Two independent teams of physicists have overcome the restless nature of light and stopped laser pulses in their tracks. A proposed method, now in tests by a third team, may even make light pulses creep backwards...
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20010127/fob1.asp
2006-06-10 17:50:13 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
it seems that light beams have perpendicular static and magnetic phases to their linear motion. that these phases can cancel (in trigonometry at 135 and 315 degrees as sin+cos) so too the phase can be offset to make them appear to disappear for a time until the phases begin to either lead or lag again.
such as tan(o_inertia+o_reference)
2006-06-10 18:12:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lower the speed of light and you would lower the amount of energy, if that equation is to hold up. I am not sure what the implications would be however.
I have been thinking about this, light in an energy wave in motion - i looked at the article but i don't understand how a light wave could be static, would it not then cease to be a light wave.? maybe i should be asking the questions...
2006-06-11 01:10:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing at all since the "c" in the equation refers to the speed of light in a vacuum, not the speed of light in certain lab experiments--like the one where they have slowed photons down to about 25 mph. Plus, the term c was used instead of SoL since it was to imply its "c"onstant value.
And the equation really has nothing to do with light's properties. It was used to show that very small amounts of matter can be converted into huge gigantic amounts of energy at the nuclear level. Like the splitting of an atom in an atomic bomb. Or the modern version of fusion of hydrogen and tritium in a nuclear bomb. Little bits of matter and huge energy bursts.
2006-06-11 08:03:42 · answer #3 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
c is a fundamental constant based on the properties of space. It is also the speed of light in a vacuum because that is as fast as information can propagate through space. Slowing down light itself does not change the value of the constant c.
2006-06-11 01:06:24 · answer #4 · answered by injanier 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The implications for the equasion is the inclusion of (t) time. This also implies that time travel is now at least theroetically possible. To go faster than light is to go back in time and to go nearly as fast as light is to slow the progress of time. Star Treck Warp Speed here we come!!!
2006-06-11 00:56:17 · answer #5 · answered by daddyspanksalot 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it has any impact. Light has a constant speed. It's only changed if we deliberately affect it. So I'm thinking c will just equal the speed of light if nothing is done to it.
2006-06-11 00:55:22 · answer #6 · answered by abnerramirezband 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you read it carefully, its not the light but a wave that was reversed
light rays/photons move in straight lines unless acted upon by gravity. it would take a black hole to move light backwards. a black hole created on earth kills everyone, which didnt happen. so that has not been done yet
2006-06-11 01:30:54 · answer #7 · answered by inquisiitor-paradoxical anwerer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
c in E=mc² refers to the speed of light in a vacuum, which is a fundamental constant.
2006-06-11 00:56:17 · answer #8 · answered by musiclover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋