Neat applet

[OpenGL guy]

The applet at this link shows how apparent superluminal (faster than the speed of light) features can not be used to send data. The superluminal feature is just the waves getting into and out of phase with each other. The reason this can't be used to send information is you have absolutely no idea what phase the waves will be when they reach the receiver. Also, as you can see from the demonstration, the "pulse" actually "teleports" over the shutter.

Pretty neat.

 

[Neeyik]

Oooh, how timely - I've been pestered by some of my students about trying to understand this; that'll do very nicely thanks!

 

[digitalwanderer]

The Dig hears a very loud "WHOOOSH!!!!"-ing noise over his head.