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Can an observer really catch up with light

Guihua Tian, Zhao Zheng

gr-qcarXiv:gr-qc/0211010

Abstract

Given a null geodesic γ0(λ) with a point r in (p,q) conjugate to p along γ0(λ), there will be a variation of γ0(λ) which will give a time-like curve from p to q. This is a well-known theory proved in the famous book2. In the paper we prove that the time-like curves coming from the above-mentioned variation have a proper acceleration which approaches infinity as the time-like curve approaches the null geodesic. This means no observer can be infinitesimally near the light and begin at the same point with the light and finally catch the light. Only separated from the light path finitely, does the observer can begin at the same point with the light and finally catch the light.

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