Dispersion relations alone cannot guarantee causality

DOI10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.132.162301arXiv2307.05987MaRDI QIDQ6511034FDOQ6511034

Authors: L. Gavassino, Marcelo M. Disconzi, Jorge Noronha 

Abstract: We show that linear superpositions of plane waves involving a single-valued, covariantly stable dispersion relation $omega(k)$ always propagate outside the lightcone, unless $omega(k)=a+bk$. This implies that there is no notion of causality for individual dispersion relations, since no mathematical condition on the function $omega(k)$ (such as the front velocity or the asymptotic group velocity conditions) can serve as a sufficient condition for subluminal propagation in dispersive media. Instead, causality can only emerge from a careful cancellation that occurs when one superimposes all the excitation branches of a physical model. This is shown to happen automatically in local theories of matter that are covariantly stable.

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