Abstract
Borchers comments: The image on the Physics Today cover depicts the geometric distortion only, so it is not what one would actually see when falling at 90% the speed of light. In addition to the shift in colors due to the Doppler effect, the appearance would be dominated by the searchlight effect. When looking in the direction of motion at 90%, the wavelengths would be shorter by a factor of 4.35, while the intensity would increase by a factor of more than 1500 (Doppler factor to the fifth power); the exact value depends on the spectral distribution in the infrared. To accurately render the color distortion, we would need the spectral distribution of the scene in the infrared. Unfortunately, we don’t know this distribution for the market square.© 2006 American Institute of Physics.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.