From: tigelaar@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Howard Tigelaar)
Subject: An Alternative Physical Model for SR
Keywords: Minkowski SR Special Relativity
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 16:30:45 GMT

A second physical model is presented which also explains the
equations of special relativity and Minkowski diagrams.  I realize
there is virtually no chance of this model being correct but I
would like to know if this model was considered before and if so
what experimental evidence was used to reject it or if I have made
fundamental errors in developing this proposed model.  In special
relativity, we first choose a physical model of the photon and then
use the equations of special relativity to predict space/time
interactions given the model.  It is more the physical model of the
photon than the equations of special relativity that determines the
physics of space/time.

Consider a 3-D Minkowski diagram where the the z-axis is time.  
The light cone starts at the origin and spreads out in the positive
t direction at 45 degree angles.  At t = t1 > 0, the cone
intersects the xy plane forming a circle.  Observers who are
located on the circumference of this circle in the stationary frame
of reference will see the event at t = t1.  At t' = t1' > 0  the
light cone intersects the x'y' plane at an angle forming a circle
in the moving x',y',t' coordinate system (or an ellipse if viewed
in the x,y,t coordinate system.)  Moving observers who are
stationed on the circumference of their circle in the x'y' frame
see the event at t' = t1' when the light cone intersects their
locations.  The xy plane and the x'y' plane intersect.  Time is the
same (t = t1 = t1') for the two reference frames on the line of
intersection.  The two circles of observers also intersect on this
line.  Moving and stationary observers located at these unique
intersection points witness the event at the same time t = t' = t1
= t1' regardless of which model is used.

The physical model of the photon which is currently used to
interpret the Minkowski diagram depicts photons as localized points
in space.  With this model moving and stationary observers must be
at the same point on the light cone to observe the event.   (If
both the stationary and the moving observers have detectors, both
detectors will register photon capture when they are next to each
other). It follows from this model that time is the same for all
stationary observers on the circle but is different for each of the
moving observers who are located on the same circle.  Time must be
different for each of the moving observers since they are located
at different time positions, on their time (t') axis.  Using this
model we conclude that events which are simultaneous in the
stationary frame are not simultaneous in the moving reference
frame.  The model of a photon that is localized at the same point
in space for all reference frames is required to arrive at this
conclusion.  

Consider now a different model.   The photon still appears to be
localized at one point in any given reference frame, but is not
localized at the same point from reference frame to reference
frame.  This can be illustrated with a reinterpretation of the
Minkowski diagram.  Instead of saying that the photon is located at
one point on the light cone for all reference frames we say for any
given reference frame the photon appears to be located where the
light cone intersects the xy plane for that frame.  In other words
at any given instant to capture photons from the event you must
locate your detector on the xy plane if you are stationary or on
the x'y' plane if you are moving.  If both photon detectors have a
light on top that blinks when it captures photons from the event,
then using the current model the lights on the moving and
stationary detectors would both blink when the detectors are next
to each other whereas in the model being proposed here they would
not.  In this new model the photon must have a more extended
presence in space such that this photon could be detected by a
stationary observer where the light cone intersects the xy plane or
a moving observer where the light cone intersects the x'y' plane. 

    The equations of special relativity and the Minkwoski diagrams
stay the same but their meaning changes with the proposed model.

Old Model: Both the stationary and the moving observer see the
event when they are next to each other.  The time on their watches
is different.  t1 is the time on the stationary observer's watch
and t1' is the time on the moving observer's watch when they both
see the event.  x1 is the distance of the stationary observer from
his origin and x1' is the distance of the moving observer from his
origin.

Proposed model: The stationary observer sees the event when the
moving observer is next to him, but the moving observer does not
see the event.  The time on their watches is the same when they are
next to each other.  x1 is the distance of the stationary observer
from his origin and x1' is the distance of the moving observer from
his origin.  t1 is the time when the stationary observer sees the
event.  t1' is the time when the moving observer WILL see the event
(or already saw the event depending upon where he is located on the
circle.)

  The only measurable difference between the two models that I can
find is whether moving and stationary observers see the event when
they are next to each other or not.  

Both models are consistant with the equations of special relativity
and with Minkowski diagrams.  In the current model the particle
like behavior of the photon forces the strange space/time
interactions we are fimilar with.  In the alternative model
presented here, the photon is strange in that it appears to be at
a different location depending upon the reference frame but space
and time take on a more normal appearance.

It is interesting that two such different models seem to give
almost the same experimental results.

    1.  In both models the event occurs at t = t' = 0 and at
        x = x' = y = y' = 0.

    2.  In both models the stationary observer sees the event at
        time t = t1 and at location x = x1.

    3.  In both models the moving observer sees the event at 
        time t' = t1' and at location x'= x1'.

    4.  In both models the moving observer is next to the         
        stationary observer when the stationary observer sees the 
        event.

The only difference that I can see between the two models that can
be experimentally determined is 

    5.  In the current model the stationary observer is next to the 
       moving observer when the moving observer sees the event.   
       In the proposed model the stationary observer is NOT       
       next to the moving observer when the moving observer sees  
       the event.  (Note: The moving observer will be next        
       to the stationary observer when the stationary observer    
        sees the event for both models but the reverse is not true. 
       The stationary will or will not be next to the moving      
       observer when the moving observer sees the event depending 
       upon which model is used.

The difference between the two models can be summarized as follows:
In the current model, observers must be at the same point in space
to observe an event.  As a consequence time in the two reference
frames is different.  In the proposed model, time in the two
reference frames is the same.  As a consequence, the observers must
be separated in space to observe the event.  In the current model,
space is the same so time is different whereas in the proposed
model time is the same so space is different. 

Please let me know if this model has been discussed before or if I
am making any obvious errors.    

thanks and regards,  Howard   
Newsgroups: sci.physics,sci.math