Can Matter Waves Travel Faster Than Light?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of whether matter waves can travel faster than the speed of light, exploring the implications of this idea and addressing confusion stemming from educational materials. The scope includes theoretical interpretations and clarifications of wave behavior in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the claim in their university textbook that matter waves can exceed the speed of light, contrasting this with their prior understanding that nothing can travel faster than light.
  • Another participant requests specific references from the textbook to clarify the claim about matter waves traveling faster than light.
  • A third participant provides links to external resources that may offer additional insights into the topic.
  • One participant distinguishes between phase velocity and group velocity, noting that while phase velocity can exceed the speed of light, group velocity, which carries energy, cannot.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the interpretation of matter waves and their velocities, with multiple competing views and clarifications presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights potential confusion regarding the definitions and implications of phase and group velocities, as well as the need for precise references to educational materials that may contain contradictory information.

Akshay_Anti
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Faster than speed of light??

Throughout my schooling ( middle school and beyond, to be precise) I've learned and believed that nothing travels faster than speed of light... But my university textbook of physics says that matter waves can travel faster than speed of light... Isn't this kind of a contradiction? And how is it possible? I am really confused now... Help needed...

Thanx in advance...
 
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Akshay_Anti said:
Throughout my schooling ( middle school and beyond, to be precise) I've learned and believed that nothing travels faster than speed of light... But my university textbook of physics says that matter waves can travel faster than speed of light... Isn't this kind of a contradiction? And how is it possible? I am really confused now... Help needed...

Thanx in advance...

Can you please cite the exact reference to your textbook (author, publisher, date of publication), and then cite the exact passage in your text that says this (including page number).

Zz.
 


The point of confusion must be the phase velocity vs the group velocity of the wave.
The group velocity is the one that "mediates the energy" of the wave from one spacetime point to the other , and its formula is ug=dω/dk. This velocity can never exceed the speed of light.
On the other hand , the phase velocity describes the "speed" with which the disturbance moves. (Disturbance=wave pattern). This has no physical meaning actually, since the disturbance is a mathematical entity,used to help us out.
 

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