Tachyons are hypothetical particles that can travel faster than the speed of light. Einstein’s theory of relativity does not allow these types of particles as that theory deems c or the speed of light, the absolute speed any particle can go. To overcome this loophole, Tachyons have masses that are of imaginary numbers or numbers that are the square root of negative numbers. Another theory is that tachyons have spacelike four momentum instead of the normal timelike four momentum. The theory why tachyons can travel beyond the speed of light is because it is the exact opposite of normal particles. As the velocity of normal particles reach closer and closer to the speed of light, the energy required to sustain this velocity becomes enormous, but for tachyons, as they speed up, the energy required to sustain their velocity becomes smaller and as they slow down to the speed of light, the energy required to sustain this speed becomes arbitrarily large, thus making it harder for tachyons to slow down than to accelerate. This may be due to differences in momentum, causing tachyons and normal particles to become opposite versions of each other.

The problem posed by tachyons is that it is inconsistent with the casualty effect as if tachyons were real, it proves that sending information to the past would work, thus receiving the result of the cause even before the action. It will also be undetectable in an Einsteinian space like our universe as objects travelling faster than the speed of light will be going to the past and since tachyons are constantly above the speed of light, it would always be travelling to the past according to special relativity.

As I have mentioned before, the main problem with understanding tachyons is how they travel so fast. The two potential theories are that the mass of tachyons are imaginary or they have a spacelike and not time-like four momentum. Many physicists prefer the theory of space like four-momentum over imaginary mass as first of all, since tachyons are confined to the spacelike portion of the energy–momentum graph in a spacelike four- momentum, they cannot slow down to subluminal (slower-than-light) speeds.

Second of all, when traveling faster than the speed of light, the denominator in the above equation must be imaginary as the value under the square root is negative. The energy of any particle must be a real number so if this equation wants to work, the numerator should also be an imaginary number as an imaginary number divided by an imaginary number is equal to a real number, thus the mass of a tachyon must be a real number.

All particles are excitations in the quantum field and we can put tachyons in as excitations in a field theory in many ways but I won’t go into detail about them.

Experiments using a cerenkov detector which detects the speed of a particle in a medium were conducted to find tachyons. If something faster than light, like a tachyon, travels through it, cerenkov radiation will occur, but unfortunately, when testing, no cerenkov radiation was detected, thus leading to the conclusion that tachyons do not exist. 

But although experimentally, tachyons were not detected, physics still may be able to permit this legendary particle with some loopholes and if it really did exist, we may be at a turning point for humanity. So what do you think, are tachyons real?

sorry if the equation did not come in, it is essentially an equation that shows that the total energy of a particle contains a contribution from its rest mass (the "rest mass–energy") and a contribution from its motion, the kinetic energy.

Edited October 30Oct 30 by tim the scientist

2 hours ago, tim the scientist said:

Tachyons are hypothetical particles that can travel faster than the speed of light. Einstein’s theory of relativity does not allow these types of particles as that theory deems c or the speed of light, the absolute speed any particle can go. To overcome this loophole, Tachyons have masses that are of imaginary numbers or numbers that are the square root of negative numbers. Another theory is that tachyons have spacelike four momentum instead of the normal timelike four momentum. The theory why tachyons can travel beyond the speed of light is because it is the exact opposite of normal particles. As the velocity of normal particles reach closer and closer to the speed of light, the energy required to sustain this velocity becomes enormous, but for tachyons, as they speed up, the energy required to sustain their velocity becomes smaller and as they slow down to the speed of light, the energy required to sustain this speed becomes arbitrarily large, thus making it harder for tachyons to slow down than to accelerate. This may be due to differences in momentum, causing tachyons and normal particles to become opposite versions of each other.

The problem posed by tachyons is that it is inconsistent with the casualty effect as if tachyons were real, it proves that sending information to the past would work, thus receiving the result of the cause even before the action. It will also be undetectable in an Einsteinian space like our universe as objects travelling faster than the speed of light will be going to the past and since tachyons are constantly above the speed of light, it would always be travelling to the past according to special relativity.

As I have mentioned before, the main problem with understanding tachyons is how they travel so fast. The two potential theories are that the mass of tachyons are imaginary or they have a spacelike and not time-like four momentum. Many physicists prefer the theory of space like four-momentum over imaginary mass as first of all, since tachyons are confined to the spacelike portion of the energy–momentum graph in a spacelike four- momentum, they cannot slow down to subluminal (slower-than-light) speeds.

Second of all, when traveling faster than the speed of light, the denominator in the above equation must be imaginary as the value under the square root is negative. The energy of any particle must be a real number so if this equation wants to work, the numerator should also be an imaginary number as an imaginary number divided by an imaginary number is equal to a real number, thus the mass of a tachyon must be a real number.

All particles are excitations in the quantum field and we can put tachyons in as excitations in a field theory in many ways but I won’t go into detail about them.

Experiments using a cerenkov detector which detects the speed of a particle in a medium were conducted to find tachyons. If something faster than light, like a tachyon, travels through it, cerenkov radiation will occur, but unfortunately, when testing, no cerenkov radiation was detected, thus leading to the conclusion that tachyons do not exist. 

But although experimentally, tachyons were not detected, physics still may be able to permit this legendary particle with some loopholes and if it really did exist, we may be at a turning point for humanity. So what do you think, are tachyons real?

sorry if the equation did not come in, it is essentially an equation that shows that the total energy of a particle contains a contribution from its rest mass (the "rest mass–energy") and a contribution from its motion, the kinetic energy.

I remember reading about these in the 1960s. As I recall, they seemed to be allowed mathematically, so long at they always travelled at speeds >c. However it looks as if their actual existence has subsequently been dismissed for a variety of reasons.

So no, I do not think we are at a turning point for humanity due to speculations about tachyons. Though we may be for other more prosaic reasons, notably climate change.

What is it you want to discuss? This isn’t a blog, it’s a discussion forum.

8 minutes ago, swansont said:

What is it you want to discuss? This isn’t a blog, it’s a discussion forum.

1 hour ago, exchemist said:

I remember reading about these in the 1960s. As I recall, they seemed to be allowed mathematically, so long at they always travelled at speeds >c. However it looks as if their actual existence has subsequently been dismissed for a variety of reasons.

So no, I do not think we are at a turning point for humanity due to speculations about tachyons. Though we may be for other more prosaic reasons, notably climate change.

Thanks for the clear feedback. I appreciate it.

Edited October 30Oct 30 by tim the scientist
accidental typo error