Birth of a two body photon

Randy T. Dorn

doi:10.1117/12.892926

28 September 2011 Birth of a two body photon

Randy T. Dorn

Proceedings Volume 8121, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? IV; 81210W (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892926
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The two body photon model assumes that an electron and a positron have been accelerated to the speed of light. The tenets of relativity theory would lead one to believe this to be impossible. It has long been thought that a body cannot be accelerated to the speed of light because the relativistic mass or momentum would become infinite. This conceptual problem is addressed with the realization that it is not necessary to resort to the concept of a velocity dependent mass. Instead, the force should be considered to be velocity dependent. The relativistic equations of motion can be rearranged and interpreted such that the force varies with velocity instead of the mass. When the velocity reaches the speed of light, instead of dividing by zero and interpreting the equations as implying a nonphysical infinite mass, the equations show a finite mass with an applied force of zero. The equations can still take on the indeterminate form of 0/0, but standard mathematical analysis of this situation will show that the equations predict that a body can reach the speed of light. Furthermore, under the influence of an inverse square force, a body can be accelerated to the speed of light over very short distances and provide the initial conditions necessary for the birth of a two body photon.

Citation Download Citation

Randy T. Dorn "Birth of a two body photon", Proc. SPIE 8121, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? IV, 81210W (28 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892926

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available