The time dilatation phenomenon describes the
observation that a fast moving unstable particle seems to exist longer than the
same particle at rest. According to the Relativity Theory this is caused by the
fact that the fast moving particle has a “clock” that tics slower. Time
dilation is observed in cosmic radiation. Cosmic radiation exists of particles
like the m-meson. The m-meson has an average half
life expectation of 2.2 microseconds (millionth of a second).
The mesons that
enter the earth atmosphere have a speed very close to the speed of light. The
mesons are detected and brought to a halt. At an altitude of 2.000 meters above
sea level one observes an average of 568 mesons per hour. With a speed close to
the speed of light the mesons need approx. 6.6 microseconds to reach the sea
level. The time needed to reach sea level is with 6.6 microseconds 3 times the
half life expectation, so one would expect that an average of 1/8 (1/2 by the
third power) of the particles at 2.000 meters above sea level will reach the
sea level. So one may expect to measure 71 mesons there.
The number of mesons measured is however 412, almost 6 time the expected
number. Apparently the mesons live longer when they move.
The explanation of the Relativity Theory is,
that time has to be corrected according to the Lorentz-transformation.
Apparently the mesons experience a shorter time than we do. The time
transformation according to the Relativity Theory is:
with t’ the
time the meson experience our time t. According to this approach the
mesons move with a speed of approx. 0.985 the speed of light c. Is this
the experimental confirmation of the relativity of time? Possible,
but certainly not necessary. It is assumed that the disintegration time
of the fast moving meson is the same as the disintegration time of mesons
forced to stop.
We are discussing the ether. There is
interaction now between the moving meson, with a charge equal of the electron,
and the ether. The energy of the movement is very high, so high that almost 1
meson can become 6 mesons when the kinetic energy is used to create new mesons.
The electron is able to eject the oscillation
energy, the transformed kinetic energy, when halted. The electron will not
disintegrate because it is extremely stable. The meson however is not stable.
It disintegrates in microseconds.
When the meson is forced to stop, the kinetic
energy will force the meson in to oscillation; like the electron. The meson is however
not able to eject the oscillation energy. The disintegration time of an
unstable particle is dependent on the overflowing energy compared to the most
stable situation. The most stable situation is rest, which means 0 degrees
Kelvin.
The fast moving meson is at rest with the ether.
The disintegration time of an unstable particle will decrease when the
overflowing energy, temperature, increases. The kinetic energy will stimulate
the particle to an oscillation when halted. The lifetime of the meson has to
decline, when it is forced to a “rest”.
With ether the conclusion that time is relative
when time dilatation of mesons is observed, is premature. With ether one cannot
assume that the lifetime of unstable particles remains the same after the
kinetic energy of the fast moving particle is transferred to oscillation energy.
On the contrary, the lifetime has to decrease.
Radioactive disintegration can be expected to be dependent on the overflowing
energy: the thermal energy. The disintegration constant l can be expected to be proportional to the excessive thermal energy:
l=lo(Ed+Ek)/Ed
where lo is the disintegration constant at 0 degrees
Kelvin, Ek the kinetic energy transferred to
the particle in the form of oscillation and Ed is the necessary disintegration
energy.
The temperature dependency of normal
radioactive decay will be difficult to measure, because the thermal energy of
the particle is very low compared to disintegration energy (Ek<<Ed).
The meson, very unstable, and moving with
extreme speed will have an oscillation energy added that will influence the
lifetime for sure. From this point of view the observed time dilatation is no
longer the consequence of the relativity of time. The time difference, how
ordinary it may seem, is very much comparable with the decreased chemical
reaction time when temperature increases.
Next Chapter Questions or remarks?