The One-Way Linear Effect, a first order optical effect

Abstract

In the One-Way Linear Effect, the round-trip time interval T0′ taken by light to propagate around a moving linear closed contour, is measured by a device. If the contour changes velocity by Δv, the round-trip interval T′(X′,Δv) turns out to depend on the device position X′ and Δv. The variation ΔT′=T′(X′,Δv)−T0′, related to Δv/c, is experimentally observable by means of standard interferometry, ring laser techniques, or high precision time-delay detectors of light pulses. Being sensitive to velocity variations, if experimentally confirmed the One-Way Linear Effect may have relevant applications in inertial guidance systems and related areas. Furthermore, the One-Way Linear Effect can be used to confirm Lorentz invariance by testing relative simultaneity versus absolute simultaneity.

Keywords

• Light propagation
• Sagnac effect
• One-way speed of light
• Relative simultaneity
• Lorentz invariance