Relativity's role in forbidding FTL Information Transfer

In summary, the author discusses a hypothetical scheme that exploits nonclassical, nonlocal interference effects to transfer information between Alice and Bob. They would need to address any conflicts with relativity that may arise. A referee would expect the authors to address this issue.
  • #1
Swamp Thing
Insights Author
908
572
Imagine a (purely hypothetical) situation where someone proposes a scheme that exploits non-classical, nonlocal interference effects to transfer information between Alice and Bob. Apart from the accuracy and plausibility of the quantum mechanical part of the paper, would it be necessary for the author to address conflicts with relativity?

In other words, how important (in peer-reviewed contexts) is the role of considerations such as "Ah, but then Alice could be traveling at a relativistic velocity, enabling her to receive a message from Bob's future, and she could right away send a signal back into Bob's past that would somehow prevent Bob from later sending his message to Alice in the first (?!) place!" Would the author have to address such matters? Would a typical referee request her to do so (assuming that the referees couldn't find any other flaw)?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Every superluminal information transfer that works in all reference frames implies that you can send messages to your own past. That is not completely ruled out, but it is rarely considered physical. A theory that proposes superluminal information transfer should be able to answer what happens if you do that, unless it explicitly breaks relativity (e. g. by introducing a preferred reference frame, such that superluminal information transfer is not possible in all reference frames any more).
 
  • #3
Well, if I were refereeing the paper, I would expect some section addressing such a matter. I would be shocked if the authors were so bold as to claim a violation of relativity.
 
  • #4
I also would suspect a reviewer to expect some reference to relativity in a paper discussing ftl communication. I'd expect either maths providing an explanation of how it does not violate relativity. If it is expected to deviate from the rules of relativity, I would expect an explanation as to why that's okay, and what experiments can be done to prove it or what experimental results it fixes.

When Einstein proposed GR in the first place, he did so knowing that it violated the accepted maths of the universe. He knew that it would solve the existing problem that Newtonian gravity did not work on Mercury, as well as making a prediction that you could use the sun to bend light from behind it.

I always handwave physics explanations for sci-fi by adding stuff that was discovered in the time between now and the story's "present." I just wrote a section where a researcher cracked the light speed barrier, I explained away causal violations by building on the uncertainty principal and giving particles fuzziness in time in an asymmetric way (It's more likely they'll travel forwards in time, but the chances of going backwards are explicitly not zero.) This allows my universe to self-correct.
 
Last edited:
  • #5
newjerseyrunner said:
I explained away causal violations by building on the uncertainty principal and giving particles fuzziness in time in an asymmetric way

Could this be developed into a scientifically valid and consistent viewpoint on decoherence, I wonder?
 

What is relativity and how does it forbid FTL information transfer?

Relativity is a scientific theory that explains the relationship between space and time. It states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. This theory forbids the transfer of information faster than the speed of light because it would violate the principle of causality, which states that an effect cannot occur before its cause.

Why is the speed of light considered the cosmic speed limit?

The speed of light is considered the cosmic speed limit because it is the fastest speed at which information can travel through the universe. According to relativity, as an object approaches the speed of light, its mass increases and its length contracts. These effects make it impossible for an object to reach or exceed the speed of light.

Is there any evidence for the existence of faster-than-light (FTL) particles or phenomena?

No, there is currently no scientific evidence for the existence of faster-than-light particles or phenomena. While there have been some claims and experiments that suggest the possibility of FTL travel, they have not been replicated or widely accepted by the scientific community.

How does relativity impact our understanding of time and space?

Relativity has significantly impacted our understanding of time and space. It introduced the concept of spacetime, which combines the three dimensions of space with the dimension of time. It also explains how time is relative and can be affected by an observer's motion and gravitational fields.

Could there be any exceptions to relativity's prohibition of FTL information transfer?

At this time, there are no known exceptions to relativity's prohibition of FTL information transfer. However, some theories, such as wormholes and the Alcubierre drive, suggest the possibility of traversing vast distances in a shorter amount of time without exceeding the speed of light. These theories are still hypothetical and have not been proven or widely accepted by the scientific community.

Similar threads

  • Quantum Physics
Replies
4
Views
647
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
29
Views
1K
Replies
41
Views
2K
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • Quantum Physics
2
Replies
63
Views
8K
Replies
10
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
782
  • Quantum Interpretations and Foundations
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • Quantum Physics
Replies
13
Views
3K
Back
Top