Tachyon Dynamics - for Neutrinos?

Following earlier studies that provided a consistent theory of kinematics for tachyons (faster-than-light particles) we here embark on a study of tachyon dynamics, both in classical physics and in the quantum theory. Examining a general scattering process we come to recognize that the labels given to "in" and "out" states are not Lorentz invariant for tachyons; and this lets us find a sensible interpretation of negative energy states. For statistical mechanics, as well as for scattering problems, we study what should be the proper expression for density of states for tachyons. We review the previous work on quantization of a Dirac field for tachyons and go on to expand earlier considerations of neutrinos as tachyons in the context of cosmology. We stumble into the realization that tachyon neutrinos would contribute to gravitation with the opposite sign compared to tachyon antineutrinos. This leads to the gobsmacking prediction that the Cosmic Neutrino Background, if they are indeed tachyons, might explain both phenomena of Dark Matter and Dark Energy. This theoretical study also makes contact with the anticipated results from the experiments KATRIN and PTOLEMY, which focus on beta decay and neutrino absorption by Tritium.Comment: 27 pages; added Appendix B on Dark Matte

Revised Theory of Tachyons in General Relativity

A minus sign is inserted, for good reason, into the formula for the Energy-Momentum Tensor for tachyons. This leads to remarkable theoretical consequences and a plausible explanation for the phenomenon called Dark Energy in the cosmos.Comment: 5 pages; minor changes in Section 2 and Section

A Conjecture about Conserved Symmetric Tensors

We consider T(x), a tensor of arbitrary rank that is symmetric in all of its indices and conserved in the sense that the divergence on any one index vanishes. Our conjecture is that all integral moments of this tensor will vanish if the number of coordinates in that integral moment is less than the rank of the tensor. This result is proved explicitly for a number of particular cases, assuming adequate dimensionality of the Euclidean space of coordinates (x); but a general proof is lacking. Along the way, we find some neat results for certain large matrices generated by permutations

Toward a Quantum Theory of Tachyon Fields

We construct momentum space expansions for the wave functions that solve the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations for tachyons, recognizing that the mass shell for such fields is very different from what we are used to for ordinary (slower than light) particles. We find that we can postulate commutation or anticommutation rules for the operators that lead to physically sensible results: causality, for tachyon fields, means that there is no connection between spacetime points separated by a timelike interval. Calculating the conserved charge and 4-momentum for these fields allows us to interpret the number operators for particles and antiparticles in a consistent manner; and we see that helicity plays a critical role for the spinor field. Some questions about Lorentz invariance are addressed and some remain unresolved; and we show how to handle the group representation for tachyon spinors.Comment: 17 page

More Special Functions Trapped

We extend the technique of using the Trapezoidal Rule for efficient evaluation of the Special Functions of Mathematical Physics given by integral representations. This technique was recently used for Bessel functions, and here we treat Incomplete Gamma functions and the general Confluent Hypergeometric Function.Comment: 6 page

Experiment and Theory in Computations of the He Atom Ground State

Extensive variational computations are reported for the ground state energy of the non-relativistic two-electron atom. Several different sets of basis functions were systematically explored, starting with the original scheme of Hylleraas. The most rapid convergence is found with a combination of negative powers and a logarithm of the coordinate s = r_{1}+ r_{2}. At N=3091 terms we pass the previous best calculation (Korobov's 25 decimal accuracy with N=5200 terms) and we stop at N=10257 with E = -2.90372 43770 34119 59831 11592 45194 40444 ... Previous mathematical analysis sought to link the convergence rate of such calculations to specific analytic properties of the functions involved. The application of that theory to this new experimental data leaves a rather frustrating situation, where we seem able to do little more than invoke vague concepts, such as ``flexibility.'' We conclude that theoretical understanding here lags well behind the power of available computing machinery.Comment: 15 page