A perfectly reflecting accelerating boundary produces thermal emission to an observer at $\mathscr{I}_L^+$ and a finite amount of energy to an observer at $\mathscr{I}_R^+$ by asymptotically traveling to the speed of light without an acceleration horizon.
We study condensation of scalar fields around compact reflecting stars in a box. We propose no light scalar hair behaviors that the neutral compact star cannot support the existence of small single positive mass scalar field in it's exterior spacetime for very general self-interacting potentials. Moreover, we find that this no light scalar hair property can be violated by including an additional Maxwell field coupled to the scalar field in a charged compact reflecting star background.
In laser gravitational waves detectors optical loss restricts sensitivity. We discuss polarization scattering as one more possible mechanism of optical losses. Circulated inside interferometer light is polarized and after reflection its plane of polarization can turn a little due to reflecting coating of mirror can have slightly different refraction index along axes $x,\, y$ in plane of mirror surface (optical anisotropy). This anisotropy can be produced during manufacture of coating (elasto-optic effect). This orthogonal polarized light, enhanced in cavity, produces polarization optical loss.…
Relationship between the speed of gravity c_g and the speed of light c_e in the bi-metric theory of gravity is discussed. We reveal that the speed of light is a function of the speed of gravity which is a primary fundamental constant. Thus, experimental measurement of relativistic bending of light propagating in time-dependent gravitational field directly compares the speed of gravity versus the speed of light and tests if there is any aether associated with the gravitational field considered as a transparent `medium' with the constant refraction index.
Through dimensional analysis, eliminating the physical time, we identify the speed of light as a dilaton field. This leads to a restmass zero, spin zero gauge field which we call the speedon field. The complete Lagrangian for gravitational, electromagnetic and speedon field interactions with a charged scalar field, representing matter, is given. We then find solutions for the gravitational-electromagnetic-speedon field equations. This then gives an expression for the speed of light.
To determine whether the Shapiro time delay of light passing near a moving object depends on the ``speed of gravity'' or the ``speed of light,'' one must analyze observations in a bimetric framework in which these two speeds can be different. In a recent comment (gr-qc/0510048), Kopeikin has argued that such a computation -- described in gr-qc/0403060 -- missed a hidden dependence on the speed of gravity. By analyzing the observables in the relevant bimetric model, I show that this claim is incorrect, and that the conclusions of gr-qc/0403060 stand.
Cosmological models may result in future singularities. We show that, in the framework of dynamical varying speed of light theories, it is possible to regularize those singularities.
We shall investigate the possibility of formulation of varying speed of light (VSL) in the framework of Palatini non-linear Ricci scalar and Ricci squared theories. Different speeds of light including the causal structure constant, electromagnetic, and gravitational wave speeds are discussed. We shall see that two local frames are distinguishable and discuss about the velocity of light in these two frames. We shall investigate which one of these local frames is inertial.
From an extended relativistic dynamics for a particle moving in a cosmic background field with temperature T, we aim to obtain the speed of light with an explicit dependence on the background temperature of the universe. Although finding the speed of light in the early universe much larger than its current value, our approach does not violate the postulate of special relativity. Moreover, it is shown that the high value of the speed of light in the early universe was drastically decreased before the beginning of the inflationary period. So we are led to conclude that the theory of varying spee…
We consider f(R) modified gravity theories for describing varying speed of light in a spatially flat FRW model, and find some exact solutions. Also we examine the dynamics of this model by dynamical system method assuming a LambdaCDM background and we find some exact solutions by considering the character of critical points of the theory in both formalisms. The behaviour of the speed of light is obtained.
The varying speed of light (VSL) theory is controversial. It succeeds in explaining some cosmological problems, but on the other hand it is excluded by mainstream physics because it will shake the foundation of physics. In the present paper, we devote ourselves to test whether the speed of light is varying from the observational data of the type Ia Supernova, Baryon Acoustic Oscillation, Observational $H(z)$ data and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). We select the common form $c(t)=c_0a^n(t)$ with the contribution of dark energy and matter, where $c_0$ is the current value of speed of light, …
This paper presents the outcome of an experiment based on an improved version of Fizeau's coupled-slotted-discs that tests the fundamental postulates of Special Relativity for the one-way speed of light propagation. According to our methodology, important phenomena - a limit on and the diurnal regularity of the variation of the speed of light due to the movements of the Earth (assuming that the speed of light follows a Galilean transformation) - can be tested by the present experiment. However, these measurements do not indicate any significant diurnal variation. Consequently, the limit of the…
It is shown that minimally coupled scalar field in Brans-Dicke theory with varying speed of light can solve the quintessence problem and it is possible to have a non-decelerated expansion of the present universe with BD-theory for anisotropic models without any matter.
The classical trajectories for FLRW universe with varying speed of light are obtained for the cases in which the cosmological constant depends or not depend on the velocity of light. The theory is then quantized and the corresponding WDW equation is solved. It is shown that the method of causal interpretation of Bohm can be applied successfully to the theory. Finally the Bohmian trajectories are obtained and compared with the classical ones.
We study different manifestations of the speed of light in theories of gravity where metric and connection are regarded as independent fields. We find that for a generic gravity theory in a frame with locally vanishing affine connection, the usual degeneracy between different manifestations of the speed of light is broken. In particular, the space-time causal structure constant ($c_{ST}$) may become variable in that local frame. For theories of the form $f(R,R^{μν} R_{μν})$, this variation in $c_{ST}$ has an impact on the definition of the luminosity distance (and distance modulus), which can …
We consider an Einstein-Maxwell action modified by the addition of three terms coupling the electromagnetic strength to the curvature tensor. The corresponding generalized Maxwell equations imply a variation of the speed of light in a vacuum. We determine this variation in Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetimes. We show that light propagates at a speed greater than $c$ when a simple condition is satisfied.
By comparing with the most recent experimental results, we point out the model dependence of the present bounds on the anisotropy of the speed of light. In fact, by replacing the CMB with a class of preferred frames that can better account for the experimental data, one obtains values of the RMS anisotropy parameter (1/2 -beta + delta) that are one order of magnitude larger than the presently quoted ones. The resulting non-zero anisotropy can be understood starting from the observation that the speed of light in the Earth's gravitational field is not the basic parameter c=1 entering Lorentz tr…
We apply the variable speed of light into general relativity in order to solve the problems we met in the standard cosmology. We're surprised to find that, the results from the general relativity in cosmology are exactly the same as those we got from Newtonian dynamics. The relation between the Newtonian dynamics and the relativistic dynamics can be demonstrated with the variable speed of light. With this approach, some problems in the standard cosmology such as the flatness problem and the horizon problem doesn't arise any more. All the cosmological results and the physical results are reason…
The locality hypothesis is generally considered necessary for the study of the kinematics of non-inertial systems in special relativity. In this paper we discuss this hypothesis, showing the necessity of an improvement, in order to get a more clear understanding of the various concepts involved, like coordinate velocity and standard velocity of light. Concrete examples are shown, where these concepts are discussed.
This paper gives two complete and elementary proofs that if the speed of light over closed paths has a universal value $c$, then it is possible to synchronize clocks in such a way that the one-way speed of light is c. The first proof is an elementary version of a recent proof. The second provides high precision experimental evidence that it is possible to synchronize clocks in such a way that the one-way speed of light has a universal value. We also discuss an old incomplete proof by Weyl which is important from an historical perspective.
Recent studies on the high-energy photons from gamma-ray bursts~(GRBs) suggested a light speed variation $v(E)=c(1-E/E_{\mathrm{LV}})$ with $E_\mathrm{LV}=3.6\times 10^{17}$ GeV. We check this speed variation from previous observations on light curves of three active galactic nuclei (AGNs), namely Markarian 421 (Mrk 421), Markarian 501 (Mrk 501) and PKS 2155-304. We show that several phenomena related to the light curves of these AGNs can serve as the supports for the light speed variation determined from GRBs.
All experiments attempting to verify the invariance of speed of light directly are based on two-way speed measurement. The challenge in one-way speed measurement, the requirement of spatially separated synchronised clocks, can be possibly circumvented by measuring the speed of light travelling in a closed path. An apparent violation of the invariance principle has been recently reported in the first experiment attempting to measure the one-way speed of light utilising this concept. This experiment is reanalysed here. It is found that the results of the experiment can be explained within the fr…
A number of theories of gravity have been proposed as proxies for dark matter in the regime of galaxies and cosmology. The recent observations of gravitational waves (GW170817) from the merger of two neutron stars, followed by an electromagnetic counterpart (GW170817a) have placed stringent constraints on the difference of the speed of gravity to the speed of light, severely restricting the phenomenological viability of such theories. We revisit the impact of these observations on the Tensor-Vector-Scalar (TeVeS) paradigm of relativistic Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) and demonstrate the e…
In Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, all observers measure the speed of light, $c$, to be the same. However, this refers to the round trip speed, where a clock at the origin times the outward and return trip of light reflecting off a distant mirror. Measuring the one-way speed of light is fraught with issues of clock synchronisation, and, as long as the average speed of light remains $c$, the speeds on the outward and return legs could be different. One objection to this anisotropic speed of light is that views of the distant universe would be different in different directions, especial…
We examine whether the cosmologies with varying speed of light (VSL) are compatible with the second law of thermodynamics. We find that the VSL cosmology with varying fundamental constant is severely constrained by the second law of thermodynamics, whereas the bimetric cosmological models are less constrained.
The varying speed of light theories have been recently proposed to solve the standard model problems and anomalies in the ultra high energy cosmic rays. These theories try to formulate a new relativity with no assumptions about the constancy of the light speed. In this regard, we study two theories and want to show that these theories are not the new theories of relativity, but only re-descriptions of Einstein's special relativity.
We develop a new model-independent method to probe the constancy of the speed of light $c$. In our method, the degeneracy between the cosmic curvature and the speed of light can be eliminated, which makes the test more natural and general. Combining the independent observations of Hubble parameter $H(z)$ and luminosity distance $d_L(z)$, we use the model-independent smoothing technique, Gaussian processes, to reconstruct them and then detect variation of the speed of light. We find no signal of deviation from the present value of the speed of light $c_0$. Moreover, to demonstrate the improveme…
We show that some of the recent results reported in gr-qc/0308049 are based on assumptions which are in contrast with general properties of ``Doubly Special Relativity'' and/or with Planck-scale physics models.
Einstein observers in flat space-time are inertial observers which use light to synchronize their clocks. For such observers, speed of light is a constant by construction. However, one can use super-translations to change coordinates from Einstein to BMS coordinates. From the point of view of BMS observers, speed of light is not a constant all over the space-time and in all directions. So in general, clocks which are synchronized for Einstein observers are not synchronized for BMS observers, and vice versa. Based on this fact, we propose a local observable for detecting the soft hairs, which i…
It is postulated in Einstein's relativity that the speed of light in vacuum is a constant for all observers. However, the effect of quantum gravity could bring an energy dependence of light speed. Even a tiny speed variation, when amplified by the cosmological distance, may be revealed by the observed time lags between photons with different energies from astrophysical sources. From the newly detected long gamma ray burst GRB~160509A, we find evidence to support the prediction for a linear form modification of light speed in cosmological space.
In a recent note Ellis criticizes varying speed of light theories on the grounds of a number of foundational issues. His reflections provide us with an opportunity to clarify some fundamental matters pertaining to these theories.
Concepts of high precision studies of the one-way speed of light anisotropy are discussed. The high energy particle beam allows measurement of a one-way speed of light anisotropy (SOLA) via analysis of the beam momentum variation with sidereal phase without the use of synchronized clocks. High precision beam position monitors could provide accurate monitoring of the beam orbit and determination of the particle beam momentum with relative accuracy on the level of $10^{-10}$, which corresponds to a limit on SOLA of $10^{-18}$ with existing storage rings. A few additional versions of the experime…
Theories proposing a varying speed of light have recently been widely promoted under the claim that they offer an alternative way of solving the standard cosmological problems. Recent observational hints that the fine structure constant may have varied during over cosmological scales also has given impetus to these models. In theoretical physics the speed of light, $c$, is hidden in almost all equations but with different facets that we try to distinguish. Together with a reminder on scalar-tensor theories of gravity, this sheds some light on these proposed varying speed of light theories.
The isotropy of the speed of light - the fundamental postulate of Special Relativity (SR) constrains conceptions of time, space and the existence of a preferred cosmological reference frame. Consequently, this phenomenon has been subject to considerable experimental scrutiny. Most isotropy tests are two-way Michelson-Morley type tests which established the isotropy of the two-way speed in 1881. These approaches provide no experimental limit for the one-way (single-trip) isotropy of the speed of light which is still unresolved. Here we consider Fizeau-type experiments to test the isotropy of th…
We assume the spacetime foam picture in which vacuum is filled with virtual wormholes. In the presence of an external field the distribution of wormholes changes. We consider an anisotropic distribution of wormholes and analyze its relation to the speed of light. We show that speed of light acquires an anisotropic character and save the normal dispersion a gas of virtual wormholes may possess also an anomalous dispersion, i.e., when the light velocity exceeds that in the vacuum.
Cosmic inflation is the only known mechanism with the potential to explain the very special initial conditions which are required at the early stages of the evolution of our universe. This article outlines my work with Joao Magueijo which attempts to construct an alternative mechanism based on a time-varying speed of light.
Recent observations of the fine structure of spectral lines in the early universe have been interpreted as a variation of the fine structure constant. From the assumed validity of Maxwell equations in general relativity and well known experimental facts, it is proved that $e$ and $\hbar$ are absolute constants. On the other hand, the speed of light need not be constant.
Three experimental concepts investigating possible anisotropy of the speed of light are presented. They are based on i) beam deflection in a 180 degree magnetic arc, ii) narrow resonance production in an electron-positron collider, and iii) the ratio of magnetic moments of an electron and a positron moving in opposite directions.
The effect of quantum gravity can bring a tiny light speed variation which is detectable through energetic photons propagating from gamma ray bursts (GRBs) to an observer such as the space observatory. Through an analysis of the energetic photon data of the GRBs observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST), we reveal a surprising regularity of the observed time lags between photons of different energies with respect to the Lorentz violation factor due to the light speed energy dependence. Such regularity suggests a linear form correction of the light speed $v(E)=c(1-E/E_{\rm LV})$, w…
We apply the Lieb-Robinson bounds technique to find the maximum speed of interaction in a spin model with topological order whose low-energy effective theory describes light [see X.-G. Wen, \prb {\bf 68}, 115413 (2003)]. The maximum speed of interactions is found in two dimensions is bounded from above less than $\sqrt{2} e$ times the speed of emerging light, giving a strong indication that light is indeed the maximum speed of interactions. This result does not rely on mean field theoretic methods. In higher spatial dimensions, the Lieb-Robinson speed is conjectured to increase linearly with t…
Previous researches on high-energy photon events from gamma-ray bursts~(GRBs) suggest a light speed variation $v(E)=c(1-E/E_{\mathrm{LV}})$ with $E_{\mathrm{LV}}=3.6\times10^{17}~\mathrm{ GeV}$, together with a pre-burst scenario that hight-energy photons come out about 10 seconds earlier than low-energy photons at the GRB source. However, in the Lorentz invariance violating scenario with an energy dependent light speed considered here, high-energy photons travel slower than low-energy photons due to the light speed variation, so that they are usually detected after low-energy photons in obser…
We show that models with deformations of special relativity that have an energy-dependent speed of light have non-local effects. The requirement that the arising non-locality is not in conflict with known particle physics allows us to derive strong bounds on deformations of special relativity and rule out a modification to first order in energy over the Planck mass.
The effects of physical interactions are usually incorporated into the quantum theory by including the corresponding terms in the Hamiltonian. Here we consider the effects of including the gravitational potential energy of massive particles in the Hamiltonian of quantum electrodynamics. This results in a predicted correction to the speed of light that is proportional to the fine structure constant. The correction to the speed of light obtained in this way depends on the gravitational potential and not the gravitational field, which is not gauge invariant and presumably nonphysical. Nevertheles…
It is shown that varying speed of light cosmology follows from a string-inspired minimal length uncertainty relation. Due to the reduction of the available phase space volume per quantum mode at short wavelengths, the equation of state of ultrarelativistic particles stiffens at very high densities. This causes a stronger than usual deceleration of the scale factor which competes with a higher than usual propagation speed of the particles. Various measures for the effective propagation speed are analyzed: the group and phase velocity in the high energy tail, the thermal average of the group and…
The theory of relativity was built up on linear Lorentz transformation. However, in his fundamental work "Theory of Space, Time and Gravitation" V.A.Fock shows that the general form of the transformation between the coordinates in the two inertial frames could be taken to be linear fractional. The implicit form of this transformation contains two constants of different space-time dimensions. They can be reduced to the constant "c" with the dimension of speed ("speed of light"), and to the constant "R" with the dimension of length (an invariant radius of the visible part of the Universe). The g…
The recent evidence for a cosmological evolution of the fine structure constant α=e^2/\hbar c found from an analysis of absorption systems in the spectra of distant quasars, is modelled by a cosmological scenario in which it is assumed that only the speed of light varies. The model fits the spectral line data and can also lead to a solution of the initial value problems in cosmology.
We study cosmologies in the Randall-Sundrum models, incorporating the possibility of time-varying speed of light and Newton's constant. The cosmologies with varying speed of light (VSL) were proposed by Moffat and by Albrecht and Magueijo as an alternative to inflation for solving the cosmological problems. We consider the case in which the speed of light varies with time after the radion or the scale of the extra dimension has been stabilized. We elaborate on the conditions under which the flatness problem and the cosmological constant problem can be resolved. We find that the RS models are m…
We investigate a string/M theoretic realization of the varying speed of light scenario. We consider a 3+1 dimensional probe-brane universe in the background of a black hole in the bulk formed by a stack of branes, in the spirit of Kiritsis (hep-th/9906206). We generalize the dynamics of the system at hand by including rotation and Hubble damping of the bulk space-time and show that this may lead to a mechanism to stabilize the brane-universe and hence fix the speed of light at late times.