K. Scharnhorst: On propagation of light in the vacuum between plates. Physics Letters B 236:3(1990)354-359 (DOI: 10.1016/0370-2693(90)90997-K), Corrigendum: ibid. B 787(2018)204, 1 p. (DOI: 10.1016/j.physletb.2018.12.002).

Abstract: QED is considered in the presence of two parallel plates (Casimir effect type configuration) imposing boundary conditions on the photon vacuum fluctuations. Two-loop corrections arising from the boundary conditions for the photon vacuum fluctuations to the QED effective action are calculated in a physically reasonable approximation. From this effective action we find that for light propagating perpendicular to the plates in the vacuum between them, their impact phrased in the simplest terms consists in causing a change in the velocity of light.

The article has been covered by various media in the following popular science items:

• S.M. Barnett: Quantum electrodynamics - Photons faster than light?. Nature 344, No. 6264 (1990)289 (DOI: 10.1038/344289a0). Chinese translation: S.M. Barnett: 超光速的光子是否存在? [Chāo guāngsù de guāngzǐ shìfǒu cúnzài?]. 国外激光 [Guówài jīguāng = Foreign Laser] 28:9(1991)28-29 ( https://en.cnki.com.cn/KCMS/detail/detail.aspx?dbname=CJFD9093&filename=JGDJ199109011 ).

  ---

• Marcus Chown: Can photons travel 'faster than light'?. New Scientist 126, No. 1711 (1990)32, 7 April 1990 ( https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12617112-900-science-can-photons-travel-faster-than-light/ ). Shortened Estonian version: Valgus kiirem valgusest. Horisont (1990) No. 9, 12 ( https://www.digar.ee/arhiiv/en/perioodika/69854 ).

  Also see: Tim Bierman: Speed of light. New Scientist 126, No. 1714 (1990)93, 28 April 1990.

  ---

• Philip Campbell (interviewed by), David Thomas: The Scharnhorst effect - Can light travel faster than light? (5'56"). BBC Science Magazine 16/90, radio transcript, BBC Topical Tapes, pp. 06-08, recorded 17.4.1990.

  ---

• Secret of the vacuum: Speedier light. Science News 137:19 (1990)303, May 12, 1990 (available at the JSTOR site: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3974285). Chinese translation in: 科學月刊 [Kēxué yuèkān = Science Monthly] 21:8, No. 248 (1990)667-668 (真空的奧祕 [Zhēnkōng de àomì]).

  ---

• Excès de vitesse pour la lumière? [Excess speed for light?]. La Recherche 21, No. 223 (1990)940-941, July-August 1990. [in French]

  ---

• Malcolm W. Browne: New directions in physics: Back in time. The New York Times, Tuesday, August 21, 1990, Section C, p. 1, Science Desk ( http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/21/science/new-direction-in-physics-back-in-time.html?pagewanted=all ).

  ---

• Alan Burdick: A bird? A plane?. The Sciences (New York) 30:5 (1990)7, September/October 1990.

  ---

• Cassio Leite Vieira: Luz supera a velocidade máxima de Einstein [Light surpasses the speed maximum of Einstein]. Folha de Sao Paulo (Sao Paulo) 70, No. 22458 (1990)H-3, Friday, September 28, 1990 . [in Portuguese]

  ---

• N. L.: Wie schnell ist das Licht? [How fast is light?]. Die Welt (Hamburg), Saturday/Sunday, 17./18.11.1990, No. 270 - 46. week, supplement: Geistige Welt, p. IV. [in German]

  ---

• John G. Cramer: FTL photons, Alternate View Column AV-43. Analog Science Fiction & Fact Magazine 110:13 (1990)115, Mid-December 1990 - Original source link here ( https://www.npl.washington.edu/AV/altvw43.html ).

  ---

• Walter Baier:
  • Auf das Vakuum kommt es an. Ist eine „Überlichtgeschwindigkeit“ möglich? [It depends on the vacuum. Is a "superluminal speed" possible?]. Nordwest-Zeitung: Oldenburger Nachrichten 45:277 (1990)D2, November 28, 1990. [in German]
  • Schneller als das Licht? [Faster than light?]. Wochenpost (Berlin) 38:3 (1991)10, January 9, 1991. [in German]
  • Aufs Vakuum kommt es an - Über-Lichtgeschwindigkeit? [It depends on the vacuum - Superluminal speed?]. Elektronik-Technologie, Elektronik-Anwendungen, Elektronik-Marketing (Leinfelden-Echterdingen) 29:5 (1991)50, March 5, 1991. [in German]
  • Aufs Vakuum kommt es an - Über-Lichtgeschwindigkeit unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen möglich? [It depends on the vacuum - Superluminal speed possible under certain conditions?]. Sterne und Weltraum 30:3 (1991)152-153. [in German]

    Also see: Philippe Jetzer, Norbert Straumann: Kausalität und Lichtgeschwindigkeit [Causality and the speed of light]. Sterne und Weltraum 30:7 (1991)422-423. [in German]

  ---

• Norman Dombey: How to invest in an empty property. The Guardian (London), Thursday, March 9, 1995, OnLine, p. 10.

  ---

• Tom Siegfried: Exceeding light speed needs mirrors, no smoke. The Dallas Morning News, Monday, August 20, 2001, p. 3C.

  ---

• L.M. Sokołowski: O prędkościach nadświetlnych [On superluminal velocities]. Foton (2006) No. 94, 17-25 - Original source link here ( http://www.foton.if.uj.edu.pl/documents/12579485/e1f029fe-9b5b-4386-884e-a60c575b9b90 ). [in Polish]

  ---

• Wikipedia entries in:
  • English:
    • Scharnhorst effect
    • section: Faster light (Casimir vacuum and quantum tunnelling) of entry: Faster-than-light
  • Deutsch/German (Scharnhorst-Effekt)
  • Français/French (effet Scharnhorst)
  • Italiano/Italien (effetto Scharnhorst)
  • Português/Portuguese (efeito Scharnhorst)
  • Русский/Russian:
    • эффект Шарнхорста [èffekt Sharnkhorsta]
    • section: эффект Шарнхорста [èffekt Sharnkhorsta] of entry: сверхсветовое движение [sverkhsvetovoe dvizhenie]
  • Українська/Ukrainian (ефект Шарнхорста [efekt Sharnkhorsta])

© K. Scharnhorst . Document last modified: June 8, 2023