Could gravity be used to send light speed signals?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of using gravitational signals to communicate across vast distances, specifically in scenarios where traditional light or radio signals are obstructed. Participants explore theoretical implications, potential methods, and the limitations of such an approach, including the effects of relativistic mass and gravitational waves.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using a thermonuclear explosion to send particles close to light speed, theorizing that the resulting gravitational field could be detected on Earth.
  • Another participant questions the premise of a dust cloud blocking radio signals, suggesting a denser medium like lead dust instead.
  • Concerns are raised about the destructive energy of such an explosion, which could obliterate the spaceship and potentially be unreliable for communication.
  • Some participants challenge the idea of increasing gravitational fields due to relativistic mass, arguing that the concept is misleading and that gravitational effects depend on the stress-energy tensor rather than mass alone.
  • There is mention of gravitational waves and their detection, with one participant asserting that a thermonuclear explosion would not generate significant gravitational waves due to its spherical symmetry.
  • Another participant references Birkhoff's theorem to support the argument that a spherically symmetric explosion would not produce significant gravitational radiation.
  • Discussion includes references to LIGO and the efficiency of known sources of gravitational radiation, with calculations presented regarding the energy required to generate detectable signals.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some agreeing on the limitations of using gravitational signals for communication, while others propose various theoretical scenarios. There is no consensus on the feasibility or correctness of the initial proposal regarding gravitational signals.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include unresolved assumptions about the nature of the medium obstructing signals, the mechanisms for generating gravitational waves, and the mathematical complexities involved in scaling energy outputs for communication purposes.

  • #31
There's also viscosity and friction due to the strong force. It's under vigorous study in the heavy-ion-collision community to learn about the strong interaction and the phase diagram of strongly interacing (QCD) matter.:smile:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: stoomart

Similar threads

Graduate 1-Way Speed of Light
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
High School The One-Way Speed of Light: Speculation of a Tired Mind
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Undergrad Effects of time dilation for near-speed-of-light travel
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
12K
High School Meaningfulness of the speed of light
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
High School Does the fact that gravity moves at the speed of light affect how planets move?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Undergrad Sending Signal from Planet Near Gargantua: A Thought Experiment
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Gravity at Schwarzschild Radius of a Black Hole
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
High School Deep Space Speed Limit: What Prevents Exceeding Light Speed?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
High School Theories about light and time near a black hole
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
High School Could you use LIGO-technology to measure gravitational redshift?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K