Light in local reference frames in extreme gravitational fields.

[JPBenowitz]

As I understand in SR light is always c in it's local reference frame regardless of a present gravitational field. Light would appear to be traveling slightly less than c in a gravitational field otherwise known as the Sharpio Delay in all non-local reference frames. Now, light must be traveling at c in the local reference frames to preserve causality as a consequence of SR. However, since we cannot measure light in any local reference frame is it not possible that it may be traveling less than c due to the gravitational field and s-t diagrams could be re-written to prevent any breaking of causality? If so what could the consequences be?

 

[JPBenowitz]

I guess what I am saying is that perhaps SR, like Newtonian Physics is a great approximation for weak gravitational fields but not for extreme ones.

 

[Nugatory]

As I understand in SR light is always c in its local reference frame regardless of a present gravitational field.

Special relativity doesn't apply in the presence of gravitational fields strong enough to noticeably affect the behavior of light. So you shouldn't interpret SR as making predictions regardless of a present gravitational field; it's more in the absence of such a field.

 

[Nugatory]

I guess what I am saying is that perhaps SR, like Newtonian Physics is a great approximation for weak gravitational fields but not for extreme ones.

Our replies appear to have crossed :)

 

[JPBenowitz]

Our replies appear to have crossed :)

Well, I am a Physics Undergraduate and I think I might just start playing around with modifying s-t diagrams introducing a gravitational field and see what happens.