'We have broken speed of light'

[DeclinetoState]

By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent

Last Updated: 12:01am BST 16/08/2007


A pair of German physicists claim to have broken the speed of light - an achievement that would undermine our entire understanding of space and time.

According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, it would require an infinite amount of energy to propel an object at more than 186,000 miles per second.

However, Dr Gunter Nimtz and Dr Alfons Stahlhofen, of the University of Koblenz, say they may have breached a key tenet of that theory.
More (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/08/16/scispeed116.xml)

[DesertFox]

You can be sure they're wrong. They're going to find that in their "quantum tunneling," the particles are going thru dimensions where their distance from the measuring apparatus is closer than in the three dimensions we know. Hence the photons aren't really exceeding light speed; they're just taking a short cut.

[Timberwolf]

Astute observation, Fox...10-1 odds yer right...

[DeclinetoState]

I think Fox is right . . . if only I could figure out what the hell he's saying . . .

[Franko]

You can be sure they're wrong. They're going to find that in their "quantum tunneling," the particles are going thru dimensions where their distance from the measuring apparatus is closer than in the three dimensions we know. Hence the photons aren't really exceeding light speed; they're just taking a short cut.

Them quantum particles are pretty tricky to play with.

What comes to mind is something I believe I read by Paul Davies, concerning our observation of anything on that level -

. . . That the energy used to try to see what is happening on that small of scale, is the same as throwing a mountain at an airplane in order to try to see what direction the plane is heading. - the mere observation of what is happening throws off getting the correct results.

[DesertFox]

But of course. We'll never "see" at that level; best we can do is make educated guesses and test them until we know we're on the right track.

[DoctorDoom]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Anim%20GIF/lightbar.gif

"License and reg, please ... lessee now ... I jist clocked y'all doin' 187,000 miles per second in a 55 zone. Sheeit, boy, you sho' was in a hurry. Hmmm ... at $10 for every five miles per hour over the limit ... whoo-eeee, boy, we's gonna be able to build the new high school with this one."

[Franko]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Anim%20GIF/lightbar.gif

"License and reg, please ... lessee now ... I jist clocked y'all doin' 187,000 miles per second in a 55 zone. Sheeit, boy, you sho' was in a hurry. Hmmm ... at $10 for every five miles per hour over the limit ... whoo-eeee, boy, we's gonna be able to build the new high school with this one."

Not jes' speedin' doc - reckless op too