Doppler Effect in Relativity: Mirror vs Lamp

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Doppler effect in the context of relativity, specifically comparing the effects of a mirror versus a lamp in the emission and reception of light. Participants explore the implications of relative motion on frequency shifts and the nuances of light behavior when reflected.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants clarify that in the Doppler formula, ##f## represents the received frequency and ##f0## the sending frequency when the sender and receiver are moving towards each other.
  • One participant proposes that if A sees the light blue-shifted and re-emits it, B will see the frequency as ##F*k^2##, but questions arise regarding the effects of A's motion on the frequency sent back to B.
  • Another participant suggests that an ideal mirror would cause the light to become increasingly blue-shifted, but notes that the relative speed between A and B would decrease as energy and momentum are transferred to the light with each reflection.
  • Concerns are raised about whether the frequency could exceed gamma ray frequencies or if wavelengths could drop below Planck length if the mirror approaches rapidly.
  • One participant mentions that each successive frequency shift would be smaller due to decreasing relative velocity, and discusses the implications of momentum transfer in a center of mass frame.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the behavior of light when reflected by a mirror versus emitted by a lamp, and there is no consensus on the implications of extreme scenarios involving rapid motion and frequency shifts.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about ideal conditions, such as perfect reflectance and the neglect of quantum effects, which may not hold in practical scenarios.

Stephanus
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Dear PF Forum,
I have a question again about Doppler effect in relativity.
Before I ask about mirror and lamp, I want to refresh the discussion again
as in my previous thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/doppler-for-light.823942/
The formula for Doppler factor for light is.
##f = \sqrt{\frac{1+v}{1-v}}f0##
Is this for the frequency of light or for the frequency of receiving?
Can anyone give me the answer, so I'll never misunderstood it again.
B moves toward A at 0.3c
Doppler factor is ##\sqrt{\frac{1.3}{0.7}}=1.36##
B shines a red light 400 THz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_spectrum
Will A see the light as somewhat violet, 742 THz?
 
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In the formula you wrote ##f## is the received frequency and ##f0## is the sending frequency if the receiver and sender are approaching ( moving towards each other ).

Yes, calculation looks OK. The light has been 'blue-shifted'.

No mirror is involved - the light is being emitted from the source and received without any reflection.
 
Last edited:
Mentz114 said:
In the formula you wrote ##f## is the received frequency and ##f0## is the sending frequency if the receiver and sender are approaching ( moving towards each other ).

Yes, calculation looks OK. The light has been 'blue-shifted'.

No mirror is involved - the light is being emitted from the source and received without any reflection.
Thanks Mentz114
Ok, now this.
Let ##k = \sqrt{\frac{1+V}{1-V}}##

A see the light blue-shifted, and re emitted the blue-shifted light to B.
Let's say this.
B sends an F frequency light to A. A see the light frequency as F*k.
Now A sends the light with ##F*k## frequency to B again.
B will see the light as ##F*k^2## is that right?
No wait,... if A moves, then every atom in A also dilated.
So actually A sends ##\frac{F*k}{\gamma}##
So B will see the light as ##\frac{F*k^2}{\gamma}##
No wait, ... the situation is similar. We should use the formula as it is, because A moves toward B and B moves toward A should use the same formula.
1. Is this right that B will see ##F*k^2## if A bounce the signal back to B as it is.
2. What if A bounces the signal not by lamp, but by mirror, what will B see?

Thanks for any help.
 
An ideal mirror will act like your re-emitter, and the light will be more and more blue shifted ... but the A and B relative speed will be decreasing as energy and momentum are transferred to the light at each reflection.
 
PAllen said:
An ideal mirror will act like your re-emitter, and the light will be more and more blue shifted.
Yes, that makes sense.
PAllen said:
... but the A and B relative speed will be decreasing as energy and momentum are transferred to the light at each reflection.
Light has momentum? Hmhh, reminds me to previous thread about photon with mass.
Okay, confirmation: So it's F*k, F*k2, F*k3, etc...? Please confirm.
I already have all the answers that I need.
But one last question, out of curiousity.
What if the mirror getting closer? The frequency increases, right. Can it go beyond gamma ray frequency?
What if the mirror getting closer and closer, the frequency increases and the wavelength decreases. Can it go below Planck length?
 
Each k in your series is smaller each time due to decreasing relative velocity. If you look at this in a COM frame, you would (in an idealized case) see all of the body's momentum transferred to the bouncing light at some point, then the bodies would reverse direction, propelled by the bouncing light, asymptotically approaching their relative speed before the light was emitted (because now, each bounce is more redshifted). Of course, this is all nonsense - no mirror is anywhere near that perfect. Also, of course, I do ignore quantum effects because by far the dominant issue is impossibility of 100% reflectance. [edit: this would 'work' better if each body emitted a pulse of light at the same time, and then they both bounced back and forth between the mirrors. Then the COM frame analysis becomes particularly simple.]
 
Last edited:
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