Faster-Than-Light Neutrinos Would Not Violate Relativity (Norman Costa)

Faster-Than-Light Neutrinos Would Not Violate Relativity (Norman Costa)

I've followed the news of superluminal (Faster Than Light Speed) neutrinos since it first hit the popular sites on the Internet. This article in Discover Magazine is the first I've read to give some plausible explanations, other than systematic error. Personally, I'm rooting for particles dropping into another dimension or wormhole before reappearing and arriving ahead of schedule

I've known that Einstein's Special Relativity did not rule out particles that were already superluminal (FTLS.) This is the first time I've come across the idea of 'born to luminal speed,' or 'born to superluminal speed' without the necessity of acceleration.

In the past year or two, I've read of successful lab experiments to slow down light (photons,) and then allow it to resume luminal speed. So I wonder if it is possible to slow superluminal particles. If so, then it might be possible for FTLS neutrinos to go back in time.

Representing the deceleration of FTLS neutrinos introduces the square root of minus one into the Lorenz transformation formulas. The square root of minus one (represented by 'i') is another absolutely bizarre and fascinating idea. I first read about it in the book, "One, Two, Three,..., Infinity." 

I read about the Lorenz transformation formulas and 'i' in junior year of HS. I've been fascinated with them ever since, as with the rest of special and general relativity, and now quantum mechanics.

Oh, to be 45 years younger and have a real go at it.

Read more HERE.

Comments

[Dean C. Rowan]

Old news, Norm. I read about this development years before I was born.

[Dean C. Rowan]

And now this: http://science.slashdot.org/story/11/10/06/1630212/Can-Relativity-Explain-Faster-Than-Light-Particles

[Norman Costa]

@ Dean:

God, I love this stuff. Thanks.