Gamow's cyclist: a new look at relativistic measurements for a binocular observer

DOI10.1098/RSPA.2019.0703MaRDI QIDQ5160965zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors E. A. Cryer-Jenkins, P. D. Stevenson

Publication date 29 October 2021

Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1906.11642, http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/857056/1/main.pdf

zbMATH Keywords

relativitybinocular visionTerrell rotationsvisual appearance

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Special relativity (83A05)

Abstract: The visualisation of objects moving at relativistic speeds has been a popular topic of study since Special Relativity's inception. While the standard exposition of the theory describes certain shape-changing effects, such as the Lorentz-contraction, it makes no mention of how an extended object would appear in a snapshot or how apparent distortions could be used for measurement. Previous work on the subject has derived the apparent form of an object, often making mention of George Gamow's relativistic cyclist thought experiment. Here, a rigorous re-analysis of the cyclist, this time in 3-dimensions, is undertaken for a binocular observer, accounting for both the distortion in apparent position and the relativistic colour and intensity shifts undergone by a fast moving object. A methodology for analysing binocular relativistic data is then introduced, allowing the fitting of experimental readings of an object's apparent position to determine the distance to the object and its velocity. This method is then applied to the simulation of Gamow's cyclist, producing self-consistent results.

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Cites work

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• Projection of relativistically moving objects on a two-dimensional plane, the `train' paradox and the visibility of the Lorentz contraction
• The Geometrical Appearance of Large Objects Moving at Relativistic Speeds
• The New World of Mr Tompkins
• Visual appearance of wireframe objects in special relativity

Cited in

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