3 ms·
Although we can't directly measure the one way speed, can't we at least demonstrate that the speed of light is the same for various arbitrary directions? I'm im
by 00N8 3y ago
Although we can't directly measure the one way speed, can't we at least demonstrate that the speed of light is the same for various arbitrary directions? I'm imagining sending a very brief & well columnated laser pulse aimed at e.g. Pluto, such that we have to "lead" the shot based on light travel time. If the outward bound light pulse travels slower/faster than expected, it will arrive at the wrong time & miss the planet, won't it?
You could repeat the experiment at different times of the Plutonian year to verify other directions, etc..
I think there may be practical problems with this method in terms of creating such a well columnated laser pulse, but in principle couldn't we use it to rule out anisotropic light speeds in several (perhaps most/all) directions?