Tachyons: The Hypothetical Faster-Than-Light Particles in Physics
The story behind and the connection to the Higgs field, time travel, and dark energy
You might have heard the name Tachyons in science fiction and faster-than-light travel or communication. Tachyons are first mentioned in Star Trek back in 1970, where they were used for a transporter of a crewman. In the TV series “The Flash”, tachyons particles are detected as a sign of time travel. In the Babylon TV series, tachyons are used for real-time long-distance communication.
While the name has gotten quite a science fiction reputation, it might surprise you, that the tachyons are actually hypothetical particles, mentioned in physical theories. Since they violate a number of physical established principles (such as the general theory of relativity), they are only hypothetical, and seen is a sign that the theory that contains them is unstable.
Let’s take a closer look at what the hypothetical tachyons are, their implications, and their connection to other physical theories.
Hypothetical faster-than-light particles
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