Related papers: Ruler-changes and Relative Velocity
The relativistic Doppler effect comes from the fact that observers in different inertial reference frames experience space and time differently, while the speed of light remains always the same. Consequently, a wave packet of light exhibits…
We present a derivation of the relativistic length-contraction formula based on Lorentz space-time transformations on non-simultaneous events. Our derivation avoids the disputable story about the stationary observer and its simultaneous…
A calculus based on pointer-mark coincidences is proposed to define, in a mathematically rigorous way, measurements of space and time intervals. The connection between such measurements in different inertial frames according to the Galilean…
Many condensed matter systems are such that their collective excitations at low energies can be described by fields satisfying equations of motion formally indistinguishable from those of relativistic field theory. The finite speed of…
Objects falling into an overdensity appear larger on its near side and smaller on its far side than other objects at the same redshift. This produces a dipolar pattern of magnification, primarily as a consequence of the Doppler effect. At…
An observer, in rectilinear motion under constant proper acceleration, passes near a source of monochromatic radiation at rest. In the context of special relativity, we describe the observed Doppler effect. We describe also the interesting…
A special case of the relativistic Doppler effect, which occurs when light reflects from a moving mirror, is discussed. The classic formula for the Doppler shift is derived in a fully non-relativistic fashion using basic facts from…
The observations reported by Franke-Arnold et al (SCIENCE Reports, 1 July 2011 p. 65) do not provide evidence of slow light enhanced rotary photon drag as claimed, but arise from well-known saturable absorption phenomena consistent with the…
A deformation of special relativity based on a dispersion relation with an energy independent speed of light and a symmetry between positive and negative energy states is proposed. The deformed Lorentz transformations, generators and…
The dependence of macroscopic radiation pressure on the velocity of the object being pushed is commonly attributed to the Doppler effect. This need not be the case, and here we highlight velocity dependent radiation pressure terms that have…
Deviation from standard dispersion relations for electrons and photons in the form of an extra term proportional to an arbitrarily high power of momentum is studied. It is shown that observational constraints lead to a region in the…
This is a short note to announce the availability of some movies that may be useful in classroom discussions on the photographic appearance of objects moving at relativistic speeds. The images are based on special relativity with no account…
The formula for the relativistic Doppler effect is investigated in the context of two compelling invariance axioms. The axioms are expressed in terms of an abstract operation generalizing the relativistic addition of velocities. We prove…
An exact expression for the rate of dragging of inertial frames (Lense-Thirring (LT) precession) in a general stationary spacetime, is derived without invoking the weak field approximation. This expression, when used for the Kerr metric,…
Relative motions have long been known to mislead the unsuspecting observers to false interpretations of reality. The deceptions are usually brief and unimportant, though relative motions have also led to illusions that were both…
The Lorentz transformations for the optical constants (electric permittivity, magnetic permeability and index of refraction) of moving media are considered.
We propose and substantiate experimentally the cascaded rotational Doppler effect for interactions of spinning objects with light carrying angular momentum. Based on the law of parity conservation for electromagnetic interactions, we reveal…
The apparent superluminal propagation of electromagnetic signals seen in recent experiments is shown to be the result of simple and robust properties of relativistic field equations. Although the wave front of a signal passing through a…
The Lorentz Transformation is derived from only three simple postulates: (i) a weak kinematical form of the Special Relativity Principle that requires the equivalence of reciprocal space-time measurements by two different inertial…
We model the light-curves from radiation-driven clouds near an accreting black hole. Taking into account the multiple images due to strong gravitational lensing, we find that sharp spikes can significantly enhance the observed flux.…