Text: The Definition of a Tachyon Tachyons are particles whose velocity exceeds the velocity of light. While many believe that the existence of particles with hyperluminal (superluminal) velocities (FTL, or Faster-Than-Light velocities) is precluded by relativity, this is not the case if the particle is created with a velocity already exceeding the velocity of light. What relativity precludes, within the boundaries of our present technologies, is the acceleration of a subluminal particle to hyperluminal velocities. What is also not precluded is the possibility that technology might someday be developed that will permit the relativistic limitations to be overcome, and hyperluminal velocities to be achieved by subluminal objects. The most well known tachyon model uses an imaginary mass. As interesting as that model is, mathematically speaking, an imaginary mass has no physical meaning. As a result, that model has, as yet, produced no agreement with experiment. That model and its mathematics is discussed extensively in an excellent review by Recami and Mignani in Rivista Del Nuovo Cimento 4, 209, (1974).

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