Superluminal quantum mass currents and the generation of gravitational radiation

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Reiss 502
Raymond Chiao
University of California, Merced

The existence of extremely fast quantum motions, in fact, superluminal quantum mass currents, will permit a method of generating gravitational radiation that would be impossible classically. Our early experiments demonstrating the superluminality of photons tunneling through a tunnel barrier will be reviewed, and more recent experiments from other laboratories giving evidence of faster-than-c group velocities will also be reviewed. Such superluminal group velocities in fact do not violate relativity. Faster-than-light mass and charge currents, in the case of electrons, lead to the possibility of quantum transducers that can efficiently convert electromagnetic waves into gravitational waves, and vice versa. Possible applications will be discussed.

Host: Lydia Chiao-Yap
Discussion Leader: Lydia Chiao-Yap