Abstract
In the approximation that every inertial observer experiences a homogeneous, uniform flow of time and sees a space that is Euclidean, the arena of physics is Minkowskian and one speed is the same in all intertial frames. If a given intertial observer finds an infinitesimal source or particle traveling faster than this fundamental speed near a given event, the source must appear in some inertial frame spread over neighboring positions at a given time as a spacelike structure. If this structure persists over a period of proper time, it can be interpreted as a wave group. If it is conserved, it can be interpreted as a line or tube of force.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. Einstein,Ann. Physik 17, 891 (1905).
O. M. P. Bilaniuk, V. K. Deshpande, and E. C. G. Sudarshan,Am. J. Phys. 30, 718 (1962).
G. Feinberg,Phys. Rev. 159, 1089 (1967).
N. Mukunda,Ann. Phys. 61, 329 (1970).
G. H. Duffey,Theoretical Physics: Classical and Modern Views (Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1973).
T. S. Shankara,Found. Phys. 4, 97 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Duffey, G.H. Tachyons and superluminal wave groups. Found Phys 5, 349–354 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00717449
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00717449