Proper time synchronization

Abstract

A clock-transport method of synchronization employing proper time is described that yields in any given inertial system the same result as slow transport, but that imposes no limit on transport proper speed. It is argued that because the method involves only the empirically validated kinematic invariant proper time, on which all observers must agree, there exists an option to synchronize clocks in such a way that thesimultaneity of spatially separated events is agreed upon by all observers, hence is “absolute.” Such agreement refers only to phase equality of members (present at the events judged simultaneous) of comoving clock sets, not to clock rates or clock phase numerical values in different inertial systems. The demonstration employs only the on-worldline assertions of Einstein's kinematics. It thus depends on a limited subset of his ideas and allows a different identification of the spacelike invariant.