Published May 7, 2014
| Version v1
Journal article
Faster than light motion does not imply time travel
- 1. Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Reáltanoda utca 13-15, H-1053, Budapest (Hungary)
- 2. Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 211 Portobello, Sheffield S1 4DP (United Kingdom)
Description
Seeing the many examples in the literature of causality violations based on faster than light (FTL) signals one naturally thinks that FTL motion leads inevitably to the possibility of time travel. We show that this logical inference is invalid by demonstrating a model, based on (3+1)-dimensional Minkowski spacetime, in which FTL motion is permitted (in every direction without any limitation on speed) yet which does not admit time travel. Moreover, the Principle of Relativity is true in this model in the sense that all observers are equivalent. In short, FTL motion does not imply time travel after all. (paper)
Availability note (English)
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381/31/9/095005Additional details
Identifiers
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Classical and Quantum Gravity
- Journal Volume
- 31
- Journal Issue
- 9
- Journal Page Range
- [11 p.]
- ISSN
- 0264-9381
- CODEN
- CQGRDG
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United Kingdom
- Country of Input or Organization
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- INIS RN
- 46047406
- Subject category
- S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
- Descriptors DEI
- CAUSALITY; MINKOWSKI SPACE; SIGNALS; VELOCITY; VISIBLE RADIATION
- Descriptors DEC
- ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; MATHEMATICAL SPACE; RADIATIONS; SPACE