IF tachyons existed,would they violate causality?

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    Causality
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the hypothetical existence of tachyons and their potential implications for causality. Participants explore the theoretical aspects and implications of tachyons within the framework of physics, referencing existing literature and personal anecdotes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that tachyons would not necessarily violate causality, referencing external sources for support.
  • Others express skepticism about the existence of tachyons, citing their undetected status and perceived instability according to mainstream scientific views.
  • A participant shares a historical anecdote involving Freeman Dyson, who noted an inconsistency in the thermodynamics of tachyons, possibly related to vacuum instability.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; multiple competing views regarding the existence and implications of tachyons remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the reliance on interpretations of existing literature and the absence of empirical evidence for tachyons, which may influence the validity of claims made.

byron178
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IF tachyons existed,would they violate causality?
 
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Because they haven't been detected and are thought to be to unstable to exist according to mainstream science I believe. I don't have anything to go off of other than that article though.
 


I was once crammed into a New York taxicab with Freeman Dyson and about six other people, and when Dyson was asked about the possible existence of tachyons he replied that there was an inconsistency in their thermodynamics. I believe he was referring to the vacuum instability, as described in the Wikipedia article on Tachyon Condensation.
 

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