Variability of the Speed of Light (VSL) in a true-vacuum (original) (raw)

The quantum vacuum as the origin of the speed of light

2013

We show that the vacuum permeability and permittivity may originate from the magnetization and the polarization of continuously appearing and disappearing fermion pairs. We then show that if we simply model the propagation of the photon in vacuum as a series of transient captures within these ephemeral pairs, we can derive a finite photon velocity. Requiring that this velocity is equal to the speed of light constrains our model of vacuum. Within this approach, the propagation of a photon is a statistical process at scales much larger than the Planck scale. Therefore we expect its time of flight to fluctuate. We propose an experimental test of this prediction.

On the constancy of the speed of light in vacuum for all observers

Here, we analyze the way the measurement of the speed of light is made and show that the relative time is not implied by the constancy of the speed of light in vacuum for all observers. It is rather the "universal" time that is consistent with the way the speed of light can be measured.

Does the speed of light depend upon the vacuum ?

2011

We propose a quantum model for the vacuum filled of virtual particle pairs. The main originality of this model is to define a density and a life-time of the virtual particles. Compared to the usual QED (p,E)(p,E)(p,E) framework, we add here the (x,t)(x,t)(x,t) space time parameters. We show how epsilon_0\epsilon_0epsilon0 and mu0\mu_0mu_0 originate from the polarization and the magnetization of

Speed of light in non-trivial vacua

Nuclear Physics B, 1995

We unify all existing results on the change of the speed of low-energy photons due to modifications of the vacuum, finding that it is given by a universal constant times the quotient of the difference of energy densities between the usual and modified vacua over the mass of the electron to the fourth power. Whether photons move faster or slower than c depends only on the lower or higher energy density of the modified vacuum, respectively.

Why is the Speed of Light in Vacuum a Universal Physical Constant?

2020

An interpretation of the Lorentz transformation is formulated to answer the question regarding the constancy of the speed of light. It is shown that the observed speed of light in vacuum is a universal constant because physical space is a four-dimensional incompressible inviscid fluid.

The minimally extended Varying Speed of Light (meVSL)

Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2021

Even though there have been various models of the time-varying speed of light (VSL), they remain out of the mainstream because of their possible violation of physics laws built into fundamental physics. In order to be the VSL as a viable theory, it should inherit the success of special relativity including Maxwell equations and thermodynamics at least. For this purpose, we adopt the assumption that the speed of light, c̃, i.e., c̃[a], varies for the scale factor, a. The background FLRW universe can be defined by the constant cosmic time hypersurface using physical quantities such as temperature, density, c̃, etc. It is because they evolve in cosmic time and the homogeneity of the Universe demands that they must equal at the equal cosmic time. The variation of c̃ accompanies the joint variations of all related physical constants in order to satisfy the Lorentz invariance, thermodynamics, Bianchi identity, etc. We dub this VSL model as a “minimally extended VSL (meVSL)”. We derive cos...

The constancy, or otherwise, of the speed of light

New varying speed of light (VSL) theories as alternatives to the inflationary model of the universe are discussed and evidence for a varying speed of light reviewed. Work linked with VSL but primarily concerned with deriving Planck's black body energy distribution for a gas-like aether using Maxwell statistics is considered also. Doubly Special Relativity, a modification of special relativity to account for observer dependent quantum effects at the Planck scale, is introduced and it is found that a varying speed of light above a threshold frequency is a necessity for this theory.

A mechanism giving a finite value to the speed of light, and some experimental consequences

Cornell University - arXiv, 2011

We admit that the vacuum is not empty but is filled with continuously appearing and disappearing virtual fermion pairs. We show that if we simply model the propagation of the photon in vacuum as a series of transient captures within the virtual pairs, we can derive the finite light velocity c as the average delay on the photon propagation. We then show that the vacuum permittivity ǫ 0 and permeability µ 0 originate from the polarization and the magnetization of the virtual fermions pairs. Since the transit time of a photon is a statistical process within this model, we expect it to be fluctuating. We discuss experimental tests of this prediction. We also study vacuum saturation effects under high photon density conditions.