Anisotropic velocity of light in non-inertial reference frames
نویسنده
چکیده
Up to now little attention has been paid to an expression for the velocity of light in a gravitational field derived by Einstein in 1911. It is shown that (i) this expression represents the proper velocity of light (since it is defined in terms of proper time and length), (ii) the proper velocity of light is anisotropic in non-inertial reference frames, and (iii) unlike the coordinate velocity of light (which is a function only of the gravitational potential of the point at which it is determined) the proper velocity of light depends on the difference of the gravitational potential of the source and observation points and is expressed in terms of the initial velocity with which a light signal is emitted at the source point. The proper velocity of light is of crucial importance for two reasons: (i) it is this velocity (not the coordinate velocity) that is involved in the verification of the equivalence principle by calculating the potential and the electric field of a charge in an accelerating reference frame N and in a frame N supported in a uniform gravitational field as well as the self-force acting on a charge in N and N on account of its own electric field, and (ii) the proper velocity of light demonstrates that the local velocity of light is not always c in disagreement with the standard curved-spacetime interpretation of general relativity. PACS numbers: 04.20.Cv, 04.20.-q
منابع مشابه
Acceleration-dependent electromagnetic self-interaction effects as a basis for inertia and gravitation
The classical electromagnetic mass theory is revisited by taking into account an important but overlooked consequence of general relativity that the average velocity of light propagating in non-inertial reference frames is anisotropic. It is shown that acceleration-dependent electromagnetic self-interaction effects are responsible for the inertia and gravitational interaction of the classical e...
متن کاملPropagation of light in non-inertial reference frames
The explanations of two experiments in general relativity require an average coordinate and an average proper velocity of light. It is shown that both average velocities are necessary for the complete description of the propagation of light in a gravitational field and in non-inertial reference frames in general. The usefulness of the average proper velocity of light is demonstrated (i) by show...
متن کاملComments: 4 pages Subj-class: General Physics
A particular problem about special kind of two light pulses propagation has been considered in cases of inertial motion, constant homogeneous gravi-tation field and progressive non-inertial motion with constant acceleration. A contradiction between the causality principle and relativity theory has been revealed. 1. Introduction It is well-known that two Einstein's postulates form a basis of spe...
متن کاملSpecial relativity with a preferred frame and the relativity principle: cosmological implications
The modern view, that there exists a preferred frame of reference related to the cosmic microwave background (CMB), is in apparent contradiction with the principles of special relativity. The purpose of the present study is to develop a counterpart of the special relativity theory that is consistent with the existence of a preferred frame but, like the standard relativity theory, is based on th...
متن کاملDetermination of stationary region boundary in multiple reference frames method in a mixing system agitated by Helical Ribbon Impeller using CFD
The multiple reference frames (MRF) method is the most suitable method tosimulate impeller rotation in mixing systems. Precise determination of stationaryand moving zones in MRF method leads to accurate results in mixing performance.In this research, the entire volume of mixing system was divided into two zones.The kinetic energy values were used to distinguish the zones with differentvelocitie...
متن کامل