String Theory Discussion Forum
[ String Theory Home ] [ Forum Index ]

Re: Telescope Paradox - a.k.a. double slit?

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Particle Physics XXII ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by lanecove on August 06, 2003 at 08:20:58:

In Reply to: Telescope Paradox posted by step on August 04, 2003 at 19:49:36:

stephen,

I think I may have misunderstood your original question.

Let's see; please correct this summary:
- replace the giant mirror with two small mirrors, and make it 6m apart instead of the diameter of the Earth
- allow the light from each mirror to interfere somewhere roughly equidistant from the two mirrors
- the interference pattern will 'resolve' the object from which the photons are coming, just the same as a giant mirror (except only in one dimension, and without the same intensity).

{this is an approximate description of the interferometer mounted at the front of the Mt Wilson 100" telescope; Michelson - remember him? - used it in the 1920s to determine that certain red giant stars have angular diameters in the milli-arcsec range.}

Isn't this just a slightly modified version of the double-slit experiment (mirrors instead of slits; some bouncing around between mirror and interference)?

If so, then your question can be asked of the double slit experiments, and will get the same answer - no FTL phenomena.

Regards
lanecove

(Report this post to the moderator)

Follow Ups: (Reload page to see most recent)


Post a Followup

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Particle Physics XXII ] [ FAQ ]