Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuity
We revise the optical effects of the Sagnac type where the moving closed contour is traversed by a photon in the observable invariant time interval TT. Light propagation is described using relativistic transformations adopting an internal one-way synchronization procedure, not equivalent to the stan...
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De Gruyter
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Open Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/phys-2025-0127 |
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| author | Spavieri Gianfranco Haug Espen Gaarder |
| author_facet | Spavieri Gianfranco Haug Espen Gaarder |
| author_sort | Spavieri Gianfranco |
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| description | We revise the optical effects of the Sagnac type where the moving closed contour is traversed by a photon in the observable invariant time interval TT. Light propagation is described using relativistic transformations adopting an internal one-way synchronization procedure, not equivalent to the standard two-way Einstein synchronization. We show that for the reciprocal linear Sagnac effect, where the emitter–receiver C*C* is stationary and the contour is in motion, TT is no longer invariant for the standard Lorentz transforms, reflecting a weak form of the relativity principle. Instead, the relativity principle is fully preserved and TT is invariant for transforms based on conservation of simultaneity. We prove that in the standard linear Sagnac effect, if the local one-way speed along the optical fiber is assumed to be cc, the photon cannot cover the whole closed contour in the interval TT. The uncovered “missing” section reflects a breach in spacetime continuity related to the “time gap” of the transforms based on relative simultaneity. Our revision confirms the well-known result that the Lorentz transforms fail in interpreting these effects. Together with other examples, the results of the reciprocal linear effect invalidate the conventionalist claim that relative and absolute simultaneity are equivalent. The reciprocal effect can then be used for testing Lorentz and light speed invariance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9916c58e5d8948d986fe19b435c1ed94 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2391-5471 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9916c58e5d8948d986fe19b435c1ed942025-08-20T02:55:56ZengDe GruyterOpen Physics2391-54712025-03-0123110611010.1515/phys-2025-0127Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuitySpavieri Gianfranco0Haug Espen Gaarder1Centro de Física Fundamental, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101 VenezuelaNorwegian University of Life Sciences, Christian Magnus Falsensvei 18, 1433 Ås, NorwayWe revise the optical effects of the Sagnac type where the moving closed contour is traversed by a photon in the observable invariant time interval TT. Light propagation is described using relativistic transformations adopting an internal one-way synchronization procedure, not equivalent to the standard two-way Einstein synchronization. We show that for the reciprocal linear Sagnac effect, where the emitter–receiver C*C* is stationary and the contour is in motion, TT is no longer invariant for the standard Lorentz transforms, reflecting a weak form of the relativity principle. Instead, the relativity principle is fully preserved and TT is invariant for transforms based on conservation of simultaneity. We prove that in the standard linear Sagnac effect, if the local one-way speed along the optical fiber is assumed to be cc, the photon cannot cover the whole closed contour in the interval TT. The uncovered “missing” section reflects a breach in spacetime continuity related to the “time gap” of the transforms based on relative simultaneity. Our revision confirms the well-known result that the Lorentz transforms fail in interpreting these effects. Together with other examples, the results of the reciprocal linear effect invalidate the conventionalist claim that relative and absolute simultaneity are equivalent. The reciprocal effect can then be used for testing Lorentz and light speed invariance.https://doi.org/10.1515/phys-2025-0127one-way speed of lightsagnac effectlorentz invarianceconservation of simultaneityrelativity principlefoundations of relativity theory |
| spellingShingle | Spavieri Gianfranco Haug Espen Gaarder Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuity Open Physics one-way speed of light sagnac effect lorentz invariance conservation of simultaneity relativity principle foundations of relativity theory |
| title | Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuity |
| title_full | Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuity |
| title_fullStr | Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuity |
| title_short | Interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one-way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space–time continuity |
| title_sort | interpreting optical effects with relativistic transformations adopting one way synchronization to conserve simultaneity and space time continuity |
| topic | one-way speed of light sagnac effect lorentz invariance conservation of simultaneity relativity principle foundations of relativity theory |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/phys-2025-0127 |
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