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Re: PHYS-L Digest - 4 Nov 1999 - Special issue

Subject: Re: Vitural particle cloud as preferred reference?
Date: Thu, 4 Nov 1999 08:47:33 -0800
From: Leigh Palmer <palmer@SFU.CA>

Question: Does the virtual particle cloud define a preferred frame of
reference? (This preference is similar to that once attributed to the
electromagnetic ether.)

Why is it anisotropic? The charge density is zero. The mass
density is zero. Lorentz contracted they are still zero.

Leigh

Charge density zero? Yes. Mass density zero? No. Particles and
antiparticles have positive mass.

A spherical (isotropic) distribution of *real* particles, as observed
by one stationary with respect to the particles' center of mass, will
be contracted (anisotropic) along the direction of relative motion, as
observed by one moving with respect to the particles' center of mass.
Why would it be different for a distribution of virtual particles?

Thanks.

Glenn A. Carlson, P.E.
St. Charles County Community College
St. Peters, MO
gcarlson@mail.win.org