2004•Unpublished venueRequires access

Faster Than Light

Robert Geroch

Open publisher page 18 citations

Abstract

It is widely believed that relativity -- both special and general -- requires that no physical signal travel at a speed faster than that of light. For instance, the assumption that there could be superluminal signals in relativity gives rise to well-known paradoxes. We suggest that this situation is not nearly as dire as it appears at first sight. Indeed, we shall argue that relativity is virtually as viable and self-consistent as a physical theory in the presence of superluminal signals as it is with such signals excluded.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

It is widely believed that relativity -- both special and general -- requires that no physical signal travel at a speed faster than that of light. For instance, the assumption that there could be superluminal signals in relativity gives rise to well-known paradoxes. We suggest that this situation is not nearly as dire as it appears at first sight. Indeed, we shall argue that relativity is virtually as viable and self-consistent as a physical theory in the presence of superluminal signals as it is with such signals excluded.

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Available abstract

It is widely believed that relativity -- both special and general -- requires that no physical signal travel at a speed faster than that of light. For instance, the assumption that there could be superluminal signals in relativity gives rise to well-known paradoxes. We suggest that this situation is not nearly as dire as it appears at first sight. Indeed, we shall argue that relativity is virtually as viable and self-consistent as a physical theory in the presence of superluminal signals as it is with such signals excluded.

Key concepts: Superluminal motion, Theory of relativity, Speed of light (cellular automaton), Theoretical physics, Physics, Sight, Special relativity, General relativity

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