Smaller than Photon: FTL Communication Possibility?

  • Thread starter bozo the clown
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Photon
In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of tachyons - particles with imaginary rest mass that can travel faster than the speed of light. While it is mathematically possible, no tachyons have ever been detected and few physicists take the possibility seriously. The conversation also touches on the size and mass of photons and how they relate to the Planck length, as well as the conflict between tachyons and special relativity. Overall, the conversation raises interesting questions about the nature of light and the possibility of faster-than-light communication.
  • #1
bozo the clown
93
0
Is it concievable that that their could be a wave/particle smaller than a photon and traveling faster than a photon giving us FTL communication possibilities ?
If my question seems stupid please understand I am a clown !
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #2
Snot possible.

--

Everybody loves a clown, so why don't you? -- Gary Lewis and the Playboys
 
  • #3
Well, it is mathematically possible that there could exist tachyons - particles with imaginary rest mass that always travel at speeds greater than c, but none have ever been detected and few physicists take the possibility seriously.
 
  • #4
The fact that they travel backwards in time is the real clincher.
 
  • #5
But why the "smaller than a photon"? Are you interested in size or speed?

(Surely you don't think that speed depends on size!)
 
  • #6
well i say smaller because after all its easier to find a baseball in a pile of haystacks than a breadcrumb
 
  • #7
bozo the clown said:
well i say smaller because after all its easier to find a baseball in a pile of haystacks than a breadcrumb

Not if you're a mouse.
 
  • #8
...or a female breadcrumb...

how big is a photon anyway? does it have something to do with the Planck length?
 
  • #9
I frankly never understood the concept of light. How can it have a size and no mass?
 
  • #10
Pyrovus said:
Well, it is mathematically possible that there could exist tachyons - particles with imaginary rest mass that always travel at speeds greater than c, but none have ever been detected and few physicists take the possibility seriously.

Is this mathematics in conflict with SR?
 
  • #11
No, it is precisely because of SR that any particles that travel faster than light must have imaginary rest mass. Of course no one has ever identified such particles and it is not at all clear what "imaginary mass" would mean physically.
 

1. Can information be transmitted faster than the speed of light using something smaller than a photon?

Currently, there is no scientific evidence or theory that suggests that information can be transmitted faster than the speed of light using something smaller than a photon. The speed of light is considered to be the absolute speed limit in the universe according to the theory of relativity.

2. What is FTL communication and how does it work?

FTL (Faster Than Light) communication refers to the hypothetical ability to transmit information faster than the speed of light. This would require the existence of particles that can travel faster than light, which is currently not supported by any scientific evidence. The concept of FTL communication remains a topic of speculation and is not currently possible with our current understanding of physics.

3. Are there any experiments or studies that have shown the possibility of FTL communication using something smaller than a photon?

No, there have been no experiments or studies that have shown the possibility of FTL communication using something smaller than a photon. While there have been some theoretical proposals for FTL communication, they are not supported by any empirical evidence and remain purely speculative.

4. What are some potential consequences or implications if FTL communication using something smaller than a photon were possible?

If FTL communication using something smaller than a photon were possible, it would completely challenge our current understanding of physics and the laws of the universe. It could also have significant implications for communication and technology, potentially allowing for instantaneous communication over vast distances. However, until there is scientific evidence to support this concept, it remains purely hypothetical.

5. Is there ongoing research or experiments being conducted to explore the possibility of FTL communication using something smaller than a photon?

While there may be ongoing research and experiments exploring the concept of FTL communication, there is currently no scientific evidence to support the possibility of using something smaller than a photon for this purpose. The majority of research in this area remains theoretical and speculative, and it is unlikely that any significant breakthroughs will be made without solid empirical evidence.

Similar threads

  • Quantum Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
23
Views
9K
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
25
Views
5K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
16
Views
1K
Back
Top