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Superluminal signal velocity
Author(s) -
Nimtz G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
annalen der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1521-3889
pISSN - 0003-3804
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-3889(199812)7:7/8<618::aid-andp618>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - superluminal motion , physics , traverse , signal (programming language) , group velocity , energy (signal processing) , classical mechanics , evanescent wave , optics , quantum mechanics , computer science , geology , programming language , geodesy
It recently has been demonstrated that signals conveyed by evanescent modes can travel faster than light. In this report some special features of signals are introduced and investigated, for instance the fundamental property that signals are frequency band limited. Evanescent modes are characterized by extraordinary properties: Their energy is negative , they are not directly measurable, and the evanescent region is not causal since the modes traverse this region instantaneously. The study demonstrates the necessity of quantum mechanics in order to understand the superluminal signal velocity of classical evanescent modes.