A method of comparing the speed of starlight and the speed of light from a terrestrial source

Jingshown Wu, Shenq-Tsong Chang, Hen-Wai Tsao, Yen-Ru Huang, San-Liang Lee, Cheng-Chieh Chang, Wei-Cheng Lin, Ho-Lin Tsay, Yi-Lung Wang, Po-Hsuan Huang, Ming-Ying Hsu, Chia-Wei Hsu, Shu-Chuan Lin, Yung-Jr Hung, Ye-Li Shiu, Yung-Chung Hsiao, Je-Yuan Chang, Din Ping Tsai, Ting-Ming Huang, Hong-Tsu YoungYi-Cheng Liu, Chung-Min Chang, Wei-Chieh Chiang, Ji-Ying Huang, Ya-Hsin Chen

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The speed of light is an important physical parameter. Currently it is a common belief of the constance of the speed of light regardless of the relative velocity between the source and the observer. Because the speed of light is very fast, if the relative velocity is small compared with the speed of light, it is difficult to detect the effect of the relative velocity on the measurement of the speed of light. In this paper we present a method of comparing the speeds of starlight and the light emitting from a terrestrial source. We use a telescope to collect the light from the star having significant relative velocity with respect to the earth, e.g. Capella. Then we modulate the starlight and the light emitted from the local source into pulses i.e. these pulses leave the modulator simultaneously. After travelling 4.2 km, these pulses are detected by a receiver. If the starlight and the terrestrial light have the same speed, then these pulses must arrive at the receiver at the same time. Our results show that the arrival times of the pulses of starlight are different from that of the local light. For example, the Capella is leaving away from the earth. The Capella pulses arrive later than the local light pulses. It indicates that the speed of Capella starlight is slower than the common believed value, c. The presented method uses one clock and one stick, so the clock synchronization problem and any physical unit transformation can be avoided. © 2013 SPIE.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Nature of Light: What are Photons? V
PublisherSPIE
Volume8832
ISBN (Print)9780819496829
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
EventThe Nature of Light: What are Photons? V - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: 26 Aug 201329 Aug 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8832
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceThe Nature of Light: What are Photons? V
PlaceUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period26/08/1329/08/13

Bibliographical note

Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Research Keywords

  • PMT
  • rotating mirror
  • speed of light
  • starlight

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