Stringent Tests of Lorentz Invariance Violation from LHAASO Observations of GRB 221009A

Zhen Cao; F Aharonian; Axikegu; Y X Bai; Y W Bao; D Bastieri; X J Bi; Y J Bi; W Bian; A V Bukevich; Q Cao; W Y Cao; Zhe Cao; J Chang; J F Chang; A M Chen; E S Chen; H X Chen; Liang Chen; Lin Chen; Long Chen; M J Chen; M L Chen; Q H Chen; S Chen; S H Chen; S Z Chen; T L Chen; Y Chen; N Cheng; Y D Cheng; M Y Cui; S W Cui; X H Cui; Y D Cui; B Z Dai; H L Dai; Z G Dai; Danzengluobu; X Q Dong; K K Duan; J H Fan; Y Z Fan; J Fang; J H Fang; K Fang; C F Feng; H Feng; L Feng; S H Feng; X T Feng; Y Feng; Y L Feng; S Gabici; B Gao; C D Gao; Q Gao; W Gao; W K Gao; M M Ge; L S Geng; G Giacinti; G H Gong; Q B Gou; M H Gu; F L Guo; X L Guo; Y Q Guo; Y Y Guo; Y A Han; M Hasan; H H He; H N He; J Y He; Y He; Y K Hor; B W Hou; C Hou; X Hou; H B Hu; Q Hu; S C Hu; D H Huang; T Q Huang; W J Huang; X T Huang; X Y Huang; Y Huang; X L Ji; H Y Jia; K Jia; K Jiang; X W Jiang; Z J Jiang; M Jin; M M Kang; I Karpikov; D Kuleshov; K Kurinov; B B Li; C M Li; Cheng Li; Cong Li; D Li; F Li; H B Li; H C Li; Jian Li; Jie Li; K Li; S D Li; W L Li; W L Li; X R Li; Xin Li; Y Z Li; Zhe Li; Zhuo Li; E W Liang; Y F Liang; S J Lin; B Liu; C Liu; D Liu; D B Liu; H Liu; H D Liu; J Liu; J L Liu; M Y Liu; R Y Liu; S M Liu; W Liu; Y Liu; Y N Liu; Q Luo; Y Luo; H K Lv; B Q Ma; L L Ma; X H Ma; J R Mao; Z Min; W Mitthumsiri; H J Mu; Y C Nan; A Neronov; L J Ou; P Pattarakijwanich; Z Y Pei; J C Qi; M Y Qi; B Q Qiao; J J Qin; A Raza; D Ruffolo; A Sáiz; M Saeed; D Semikoz; L Shao; O Shchegolev; X D Sheng; F W Shu; H C Song; Yu V Stenkin; V Stepanov; Y Su; D X Sun; Q N Sun; X N Sun; Z B Sun; J Takata; P H T Tam; Q W Tang; R Tang; Z B Tang; W W Tian; C Wang; C B Wang; G W Wang; H G Wang; H H Wang; J C Wang; Kai Wang; Kai Wang; L P Wang; L Y Wang; P H Wang; R Wang; W Wang; X G Wang; X Y Wang; Y Wang; Y D Wang; Y J Wang; Z H Wang; Z X Wang; Zhen Wang; Zheng Wang; D M Wei; J J Wei; Y J Wei; T Wen; C Y Wu; H R Wu; Q W Wu; S Wu; X F Wu; Y S Wu; S Q Xi; J Xia; G M Xiang; D X Xiao; G Xiao; Y L Xin; Y Xing; D R Xiong; Z Xiong; D L Xu; R F Xu; R X Xu; W L Xu; L Xue; D H Yan; J Z Yan; T Yan; C W Yang; C Y Yang; F Yang; F F Yang; L L Yang; M J Yang; R Z Yang; W X Yang; Y H Yao; Z G Yao; L Q Yin; N Yin; X H You; Z Y You; Y H Yu; Q Yuan; H Yue; H D Zeng; T X Zeng; W Zeng; M Zha; B B Zhang; F Zhang; H Zhang; H M Zhang; H Y Zhang; J L Zhang; Li Zhang; P F Zhang; P P Zhang; R Zhang; S B Zhang; S R Zhang; S S Zhang; X Zhang; X P Zhang; Y F Zhang; Yi Zhang; Yong Zhang; B Zhao; J Zhao; L Zhao; L Z Zhao; S P Zhao; X H Zhao; F Zheng; W J Zhong; B Zhou; H Zhou; J N Zhou; M Zhou; P Zhou; R Zhou; X X Zhou; X X Zhou; B Y Zhu; C G Zhu; F R Zhu; H Zhu; K J Zhu; Y C Zou; X Zuo; LHAASO Collaboration

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.071501

Stringent Tests of Lorentz Invariance Violation from LHAASO Observations of GRB 221009A

Phys Rev Lett. 2024 Aug 16;133(7):071501. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.071501.

Authors

Zhen Cao^{1

2

3}, F Aharonian^{4

5}, Axikegu⁶, Y X Bai^{1

3}, Y W Bao⁷, D Bastieri⁸, X J Bi^{1

2

3}, Y J Bi^{1

3}, W Bian⁹, A V Bukevich¹⁰, Q Cao¹¹, W Y Cao¹², Zhe Cao^{12

13}, J Chang¹⁴, J F Chang^{1

3

13}, A M Chen⁹, E S Chen^{1

2

3}, H X Chen¹⁵, Liang Chen¹⁶, Lin Chen⁶, Long Chen⁶, M J Chen^{1

3}, M L Chen^{1

3

13}, Q H Chen⁶, S Chen¹⁷, S H Chen^{1

2

3}, S Z Chen^{1

3}, T L Chen¹⁸, Y Chen⁷, N Cheng^{1

3}, Y D Cheng^{1

2

3}, M Y Cui¹⁴, S W Cui¹¹, X H Cui¹⁹, Y D Cui²⁰, B Z Dai¹⁷, H L Dai^{1

3

13}, Z G Dai¹², Danzengluobu¹⁸, X Q Dong^{1

2

3}, K K Duan¹⁴, J H Fan⁸, Y Z Fan¹⁴, J Fang¹⁷, J H Fang¹⁵, K Fang^{1

3}, C F Feng²¹, H Feng¹, L Feng¹⁴, S H Feng^{1

3}, X T Feng²¹, Y Feng¹⁵, Y L Feng¹⁸, S Gabici²², B Gao^{1

3}, C D Gao²¹, Q Gao¹⁸, W Gao^{1

3}, W K Gao^{1

2

3}, M M Ge¹⁷, L S Geng^{1

3}, G Giacinti⁹, G H Gong²³, Q B Gou^{1

3}, M H Gu^{1

3

13}, F L Guo¹⁶, X L Guo⁶, Y Q Guo^{1

3}, Y Y Guo¹⁴, Y A Han²⁴, M Hasan^{1

2

3}, H H He^{1

2

3}, H N He¹⁴, J Y He¹⁴, Y He⁶, Y K Hor²⁰, B W Hou^{1

2

3}, C Hou^{1

3}, X Hou²⁵, H B Hu^{1

2

3}, Q Hu^{12

14}, S C Hu^{1

3

26}, D H Huang⁶, T Q Huang^{1

3}, W J Huang²⁰, X T Huang²¹, X Y Huang¹⁴, Y Huang^{1

2

3}, X L Ji^{1

3

13}, H Y Jia⁶, K Jia²¹, K Jiang^{12

13}, X W Jiang^{1

3}, Z J Jiang¹⁷, M Jin⁶, M M Kang²⁷, I Karpikov¹⁰, D Kuleshov¹⁰, K Kurinov¹⁰, B B Li¹¹, C M Li⁷, Cheng Li^{12

13}, Cong Li^{1

3}, D Li^{1

2

3}, F Li^{1

3

13}, H B Li^{1

3}, H C Li^{1

3}, Jian Li¹², Jie Li^{1

3

13}, K Li^{1

3}, S D Li^{2

16}, W L Li²¹, W L Li⁹, X R Li^{1

3}, Xin Li^{12

13}, Y Z Li^{1

2

3}, Zhe Li^{1

3}, Zhuo Li²⁸, E W Liang²⁹, Y F Liang²⁹, S J Lin²⁰, B Liu¹², C Liu^{1

3}, D Liu²¹, D B Liu⁹, H Liu⁶, H D Liu²⁴, J Liu^{1

3}, J L Liu^{1

3}, M Y Liu¹⁸, R Y Liu⁷, S M Liu⁶, W Liu^{1

3}, Y Liu⁸, Y N Liu²³, Q Luo²⁰, Y Luo⁹, H K Lv^{1

3}, B Q Ma²⁸, L L Ma^{1

3}, X H Ma^{1

3}, J R Mao²⁵, Z Min^{1

3}, W Mitthumsiri³⁰, H J Mu²⁴, Y C Nan^{1

3}, A Neronov²², L J Ou⁸, P Pattarakijwanich³⁰, Z Y Pei⁸, J C Qi^{1

2

3}, M Y Qi^{1

3}, B Q Qiao^{1

3}, J J Qin¹², A Raza^{1

2

3}, D Ruffolo³⁰, A Sáiz³⁰, M Saeed^{1

2

3}, D Semikoz²², L Shao¹¹, O Shchegolev^{10

31}, X D Sheng^{1

3}, F W Shu³², H C Song²⁸, Yu V Stenkin^{10

31}, V Stepanov¹⁰, Y Su¹⁴, D X Sun^{12

14}, Q N Sun⁶, X N Sun²⁹, Z B Sun³³, J Takata³⁴, P H T Tam²⁰, Q W Tang³², R Tang⁹, Z B Tang^{12

13}, W W Tian^{2

19}, C Wang³³, C B Wang⁶, G W Wang¹², H G Wang⁸, H H Wang²⁰, J C Wang²⁵, Kai Wang⁷, Kai Wang³⁴, L P Wang^{1

2

3}, L Y Wang^{1

3}, P H Wang⁶, R Wang²¹, W Wang²⁰, X G Wang²⁹, X Y Wang⁷, Y Wang⁶, Y D Wang^{1

3}, Y J Wang^{1

3}, Z H Wang²⁷, Z X Wang¹⁷, Zhen Wang⁹, Zheng Wang^{1

3

13}, D M Wei¹⁴, J J Wei¹⁴, Y J Wei^{1

2

3}, T Wen¹⁷, C Y Wu^{1

3}, H R Wu^{1

3}, Q W Wu³⁴, S Wu^{1

3}, X F Wu¹⁴, Y S Wu¹², S Q Xi^{1

3}, J Xia^{12

14}, G M Xiang^{2

16}, D X Xiao¹¹, G Xiao^{1

3}, Y L Xin⁶, Y Xing¹⁶, D R Xiong²⁵, Z Xiong^{1

2

3}, D L Xu⁹, R F Xu^{1

2

3}, R X Xu²⁸, W L Xu²⁷, L Xue²¹, D H Yan¹⁷, J Z Yan¹⁴, T Yan^{1

3}, C W Yang²⁷, C Y Yang²⁵, F Yang¹¹, F F Yang^{1

3

13}, L L Yang²⁰, M J Yang^{1

3}, R Z Yang¹², W X Yang⁸, Y H Yao^{1

3}, Z G Yao^{1

3}, L Q Yin^{1

3}, N Yin²¹, X H You^{1

3}, Z Y You^{1

3}, Y H Yu¹², Q Yuan¹⁴, H Yue^{1

2

3}, H D Zeng¹⁴, T X Zeng^{1

3

13}, W Zeng¹⁷, M Zha^{1

3}, B B Zhang⁷, F Zhang⁶, H Zhang⁹, H M Zhang⁷, H Y Zhang^{1

3}, J L Zhang¹⁹, Li Zhang¹⁷, P F Zhang¹⁷, P P Zhang^{12

14}, R Zhang^{12

14}, S B Zhang^{2

19}, S R Zhang¹¹, S S Zhang^{1

3}, X Zhang⁷, X P Zhang^{1

3}, Y F Zhang⁶, Yi Zhang^{1

14}, Yong Zhang^{1

3}, B Zhao⁶, J Zhao^{1

3}, L Zhao^{12

13}, L Z Zhao¹¹, S P Zhao¹⁴, X H Zhao²⁵, F Zheng³³, W J Zhong⁷, B Zhou^{1

3}, H Zhou⁹, J N Zhou¹⁶, M Zhou³², P Zhou⁷, R Zhou²⁷, X X Zhou^{1

2

3}, X X Zhou⁶, B Y Zhu^{12

14}, C G Zhu²¹, F R Zhu⁶, H Zhu¹⁹, K J Zhu^{1

2

3

13}, Y C Zou³⁴, X Zuo^{1

3}; LHAASO Collaboration

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics and Experimental Physics Division and Computing Center, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
³ Tianfu Cosmic Ray Research Center, 610000 Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
⁴ Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 31 Fitzwilliam Place, 2 Dublin, Ireland.
⁵ Max-Planck-Institut for Nuclear Physics, P.O. Box 103980, 69029 Heidelberg, Germany.
⁶ School of Physical Science and Technology and School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University, 610031 Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
⁷ School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
⁸ Center for Astrophysics, Guangzhou University, 510006 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
⁹ Tsung-Dao Lee Institute and School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, China.
¹⁰ Institute for Nuclear Research of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia.
¹¹ Hebei Normal University, 050024 Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
¹² University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, Anhui, China.
¹³ State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and Electronics, China.
¹⁴ Key Laboratory of Dark Matter and Space Astronomy and Key Laboratory of Radio Astronomy, <a href="https://ror.org/02eb4t121">Purple Mountain Observatory</a>, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 210023 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
¹⁵ Research Center for Astronomical Computing, Zhejiang Laboratory, 311121 Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
¹⁶ Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200030 Shanghai, China.
¹⁷ School of Physics and Astronomy, Yunnan University, 650091 Kunming, Yunnan, China.
¹⁸ Key Laboratory of Cosmic Rays (Tibet University), Ministry of Education, 850000 Lhasa, Tibet, China.
¹⁹ National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China.
²⁰ School of Physics and Astronomy (Zhuhai) and School of Physics (Guangzhou) and Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, 519000 Zhuhai and 510275 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
²¹ Institute of Frontier and Interdisciplinary Science, Shandong University, 266237 Qingdao, Shandong, China.
²² APC, Université Paris Cité, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/IRFU, Observatoire de Paris, 119 75205 Paris, France.
²³ Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China.
²⁴ School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, 450001 Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
²⁵ Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650216 Kunming, Yunnan, China.
²⁶ China Center of Advanced Science and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
²⁷ College of Physics, Sichuan University, 610065 Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
²⁸ School of Physics, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China.
²⁹ Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, 530004 Nanning, Guangxi, China.
³⁰ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
³¹ Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Moscow, Russia.
³² Center for Relativistic Astrophysics and High Energy Physics, School of Physics and Materials Science and Institute of Space Science and Technology, Nanchang University, 330031 Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
³³ National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China.
³⁴ School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China.

PMID: 39213544
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.071501

Abstract

On 9 October 2022, the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) reported the observation of the very early TeV afterglow of the brightest-of-all-time gamma-ray burst 221009A, recording the highest photon statistics in the TeV band ever obtained from a gamma-ray burst. We use this unique observation to place stringent constraints on the energy dependence of the speed of light in vacuum, a manifestation of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) predicted by some quantum gravity (QG) theories. Our results show that the 95% confidence level lower limits on the QG energy scales are E_{QG,1}>10 times the Planck energy E_{Pl} for the linear LIV effect, and E_{QG,2}>6×10^{-8}E_{Pl} for the quadratic LIV effect. Our limits on the quadratic LIV case improve previous best bounds by factors of 5-7.