New results from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and Fermi Space Telescope

Researchers have reached a milestone in the field of quantum gravity research, finding first statistical support for quantum gravity.

In a study published in natural astronomy On June 12, a team of researchers from the University of Naples “Federico II”, the University of Wroclaw, and the University of Bergen examined a quantum gravity model of particle propagation in which the speed of supercorrelated particles decreases with higher energy. This effect is expected to be very small, proportional to the ratio between the particle energy and the Planck scale, but when very distant astrophysical sources are observed, it can build up to observable levels. The investigation used gamma-ray bursts observed by the Fermi telescope and high-energy neutrinos detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, testing the hypothesis that some neutrinos and some gamma-ray bursts may have a common origin but were observed at different times. As a result of the energy-dependent velocity decrease.

Illustration of the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope. Credit: NASA/Fermi and Aurore Simonet, Sonoma State University

“By combining data from IceCube and Fermi, we have found preliminary evidence supporting quantum gravity models that predict this effect. This marks an important milestone in the field of quantum gravity research since it is the first time that such a level of statistical evidence has been found supporting quantum gravity. says corresponding author, Professor Giovanni Amelino Camellia of the University of Naples on behalf of the team.

“While these results are preliminary, they provide a solid basis for more detailed investigations as we continue to collect data from our gamma-ray and neutrino telescopes. Even if future data do not confirm this effect, our findings will still provide strict limits on relevant model parameters.” , which would indeed represent a rare and notable step for quantum gravity research,” adds Amelino-Camellia.

Reference: “Can quantum gravity slow down neutrinos?” By Giovanni Amelino-Camellia, Maria Grazia de Luca, Giulia Gubitossi, Giacomo Rosati, and Giacomo D’Amico June 12, 2023 Available here. natural astronomy.
DOI: 10.1038/s41550-023-01993-z