Can Tachyons Travel Faster Than the Speed of Light and Alter the Future?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the theoretical concept of tachyons, particles that are proposed to travel faster than the speed of light. Participants explore the implications of tachyons, particularly regarding time travel and paradoxes associated with knowledge of the future. The conversation touches on the empirical evidence for tachyons and the challenges in demonstrating their existence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if tachyons exist, they could theoretically allow for communication from the future, leading to paradoxes related to changing future events.
  • Others question whether the concept of tachyons has been supported by empirical data, noting that there has been no definitive evidence for their existence.
  • A participant mentions a past incident in a neutrino experiment that suggested tachyon-like behavior due to a technical error, but this was not a valid observation of tachyons.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the empirical evidence for tachyons, with some acknowledging the theoretical implications while others emphasize the lack of experimental validation. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the existence of tachyons.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in empirical data regarding tachyons and the dependence on theoretical frameworks. There are unresolved questions about the implications of tachyons on time travel and paradoxes.

PhysicsFan11
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I had read about tachycons being faster than the speed of light and which are theoretical in that I think they have not been demonstrated empirically.
Ok and also if they were real it brings up the paradox of essentially these particles traveling backwards in time. Such that and it sounds science fiction -esque, but some one (or yourself) could use a Tachyon phone and call you from the future...but alas, if you then knew about the future, you change it and such the paradox would exist.
 
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Do you have a question? And are you sure that you want an answer using doctoral-level math?
 
Good point- this really is a more general question and I should have posed it to any and all. So the question would be if the concept of Tachyons has actually manifested in the realm of empiric data?
 
PhysicsFan11 said:
Good point- this really is a more general question and I should have posed it to any and all.
OK, I have updated the category.
PhysicsFan11 said:
So the question would be if the concept of Tachyons has actually manifested in the realm of empiric data?
No. A couple of years ago there was a loose cable in a neutrino experiment that made it look like they were observing tachyons.
 

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