Speed of Light Lowered in Vacuum: Consequences for Relativity?

In summary, the conversation is discussing an article about an experiment that may challenge the concept of the constant speed of light in vacuum. However, upon further examination, it is determined that the article is misrepresenting the findings of the experiment and the speed of light remains constant in structured waves.
  • #1
PaulElu
1
0
Hello !
A few days ago, I came across this article
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-30944584

And I was wondering if it has any consequences with the relativity ? I mean, in my mind, light velocity is supposed to be constant in vaccum, c0 = 3e08 [m/s] approximatively...

What do you think ?

Paul.
 
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  • #3
PaulElu said:
Hello !
What do you think ?
That article is (rather grotesquely) misdescribing the actual work and the conclusions drawn from it. This is a common problem with popular press descriptions of scientific work... it's as if they didn't even bother reading the abstract, which says "Our work highlights that, even in free space, the invariance of the speed of light only applies to plane waves.".

You will find a link to the actual paper here and much discussion of this and similar experiments in other threads here.
 

FAQ: Speed of Light Lowered in Vacuum: Consequences for Relativity?

How can the speed of light be lowered in a vacuum?

The speed of light in a vacuum is a fundamental constant of physics, meaning it cannot be changed or lowered. However, recent experiments have shown that the speed of light can appear to be lowered due to the interaction of photons with certain materials, such as Bose-Einstein condensates.

What are the consequences of a lowered speed of light for relativity?

The lowered speed of light does not have any significant consequences for the theory of relativity. The theory is still valid and accurate, as it is based on the constant speed of light in a vacuum. The apparent lowering of the speed of light in certain conditions does not affect the fundamental principles of relativity.

Can the lowered speed of light be used to travel faster than the original speed of light?

No, the lowered speed of light does not mean that objects can travel faster than the original speed of light. The fundamental laws of physics still prevent anything from traveling faster than the speed of light.

How does this discovery affect our understanding of the universe?

While the lowered speed of light may seem like a significant discovery, it does not significantly alter our understanding of the universe. The speed of light in a vacuum is still a constant, and our current theories and models of the universe are still accurate and valid.

Are there any practical applications for this discovery?

Currently, there are no practical applications for the lowered speed of light in a vacuum. However, further research and understanding of this phenomenon could potentially lead to advancements in fields such as quantum computing and communication.

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