German Scientists Declare Speed of Light Broken

[Genesis]

A "Macroscopic Violation" of Special Relativity

Dailytech

According to modern physics, the speed of light is a fundamental, unbreakable limit.  Yet two physicists are now claiming they have done just that, and propelled a stream of photons faster than the speed of light.

G?nter Nimtz and Alfons Stahlhofen of the University of Koblenz, Germany, have been researching a phenomenon known as quantum tunnelling.  Two prisms are placed together. When a light is shown through the prisms, a detector picks up the light and records information about the photon.  However, when the two prisms are separated, Nimtz and Stahlhofen discovered that photons would occasionally "tunnel" between the prisms -- arriving at the detector sooner than should theoretically be possible.

The two scientists say they have now tunneled photons "instantaneously" across a distance of up to one meter.  Their conclusion, stated in a recent paper, is that the speed limit of special relativity has been violated.  Dr. Nimtz claims quantum tunneling is a little understood process that is  "the most important" aspect of quantum physics, one that may be responsible for the computational efficiency of the human brain.

Being able to violate the speed of light would undermine our current understand of space and time, and lead to a number of bizarre effects, such as being able to travel backwards in time.

However, Dr. Aephraim Steinberg, from the University of Toronto, disagrees with the findings.  He says its all just a matter of interpretation.  The "wave packet" of the virtual photon exceeded the speed of light, but no actual information was transmitted that fast.   Therefore, according to Steinberg, Einstein's cosmic speed limit remains safe.

While the effects of quantum tunnelling have been documented as early as 1895, Nimtz and Stahlhofen may be the first scientists to create a macro-scale experiment.

In a statement published sortly after the paper was announced, Nimitz claims, "For the time being, this is the only violation [of special relativity] that I know of."

I doubt this is true, but what the hell...

[freedom78]

Interesting stuff. 

To ask the obvious question, when will they be able to use this to invade France again? 

[fuckin crazy]

I doubt it too, it will take a hell of a lot more one experiment to inviolate Einstein's STOR. I will have to see what some of my favorite bloggers have to say. Dr. Cox, what say you?

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

i read somewhere, that it seems that the fact it's only on short distance kinda blurry the analysis ....


ps; im drukn

[GNRreunioneventually]

interesting stuff indeed i have my doubts as well but if this is true think about it, this could be one of the greatest finds of the 21 st century. Think of the posibelities (sp? ) NASA will have?

we'd be able to go to places where we only dreemed about such as the outer limits of our milky way, Andromida, and other galaxies around the univers.




sorry my space exploration thrills me but my spelling sucks forgive me

[norway]

Being able to violate the speed of light would undermine our current understand of space and time, and lead to a number of bizarre effects, such as being able to travel backwards in time.

However, Dr. Aephraim Steinberg, from the University of Toronto, disagrees with the findings.? He says its all just a matter of interpretation.?

I get that the speed of light isn't fastest anymore, acording to the scientists.

[RageNirvanaNIN]

Being able to violate the speed of light would undermine our current understand of space and time, and lead to a number of bizarre effects, such as being able to travel backwards in time.

However, Dr. Aephraim Steinberg, from the University of Toronto, disagrees with the findings.  He says its all just a matter of interpretation. 

I get that the speed of light isn't fastest anymore, acording to the scientists.

Right I mean you cant really interpret it any other way lol

[Prometheus]

maybe if the exact defn was defined more in the lines of c = the fastest in normal space under normal conditions...... then QT quantmun tunneling could cause some other event or alter teh space that is between point A and point B allowing for preceived faster then light in normal space, taking care of the time travel aspect..... though you would have to prove on a larger scale.... a few miles perhaps.... that this can be done and repeat it several times over. im also guessing that this would be a line of sight things as well.... maybe not which would be cool.... if it really does work.

[Axlfreek]

wow, this is heavy doc