Some Relativistic and Higher Order Supertasks

Dados Bibliográficos

ID10704349
AutoresJon Pérez Laraudogoitia (0000-0002-9003-4946, University of the Basque Country, autor correspondente)
Ano1998
Volume65
Fascículo3
Páginas502-517
Data de publicação1998-09-01
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPhilosophy of Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0031-8248 • E-ISSN: 1539-767X
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1086/392658
OpenAlexW1984747681
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas14

The first aim of this paper is to introduce a new way of looking at supertasks in the light of special relativity which makes use of the elementary dynamics of relativistic point particles subjected to elastic binary collisions and constrained to move unidimensionally. In addition, this will enable us to draw new physical consequences from the possibility of supertasks whose ordinal type is higher than the usual ω or ω* considered so far in the literature. Thus, the paper shows how an entire collection of infinitely many particles may place itself spontaneously in motion (mechanical self-acceleration) or even reach the speed of light in a way compatible with special relativity. Interesting implications for classical mechanics are also derived, particularly the possibility of a system of particles disappearing spontaneously in spatial infinity even under the condition of the non-existence of non-collision singularities

Acceleration · Binary number · Classical mechanics · Collision · Einstein · Geometry · Gravitational singularity · Infinity · Mathematical analysis · Motion (physics) · Order (exchange) · Physics · Point (geometry) · Quantum mechanics · Relativistic mechanics · Relativistic particle · Relativistic speed · Special relativity · Speed of light (cellular automaton) · Theoretical physics · Theory of relativity · Advanced Mathematical Theories and Applications · Computer Science · Cosmology and Gravitation Theories · Mathematics · Relativity and Gravitational Theory