is the understanding of the role of the Planck-scale-curved geometry of momentum space in the correlations between emission and detection times, the "travel times" for a particle to go from a given emitter to a given detector. These travel times appear to receive Planck-scale corrections for which no standard interpretation is applicable, and the associated implications for spacetime locality gave rise to the notion of "relative locality" which is still in the early stages of investigation. We here show that these Planck-scale corrections to travel times can be described as "dual redshift" (or "lateshift"): they are manifestations of momentum-space curvature of the same type already known for ordinary redshift produced by spacetime curvature. In turn we can identify the novel notion of "relative momentum-space locality" as a known but under-appreciated feature associated to ordinary redshift produced by spacetime curvature, and this can be described in complete analogy with the relative spacetime locality that became of interest in the recent quantum-gravity literature. We also briefly comment on how these findings may be relevant for an approach to the quantum-gravity problem proposed by Max Born in 1938 and centered on Born duality.Comment: 13 pages, LaTe

Hamilton Geometry - Phase Space Geometry from Modified Dispersion Relations

Quantum gravity phenomenology suggests an effective modification of the general relativistic dispersion relation of freely falling point particles caused by an underlying theory of quantum gravity. Here we analyse the consequences of modifications of the general relativistic dispersion on the geometry of spacetime in the language of Hamilton geometry. The dispersion relation is interpreted as the Hamiltonian which determines the motion of point particles. It is a function on the cotangent bundle of spacetime, i.e. on phase space, and determines the geometry of phase space completely, in a similar way as the metric determines the geometry of spacetime in general relativity. After a review of the general Hamilton geometry of phase space we discuss two examples. The phase space geometry of the metric Hamiltonian $H_g(x,p)=g^{ab}(x)p_ap_b$ and the phase space geometry of the first order q-de Sitter dispersion relation of the form $H_{qDS}(x,p)=g^{ab}(x)p_ap_b + \ell G^{abc}(x)p_ap_bp_c$ which is suggested from quantum gravity phenomenology. We will see that for the metric Hamiltonian $H_g$ the geometry of phase space is equivalent to the standard metric spacetime geometry from general relativity. For the q-de Sitter Hamiltonian $H_{qDS}$ the Hamilton equations of motion for point particles do not become autoparallels but contain a force term, the momentum space part of phase space is curved and the curvature of spacetime becomes momentum dependent.Comment: 6 page

Quantum-gravity-induced dual lensing and IceCube neutrinos

Momentum-space curvature, which is expected in some approaches to the quantum-gravity problem, can produce dual redshift, a feature which introduces energy dependence of the travel times of ultrarelativistic particles, and dual lensing, a feature which mainly affects the direction of observation of particles. In our recent arXiv:1605.00496 we explored the possibility that dual redshift might be relevant in the analysis of IceCube neutrinos, obtaining results which are preliminarily encouraging. Here we explore the possibility that also dual lensing might play a role in the analysis of IceCube neutrinos. In doing so we also investigate issues which are of broader interest, such as the possibility of estimating the contribution by background neutrinos and some noteworthy differences between candidate "early neutrinos" and candidate "late neutrinos".Comment: In this version V2 we give a definition of variation probability which could be considered in alternative to the notion of variation probability already introduced in version V1; both notions of variation probability are contemplated in the data analysis. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1605.0049

Hamilton geometry: Phase space geometry from modified dispersion relations

We describe the Hamilton geometry of the phase space of particles whose motion is characterised by general dispersion relations. In this framework spacetime and momentum space are naturally curved and intertwined, allowing for a simultaneous description of both spacetime curvature and non-trivial momentum space geometry. We consider as explicit examples two models for Planck-scale modified dispersion relations, inspired from the $q$-de Sitter and $\kappa$-Poincar\'e quantum groups. In the first case we find the expressions for the momentum and position dependent curvature of spacetime and momentum space, while for the second case the manifold is flat and only the momentum space possesses a nonzero, momentum dependent curvature. In contrast, for a dispersion relation that is induced by a spacetime metric, as in General Relativity, the Hamilton geometry yields a flat momentum space and the usual curved spacetime geometry with only position dependent geometric objects.Comment: 32 pages, section on quantisation of the theory added, comments on additin of momenta on curved momentum spaces extende

Rainbows without unicorns: Metric structures in theories with Modified Dispersion Relations

Rainbow metrics are a widely used approach to metric formalism for theories with Modified Dispersion Relations. They have had a huge success in the Quantum Gravity Phenomenology literature, since they allow to introduce momentum-dependent spacetime metrics into the description of systems with Modified Dispersion Relation. In this paper, we introduce the reader to some realizations of this general idea: the original Rainbow metrics proposal, the momentum-space-inspired metric, the standard Finsler geometry approach and our alternative definition of a four-velocity-dependent metric with a massless limit. This paper aims to highlight some of their properties and how to properly describe their relativistic realizations.Comment: 10 pages. Discussion on the role of connections was added. Matches published versio

The role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity in ovarian cancer progression and therapy resistance

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of all gynecologic malignancies and the eighth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The main reasons for this poor prognosis are late diagnosis; when the disease is already in an advanced stage, and the frequent development of resistance to current chemotherapeutic regimens. Growing evidence demonstrates that apart from its role in ovarian cancer progression, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can promote chemotherapy resistance. In this review, we will highlight the contribution of EMT to the distinct steps of ovarian cancer progression. In addition, we will review the different types of ovarian cancer resistance to therapy with particular attention to EMT-mediated mechanisms such as cell fate transitions, enhancement of cancer cell survival, and upregulation of genes related to drug resistance. Preclinical studies of anti-EMT therapies have yielded promising results. However, before anti-EMT therapies can be effectively implemented in clinical trials, more research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms leading to EMT-induced therapy resistance