English

Can an observer really catch up with light

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2009-11-07 v1

Abstract

Given a null geodesic γ0(λ)\gamma_0(\lambda) with a point rr in (p,q)(p,q) conjugate to pp along γ0(λ)\gamma_0(\lambda), there will be a variation of γ0(λ)\gamma_0(\lambda) which will give a time-like curve from pp to qq. This is a well-known theory proved in the famous book\cite{2}. In the paper we prove that the time-like curves coming from the above-mentioned variation have a proper acceleration which approaches infinity as the time-like curve approaches the null geodesic. This means no observer can be infinitesimally near the light and begin at the same point with the light and finally catch the light. Only separated from the light path finitely, does the observer can begin at the same point with the light and finally catch the light.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.gr-qc/0211010,
  title  = {Can an observer really catch up with light},
  author = {Guihua Tian and Zhao Zheng},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:gr-qc/0211010},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

6 pages, no figures, submited to Physical Review D