Assuming $c=1$, $v=\frac{\omega}{k}=\frac{\sqrt{k^2+m^2}}{k}>1$, for $m \neq 0$. Why is it not an issue that this $v$ is greater than the speed of light?
Asked
Active
Viewed 89 times
0

Qmechanic
- 201,751

Ryder Rude
- 6,312
-
Possible duplicates: https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/6912/2451 , https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/503967/2451 and links therein. – Qmechanic Jul 22 '22 at 18:12
1 Answers
2
No. The physical speed is the group velocity $$ v_g= \frac{\partial \omega}{\partial k} = \frac{k}{\sqrt{k^2+m^2}} <1. $$ The phase velocity $$ v_\phi = \frac{\omega}{k} $$ is not relevant.

mike stone
- 52,996
-
Why is $v_g$ interpreted as the physical velocity? It has the units of s/m – Ryder Rude Jul 22 '22 at 18:21
-
It has the same units as $\omega/k$ i,.e dimensionless. it is the speed at which energy and information travel. – mike stone Jul 22 '22 at 18:48
-
-
I got it. The numerator would have a pc^2 if we don't set natural units. – Ryder Rude Jul 22 '22 at 19:04