Re-evaluating the Interpretation of Atomic Clock Experiments and Time Dilation

Dear Mr. Peter Jackson, 

I appreciate your engagement and your efforts to test and verify the findings of Hafele and Keating. However, I have reasons to accept that there is a fundamental misunderstanding in the interpretation of the results and the nature of time dilation.

Your statement, "Atomic oscillation speed changes under acceleration," is indeed an important observation. However, this change in oscillation speed is due to physical factors affecting the oscillator, not an inherent dilation of time itself. My previous response detailed how experiments with piezoelectric crystal oscillators demonstrate that changes in wavelength correspond to changes in time intervals, leading to time distortions. This suggests that what is often interpreted as time dilation is actually a result of physical deformations and wavelength shifts.

Consider the following points:

1. Piezoelectric Crystal Oscillators: As mentioned, experiments show that a 1° phase shift on a 5 MHz wave corresponds to a time shift of 555 picoseconds. This illustrates how physical changes in the oscillator can affect time measurements, leading to distortions that are misinterpreted as time dilation.

2. GPS Time Delay: The caesium-133 atomic clock in GPS satellites experiences a time delay of about 38 microseconds per day due to its altitude and velocity. This delay can be attributed to wavelength dilation caused by gravitational and relativistic effects, not a direct dilation of time itself.

3. Hafele and Keating Experiment: The changes observed in the atomic clocks on the commercial airliner can be explained by considering the physical conditions and deformations affecting the clocks. These include mechanical stresses, temperature variations, and other environmental factors that influence the oscillation rates of the clocks, not an inherent dilation of time itself. It's important to note that the Hafele and Keating experiment is not included in the original relativity paper. The original relativity paper does not provide experimental evidence for time dilation.

4. Mechanical Deformation and Wavelength Shifts: Changes under acceleration lead to mechanical deformation, which in turn causes wavelength shifts. These shifts result in time distortions, which are mistakenly interpreted as time dilation.

Your conclusion that "Atomic oscillation speed changes under acceleration" aligns with these observations, but it does not necessarily support the concept of time dilation. Instead, it highlights the importance of considering physical deformations and wavelength shifts in understanding time distortions.

In conclusion, while the observations from the Hafele and Keating experiment and your own tests are valid, they do not inherently prove time dilation. Instead, they demonstrate the need to account for physical factors affecting oscillators and the resulting time distortions. I encourage a re-evaluation of these results with this perspective in mind.

FYI Pardeep Rana Gary Stephens Abdul Malek

Best regards,

Soumendra Nath Thakur

The names 'quanta' and 'photon' :

Quanta

Before 1900, the term "quanta" (singular "quantum") was used to describe particles or amounts of various quantities, including electricity. The significant shift in its usage came in 1900 when the German physicist Max Planck was studying black-body radiation. Planck suggested that experimental observations, especially at shorter wavelengths, could be explained if the energy within a molecule was a "discrete quantity composed of an integral number of finite equal parts," which he termed "energy elements."

In 1905, Albert Einstein built upon Planck's idea while studying light-related phenomena such as black-body radiation and the photoelectric effect. Einstein proposed that these phenomena could be better explained by modelling electromagnetic waves as consisting of spatially localized, discrete wave-packets. He called these wave-packets "light quanta."

Photon

The term "photon" derives from the Greek word for light. It was initially suggested as a unit related to the illumination of the eye and the resulting sensation of light. This term was used in a physiological context by several scientists:

1916: American physicist and psychologist Leonard T. Troland.

1921: Irish physicist John Joly.

1924: French physiologist René Wurmser.

1926: French physicist Frithiof Wolfers.

Although Wolfers's and Lewis's theories were contradicted by many experiments and not widely accepted, the term "photon" gained popularity. Arthur Compton used "photon" in 1928, referring to Gilbert N. Lewis, who coined the term in a letter to Nature on 18 December 1926. Despite earlier uses of the term, it was Lewis's coinage that became widely adopted among physicists.

#Quanta #Photon

William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) (1824-1907)

Contributions:

1. Thermodynamics:

• Absolute Temperature Scale (Kelvin Scale):

• Description: He introduced the absolute temperature scale, which is now called the Kelvin scale. It starts at absolute zero, the point where all molecular motion ceases.

• Second Law of Thermodynamics:

• Description: He made significant contributions to the second law of thermodynamics, particularly in defining the concept of absolute zero and understanding the direction of heat transfer.

2. Electromagnetism:

• Description: Thomson worked on the mathematical analysis of electricity and magnetism, which contributed to the later development of Maxwell's equations.

3. Transatlantic Telegraph Cable:

• Description: He played a pivotal role in the laying of the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable. His work on signal transmission and attenuation was critical for this achievement.

4. Kelvin's Circulation Theorem:

• Description: This theorem in fluid dynamics states that the circulation around a closed curve moving with the fluid remains constant over time.

Both Daniel Bernoulli and William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) made ground breaking contributions to physics and mathematics, laying foundational principles that are still widely used today.

Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782)

Contributions:

1. Bernoulli's Principle:

• Description: It explains how the speed of a fluid (liquid or gas) relates to its pressure. As the speed of the fluid increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases.

• Applications: This principle is fundamental in aerodynamics and is used to explain how airplane wings generate lift.

2. Kinetic Theory of Gases:

• Description: Bernoulli was one of the first to propose that gases are made up of numerous small particles in rapid, random motion. This theory laid the groundwork for the development of statistical mechanics.

3. Hydrodynamics:

• Description: He wrote "Hydrodynamica," where he formulated and applied the principles of fluid dynamics. His work provided the basis for the field of fluid mechanics.

4. Bernoulli's Equation:

• Description: It is a mathematical statement of Bernoulli's principle, relating the pressure, velocity, and height in steady, incompressible flow along a streamline.

Both Daniel Bernoulli and William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) made ground breaking contributions to physics and mathematics, laying foundational principles that are still widely used today.

Schwarzschild Radius

12-07-2024

The Schwarzschild radius is a measure used in the context of black holes, representing the radius of the event horizon. The event horizon is the boundary beyond which nothing, not even light, can escape the gravitational pull of a black hole.

Equation for Schwarzschild Radius

The Schwarzschild radius (rₛ) is given by the formula:

rₛ = 2GM/c²

Where:

• G is the gravitational constant (6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻²)

• M is the mass of the object

• c is the speed of light in a vacuum (3 × 10⁸ m/s)

Description

• Gravitational Constant (G): This is a fundamental constant that quantifies the strength of gravity in Newton's law of universal gravitation.

• Mass (M): The mass of the object for which we are calculating the Schwarzschild radius.

• Speed of Light (c): The speed at which light travels in a vacuum.

The Schwarzschild radius is significant because it provides a boundary around a black hole. If an object is compressed within this radius, it will form a black hole. For instance, the Schwarzschild radius for Earth is about 9 millimetres, meaning if you could compress all of Earth's mass into a sphere with a radius of 9 millimetres, it would become a black hole.

Explanation

The Schwarzschild radius calculated using relativistic principles approximately equals the Planck length when the mass involved is on the order of the Planck mass. This connection highlights the scale at which quantum effects and gravitational considerations become significant, as envisioned by Max Planck's work.

• Relativistic Principles: The Schwarzschild radius is derived from Einstein's theory of General Relativity, which provides a relativistic description of gravity.

• Planck Length: The Planck length (ℓp) is the scale at which quantum gravitational effects are believed to become significant. It is approximately 1.616 × 10⁻³⁵ meters.

• Planck Mass: The Planck mass (mᴘ) is the mass scale at which quantum gravitational effects are expected to be important. It is approximately 2.177 × 10⁻⁸ kilograms.

When substituting the Planck mass into the Schwarzschild radius equation:

rₛ = 2Gmᴘ/c²

Given that G = 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻² and c = 3 × 10⁸ m/s

rₛ = 2 × 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ × 2.177 × 10⁻⁸/(3 × 10⁸)²

This yields a radius on the order of the Planck length (ℓp = 1.616 × 10⁻³⁵ meters).

Significance

This relationship shows that at the Planck scale, both quantum mechanical and relativistic gravitational effects are significant. Max Planck introduced these fundamental units to describe the scales where the effects of quantum gravity cannot be ignored. This is why the Planck length is often considered the smallest meaningful length scale, and the Planck mass represents the mass at which a particle's Schwarzschild radius is comparable to its Compton wavelength.