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Causality and Tachyons in Relativity

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Italian Studies in the Philosophy of Science

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 47))

Abstract

In the first part of this paper we consider standard (Special) Relativity and show that a ‘Third Postulate’ (the Reinterpretation Principle) is necessary to avoid information transmissions into the past. Such a Third Postulate allows—at the same time—to predict the existence of antiparticles within a purely relativistic context.

In the second part of the paper, we take due account also of tachyons. The theory of tachyons already has a long story, but the causality problems connected with it seem to have not yet been generally understood. We therefore perform a thorough analysis of the whole problem. We show in what sense the previous Third Postulate is enough to enforce the law of (retarded) causality even when in presence of tachyons. A careful, physical analysis is made of the definitions of causal connections, laws, descriptions, sources and detectors, etc. The kinematical problems related to usual macro-objects interacting via (micro and macro) tachyons are studied.

As examples of the clarifying power of ‘extended relativity’ even with regard to usual physics, the topics of advanced solutions, of the CPT theorem, of crossing relations, and so on, are investigated.

Other problems (e.g. about virtual particles, tachyon localization, vacuum decays, etc.) are briefly investigated, which are relevant to the completeness and self-containedness of the present analysis of causality and of tachyons.

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Authors
  1. P. Caldirola
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  2. E. Recami
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Florence, Italy

    Maria Luisa Dalla Chiara

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Caldirola, P., Recami, E. (1980). Causality and Tachyons in Relativity. In: Dalla Chiara, M.L. (eds) Italian Studies in the Philosophy of Science. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 47. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8937-5_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8937-5_16

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