- #1
maverick280857
- 1,789
- 4
How does CMBR differ from ether (SR self study -- Question from W. Rindler)
Hello everyone
First of all, apologies for a previous post which was against forum rules. I was unaware that I had violated the rules by posting a link to a paper that wasn't from a proper peer-reviewed scientific journal (something I discovered much later).
Anyway, I have the following question, which is actually from Wolfgang Rindler's book on Special Relativity. This isn't homework (I'm teaching SR to myself).
My random thoughts for each part...
Part 1: Unless light is known to interact with such a fluid, slowing it down or speeding it up, such a fluid will not affect special relativity.
Part 2: CMBR itself comprises of photons, whereas ether (nonexistent) is comprised of ___ (?). CMBR is itself radiation that travels at light speed, whereas ether is static. I know this may sound silly, but I wanted to discuss this part out here. I know CMBR isn't ether. But what really is the difference, formally? Also, what is the significance of this question?
Thanks and cheers.
Hello everyone
First of all, apologies for a previous post which was against forum rules. I was unaware that I had violated the rules by posting a link to a paper that wasn't from a proper peer-reviewed scientific journal (something I discovered much later).
Anyway, I have the following question, which is actually from Wolfgang Rindler's book on Special Relativity. This isn't homework (I'm teaching SR to myself).
If the universe were filled with a very rarified transparent fluid in which light propagated at speed c' < c, how would that affect special relativity?
The universe is filled with a diffuse 'photon gas' constituting the so-called microwave background radiation (a vestige of the 'big-bang' origin of the universe), which defines a preferred test frame at each point in the universe. How does that differ from an ether?
My random thoughts for each part...
Part 1: Unless light is known to interact with such a fluid, slowing it down or speeding it up, such a fluid will not affect special relativity.
Part 2: CMBR itself comprises of photons, whereas ether (nonexistent) is comprised of ___ (?). CMBR is itself radiation that travels at light speed, whereas ether is static. I know this may sound silly, but I wanted to discuss this part out here. I know CMBR isn't ether. But what really is the difference, formally? Also, what is the significance of this question?
Thanks and cheers.