Scientist Accelerates Radio Waves Faster than Light...

July 01, 2009

...using this "gadget." What's that all about? Actually, I don't know.

What would happen if I walked into a physics conference and shouted, "I've discovered a phenomenon that travels faster than light!"?

1. I get laughed at.
2. I get thrown out.
3. I get ignored.
4. I get thrown in science jail for breaking the laws of physics.*

There might have been the chance that I'd made a huge discovery (perhaps I'd discovered the tachyon?), but I think I would have proven my statement before I made such a huge proclamation.

So yesterday, there was a buzz about a scientist, from Los Alamos National Laboratory, who managed to force the "phenomenon" of radio waves faster than the speed of light. Instantly, the physicist inside me nearly exploded with excitement. Sure, I've read papers that study quantum entanglement, where two particles will instantaneously change quantum states, thereby 'communicating' faster then light. I've also been neck deep in warp drives and wormholes recently, two other possible loopholes around Einstein's general relativity. But the "phenomenon" of radio waves? Wow...

*Thank you Lori for that little insight.

But then the skeptic inside me starts to rock backwards and forwards in his chair, smoking a pipe, tutting. "Where's the evidence? Where's the compelling proof? Hold up, where's the science?"

Either this article has been badly written, or the science is too complex to print, or the science is deliberately vague because the claims aren't very clear. (Before I continue, I just want to point out that I'm not saying the scientist is in any way wrong -- it's actually very interesting -- but there's a little something missing from the write-up).

According to the article, John Singleton's claim is as follows:

Einstein predicted that particles and information can't travel faster than the speed of light — but phenomenon like radio waves? That's a different story, said Singleton, a Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow

Singleton has created a gadget that abuses radio waves so severely that they finally give in and travel faster than light.

The polarization synchrotron combines the waves with a rapidly spinning magnetic field, and the result could explain why pulsars — which are super-dense spinning stars that are a subclass of neutron stars — emit such powerful signals, a phenomenon that has baffled many scientists, Singleton said.

Unfortunately, that's about all the science there is. Why are radio waves considered to be a "phenomenon"? Radio waves are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum... radio waves travel through the same medium as the rest of the EM spectrum, how are they being modified? How are they being "abused"? This polarization synchrotron, how does its "rapidly spinning" magnetic field accelerate these radio waves? I'm enjoying the fact there is some linkage with a neutron star phenomenon, but what is the connection?

In an attempt to explain what is going on, another article continues, quoting Singleton as saying, "If you take a laser and shine it on the moon and swing it rather gently, for example, the spot on the moon travels faster than the speed of light."

"If an effect can do that, it makes you wonder if you can do things with light to get the equivalent of a sonic boom."

Okay. Laser dots projected on the moon, appear to go faster than the speed of light. I get that, makes sense. Shockwave? Well, I get that too, but that's never been observed, and besides, if indeed a shock front were to be produced by the laser, no information would be transferred across the lunar surface faster than the speed of light. Special relativity doesn't allow that.

So, it's hard to work out what's going on and how this "gadget" has the ability to abuse radio waves to velocities faster than c.

Needless to say, I'm skeptical...

Source: Current.com

Comments

[charles kafka]

http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0405062
i read this, reminds me of that psych experiment in in the late 70's where this college professor just put important words together and everyone in the audience thought it was a brilliant speech.

[Joe Kohr]

All of your key points was the topic at my work yesterday. I have to agree with you. Until the science behind this "device" is explained, I remain skeptical.

[john]

This is the first I've heard of this device but I assume that it makes the wave "travel faster than light" in terms of the phase velocity (is that right..it's been a while; or maybe it's the group velocity). It is possible to have the phase of the wave (and the contained info?) travel faster than the speed of light. Actually...Particles can also travel faster than the speed of light "within a certain medium" and produce Cherenkov radiation.

[Samuel]

Unfortunately, shining a laser at the moon and swinging it back and forth will not produce a dot that travels faster than light-speed. It just won't. What you'll get is a dot which sways back and forth approximately 0.8 seconds later than your own swinging.

[David]

To avi8r

You had to read through the article to find the offending "then"? You should try Ctrl-f next time. Type in the word you're looking for and let the computer do the search for you. It'll save you a lot of time in the future. Just a suggestion. :O)

[Amanda]

To Mr. Beauxdean - Apparently somewhere in your stellar education, you failed to learn the difference between a good critique and outright nastiness. It is a great thing that you know English so well. However as Ian pointed out, he has no editor, these entries are done quickly without the chance to do much in the way of editing or serious proofreading. There is no editor for him to fire. One also needs to remember that we are all human and far from perfect. The random typographical error happens, whether we like it or not.

@Ian: I think the article was lovely. I have a casual interest in Astronomy and Physics that I have fostered since I was young. New discoveries intrigue me as does the theory behind the studies. I look forward to further updates from you regarding this possible new discovery. It would be intriguing to see how these altered radio waves are connected to a pulsar. Thanks for blogging on it and letting us know how you feel.

[Michael Thomas]

Here is my take, published in 2001.

http://www.colossalstorage.net/home_entangled.htm

[Matthew]

Ha ha! I found it! Piffle... minor detail... I see no problem with the particles communicating faster and then lighting up. In fact, maybe we can make some instantaneous light bulbs! I hate that lag that occurs between the light switch flip and the far corner of the room lighting up you know.

"Sure, I've read papers that study quantum entanglement, where two particles will instantaneously change quantum states, thereby 'communicating' faster then light."

Cool article by the way! I like a little humor in a good summary.

[avi8r]

Wow, I had to read your article 3 time before I found the "then" in question. I'm sure 2 times more "than" Beauxdean. He should go annoy someone else "then" get a life.

[Ian O'Neill]

@curious_enquirer:

Thanks for the link! I actually came across an old paper, but it was very long and involved. I'll have a look at your paper though, thanks!

Cheers, Ian

[curious_enquirer]

I know you were having a bit of trouble with the science behind this article, so I did a little digging on google, and I came up with what appears to be the paper for the science behind the device:
http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0405062
its partially greek to me(heh), but I hope you can make sense of it. Enjoy

[Ian O'Neill]

@Beauxdean:

Hey man, I know you obviously have very good English, but where did you learn your manners? Didn't they teach you the difference between leaving a comment and being rude?

Here's a thought... point out where I made the spelling mistake and I'll correct it. When I churn out a blog, often it's done very quickly, so slip-ups do happen. There is no editorial oversight on our blogs, so spelling errors are bound to occur.

Anyhow, thank you for your lovely comment.

[Beauxdean]

Hey man, I know you have a degree in astrophysics and all but where did you learn English? Didn't they teach you the difference between then and than? It makes an article more believable when it's written properly. Fire your editor....

[CBS Radio]

Ever look at the sky on a warm summer’s eve and wonder what lies beyond the captivating reds and oranges of the sunset? Or, do you ever lie beneath the twinkling stars on a clear night and wonder what it all means? Tomorrow is your chance to have all your questions answered. Neil deGrasse Tyson, world renowned astrophysicist, is doing a live taping of his interactive radio show, Star Talk, tomorrow at 8 PM on Chataboutit.com. Call into the show with your questions and be a part of the answers to the phenomenon of the summer sky.

Star Talk – 8 PM on Thursday 7/2
Call: 877-CHA-T212

Check out Neil on The Colbert Report and Jimmy Fallon

http://chataboutit.com/star-talks-neil-degrasse-tyson-on-the-colbert-report/

http://chataboutit.com/star-talks-neil-degrasse-tyson-on-late-night-with-jimmy-fallon/