Velocity requirements for causality violation

DOI10.1142/9789814719063_0003zbMATH Open1341.78015arXiv1304.5522OpenAlexW3124827240MaRDI QIDQ2800260FDOQ2800260

Authors: G. Modanese 

Publication date: 15 April 2016

Published in: Unified Field Mechanics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We re-examine the "Regge-Tolman paradox" with reference to some recent experimental results. It is straightforward to find a formula for the velocity v of the moving system required to produce causality violation. This formula typically yields a velocity very close to the speed of light (for instance, v/c > 0.97 for X-shaped microwaves), which raises some doubts about the real physical observability of the violations. We then compute the velocity requirement introducing a delay between the reception of the primary signal and the emission of the secondary. It turns out that in principle for any delay it is possible to find moving observers able to produce active causal violation. This is mathematically due to the singularity of the Lorentz transformations for beta to 1. For a realistic delay due to the propagation of a luminal precursor, we find that causality violations in the reported experiments are still more unlikely (v/c > 0.989), and even in the hypothesis that the superluminal propagation velocity goes to infinity, the velocity requirement is bounded by v/c > 0.62. We also prove that if two macroscopic bodies exchange energy and momentum through superluminal signals, then the swap of signal source and target is incompatible with the Lorentz transformations; therefore it is not possible to distinguish between source and target, even with reference to a definite reference frame.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1304.5522

Recommendations

• Superluminal signals and the resolution of the causal paradox
• Superluminal signals require absolute simultaneity.
• Superluminal signals and causality
• Faster-than-\(c\) signals, special relativity, and causality
• Superluminal microwave propagation and special relativity

zbMATH Keywords

Lorentz transformationcausal violationsuperluminal signal

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Waves and radiation in optics and electromagnetic theory (78A40)

Cited In (6)

• Superluminal signals require absolute simultaneity.
• Superluminal signals and causality
• Superluminal signals and the resolution of the causal paradox
• Velocity addition and a closed time cycle in Lorentz-noninvariant theories
• Faster-than-\(c\) signals, special relativity, and causality
• Title not available (Why is that?)

This page was built for publication: Velocity requirements for causality violation

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2800260)