No Arabic abstract
In this work we consider a possible conceptual similarity between recent, amazing OPERA experiment of the superluminal propagation of neutrino and experiment of the gain-assisted superluminal light propagation realized about ten years ago. Last experiment refers on the propagation of the light, precisely laser pulse through a medium, precisely caesium atomic gas, with characteristic anomalous dispersion and corresponding negative group-velocity index with very large amplitude between two closely spaced gain lines (that is in some way similar to quantum theory of the ferromagnetism). It implies superluminal propagation of the light through this medium. Nevertheless all this, at it has been pointed out by authors, is not at odds with causality or special relativity, since it simply represents a direct consequence of the classical interference between ... different frequency components. We suggest that OPERA experiment can be in some way conceptually similar to the gain-assisted superluminal light propagation experiment. For this reason we suppose too that OPERA experiment can be simply explained in full agreement with causality and special relativity if there is some medium, precisely a scalar field (e.g. dark matter field, Higgs field or similar) through which neutrino propagates. We prove that, according to OPERA experiment data, supposed medium must be non-dispersive while its refractive index must be positive, smaller but relatively close to 1 (that is in some way similar to quantum theory of the diamagnetism). If it is true OPERA experiment results do not mean that special theory of relativity is broken, but they mean detection of suggested medium, i.e. a scalar field (e.g. dark matter field, Higgs field or similar).
We study whether a violation of the null energy condition necessarily implies the presence of instabilities. We prove that this is the case in a large class of situations, including isotropic solids and fluids relevant for cosmology. On the other hand we present several counter-examples of consistent effective field theories possessing a stable background where the null energy condition is violated. Two necessary features of these counter-examples are the lack of isotropy of the background and the presence of superluminal modes. We argue that many of the properties of massive gravity can be understood by associating it to a solid at the edge of violating the null energy condition. We briefly analyze the difficulties of mimicking $dot H>0$ in scalar tensor theories of gravity.
This is a brief note discussing the energy dependence of superluminal neutrino velocities recently claimed by OPERA [1,2]. The analysis is based on the data provided there on this issue, as well as on consistency with neutrino data from SN1987a as recorded by the Kamioka detector [3]. It is seen that it is quite difficult to reconcile OPERA with SN1987a. The so called Coleman- Glashow dispersion relations do not do that well, if applied at all neutrino energies. The so called quantum gravity inspired dispersion relations perform far worse. Near OPERA energies both an energy-independent velocity, as well as a linear energy dependence with an offset that is comparable in value to the observed {delta}v by OPERA at 28.1 GeV works very well. Our analysis shows that precision arrival time data from SN1987a still allow for superluminal behaviour for supernova neutrinos. A smooth interpolation is given that reconciles OPERA and SN1987a quite well. It suggests a fourth power energy dependence for {delta}v of supernova neutrinos. This behaviour is insensitive to whether the velocities are energy-independent, or linearly dependent on energy, near OPERA scale of energies. Suggestions are made for experimental checks for these relations.
Contrary to mechanical waves, the two-slit interference experiment of single photons shows that the behavior of classical electromagnetic waves corresponds to the quantum mechanical one of single photons, which is also different from the quantum-field-theory behavior such as the creations and annihilations of photons, the vacuum fluctuations, etc. Owing to a purely quantum effect, quantum tunneling particles including tunneling photons (evanescent modes) can propagate over a spacelike interval without destroying causality. With this picture we conclude that the superluminality of evanescent modes is a quantum mechanical rather than a classical phenomenon.
Some arguments in favour of the existence of tachyons and extensions of the Lorentz Group are presented. On the former, it is observed that with a slight modification to standard electromagnetic theory a single superluminal charge will bind to itself in a self-sustaining circular orbit, suggestive of a (modified) electromagnetic interpretation of the strong force. Symmetries in that theory are used in the subsequent analysis as a starting point in the search for physically-motivated extensions of the Lorentz Group. There is some discussion of the validity of imaginary coordinates in superluminal transformations of frame. The article concludes with some speculation on the implications for faster-than light travel.
Using a single channel active Raman gain medium we show a $(220pm 20)$ns advance time for an optical pulse of $tau_{FWHM}=15.4 mu$s propagating through a 10 cm medium, a lead time that is comparable to what was reported previously. In addition, we have verified experimentally all the features associated with this single channel Raman gain system. Our results show that the reported gain-assisted superluminal propagation should not be attributed to the interference between the two frequencies of the pump field.