Special relativity (alternative formulations)

About: Special relativity (alternative formulations) is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3102 publications have been published within this topic receiving 55015 citations.

Symmetry, causal structure and superluminality in Finsler spacetime

Abstract: The superluminal behaviors of neutrinos were reported by the OPERA collaboration recently. It was also noticed by Cohen and Glashow that, in standard quantum field theory, the superluminal neutrinos would lose their energy via the Cherenkov-like process rapidly. Finslerian special relativity may provide a framework to cooperate with the OPERA neutrino superluminality without Cherenkov-like process. We present clearly the symmetry, causal structure and superluminality in Finsler spacetime. The principle of relativity and the causal law are preserved. The energy and momentum are well defined and conserved in Finslerian special relativity. The Cherenkov-like process is proved to be forbidden kinematically and the superluminal neutrinos would not lose energy in their distant propagations from CERN to the Gran Sasso Laboratory. The energy dependence of neutrino superluminality is studied based on the reported data of the OPERA collaboration as well as other groups.

Tachyons and causal paradoxes

Abstract: Although the existence of tachyons is not ruled out by special relativity, it appears that causal paradoxes will arise if there are tachyons. The usual solutions to these paradoxes employ some form of the reinterpretation principle. In this paper it is argued first that the principle is incoherent, second that even if it is not, some causal paradoxes remain, and third, the most plausible “solution,” which appeals to boundary conditions of the universe, will conflict with special relativity.