It has long been possible to accelerate particles faster than the speed of light
in say, water. When relativistic particles are directed into a medium such as
water wherein the speed of light is slower than the particles themselves, SHOCK
WAVES of light are actually generated. These shock waves are known as "Cerenkov
Radiation" (also spelled Cherenkov.).
[speculation mode on]
I wonder if FTL travel might someday be possible by using a creative or
left-handed approach, such as by somehow modulating the speed of light? Also,
can we really visualize why light is slower through water than space? In the
magnetically noisier environment of water are there perhaps more peaks & valleys
in the aether through which a wave must propagate, giving the light a greater
distance to travel in the same so-called space?
Also, I've always wondered what would happen if we were to artificially generate
Cerenkov radiation, but apply it in a phase conjugated manner, i.e., focus it on
a single particle. Or, imagine generating it naturally with one particle,
amplifying it then phase conjugating it to converge onto a second particle.
Might this recipient particle be accelerated beyond light speed, even if in a
different medium?
[speculation mode off]
-Doug Renner
Bill McMurtry wrote:
> Theoretically it would require an infinite amount of energy to accelerate a
> mass to the speed of light (according to relativity theory). Therefore,
> theoretically, it would require 2 times an infinite amount of fuel to
> accelerate a mass vehicle to twice the speed of light. Of course this would
> require a fuel tank at twice as big as the universe.
>