Barnett, S. M. and Sonnleitner, M. (2018) The vacuum friction paradox and related puzzles. Contemporary Physics, 59(2), pp. 145-154. (doi: 10.1080/00107514.2018.1439333)
|
Text
156767.pdf - Accepted Version 1MB |
Abstract
The frequency of light emitted by a moving source is shifted by a factor proportional to its velocity. We find that this Doppler shift requires the existence of a paradoxical effect: that a moving atom radiating in otherwise empty space feels a net or average force acing against its direction motion and proportional in magnitude to is speed. Yet there is no preferred rest frame, either in relativity or in Newtonian mechanics, so how can there be a vacuum friction force?
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This work was supported by a Royal Society Research Professorship (RP150122) and by the Austrian Science Fund FWF (Grant No. J 3703-N27). |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Sonnleitner, Dr Matthias and Barnett, Professor Stephen |
| Authors: | Barnett, S. M., and Sonnleitner, M. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Journal Name: | Contemporary Physics |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
| ISSN: | 0010-7514 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1366-5812 |
| Published Online: | 19 February 2018 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 Taylor & Francis |
| First Published: | First published in Contemporary Physics 59(2):145-154 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Altmetric
Altmetric