Faster-than-c Signals, Special Relativity, and Causality
Abstract
Motivated by the recent attention on superluminal phenomena, we investigate the compatibility between faster-than-c propagation and the fundamental principles of relativity and causality. We first argue that special relativity can easily accommodate—indeed, does not exclude—faster-than-c signaling at the kinematical level. As far as causality is concerned, it is impossible to make statements of general validity, without specifying at least some features of the tachyonic propagation. We thus focus on the Scharnhorst effect (faster-than-c photon propagation in the Casimir vacuum), which is perhaps the most plausible candidate for a physically sound realization of these phenomena. We demonstrate that in this case the faster-than-c aspects are "benign" and constrained in such a manner as to not automatically lead to causality violations.
- Publication:
-
Annals of Physics
- Pub Date:
- May 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1006/aphy.2002.6233
- arXiv:
- arXiv:gr-qc/0107091
- Bibcode:
- 2002AnPhy.298..167L
- Keywords:
-
- faster than light;
- causality;
- special relativity;
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology;
- High Energy Physics - Theory
- E-Print:
- Plain LaTeX2E