Skip to content
faster-than-light
EntityQ44207· pop 32· linked from 635 articles

faster-than-light

Sign in to save

Also known as superluminal, FTL, faster than light, superluminosity

thumb|330x330px|Because the sphere travels faster than light, the observer sees nothing until it has already passed. Then, two images appear: one of the sphere arriving (on the right) and one of it departing (on the left). Faster-than-light (superluminal or supercausal) travel and communication are the conjectural propagation of matter or information faster than the speed of light in vacuum (). The special theory of relativity implies that only particles with zero rest mass (i.e., photons) may travel at the speed of light, and that nothing may travel faster.

Wikidata facts

Image
Faster than light implies time travel diagram.svg
Show 2 more facts
Commons category
Faster-than-light travel
Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

~33 min read

Article

31 sections
Contents
  • Superluminal travel of non-information
  • Daily sky motion
  • Light spots and shadows
  • Closing speeds
  • Proper speeds
  • Phase velocities above ''c''
  • Group velocities above ''c''
  • Cosmic expansion
  • Astronomical observations
  • Quantum mechanics
  • Hartman effect
  • Casimir effect
  • EPR paradox
  • Delayed choice quantum eraser
  • Superluminal communication
  • Justifications
  • Casimir vacuum and quantum tunnelling
  • Give up (absolute) relativity
  • Spacetime distortion
  • Lorentz symmetry violation
  • Superfluid theories of physical vacuum
  • FTL neutrino flight results
  • MINOS experiment
  • OPERA neutrino anomaly
  • Tachyons
  • General relativity
  • In fiction and popular culture
  • See also
  • Notes
  • Further reading
  • External links

thumb|330x330px|Because the sphere travels faster than light, the observer sees nothing until it has already passed. Then, two images appear: one of the sphere arriving (on the right) and one of it departing (on the left). Faster-than-light (superluminal or supercausal) travel and communication are the conjectural propagation of matter or information faster than the speed of light in vacuum (). The special theory of relativity implies that only particles with zero rest mass (i.e., photons) may travel at the speed of light, and that nothing may travel faster.

Particles whose speed exceeds that of light (tachyons) have been hypothesized, but their existence would violate causality and would imply time travel. The scientific consensus is that they do not exist.

Gallery (2)

Connections

Categories