I Constancy of the speed of light

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The discussion centers on the constancy of the speed of light, a fundamental principle in physics, and the complexities surrounding its experimental verification. Participants highlight that the speed of light is intertwined with the definitions of standard units, such as the meter, which complicates measurements and interpretations. The conversation explores the implications of hypothetically varying the speed of light, suggesting that any changes could affect atomic properties and the consistency of metrological standards. It is emphasized that the fine structure constant, rather than the speed of light itself, may be a more relevant dimensionless quantity to investigate for potential variations. Ultimately, the challenge lies in developing experimental methods that can independently verify or falsify the constancy of light's speed without being influenced by the definitions of the units used.
  • #51
Thanks for the reference. I can't really comment too much on it since I don't have the time to read it over in detail. It looks like the paper has been cited less than 10 times in the last 7 years though so it seems to have gotten very little traction. That's not a critique of the argument of the paper, but only that it seems it's not well known even within the physics community.
 

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