Reichenbach synchronization schemes
E254903
Reichenbach synchronization schemes are a family of alternative clock-synchronization conventions in special relativity that generalize Einstein’s method by allowing different, yet empirically equivalent, choices for the one-way speed of light.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Reichenbach synchronization schemes canonical | 1 |
Statements (46)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
clock synchronization convention
ⓘ
philosophy of physics concept ⓘ special relativity concept ⓘ |
| allows | anisotropic one-way speed of light ⓘ |
| appliesTo | inertial reference frames ⓘ |
| assumes |
Minkowski spacetime background
ⓘ
constancy of the two-way speed of light ⓘ |
| category | conventionalist approach to simultaneity ⓘ |
| compatibleWith |
Lorentz invariance of observable quantities
ⓘ
standard experimental tests of special relativity ⓘ |
| concerns | one-way speed of light ⓘ |
| contrastsWith | assumption of unique, absolute simultaneity ⓘ |
| discussedIn |
foundations of relativity theory
ⓘ
philosophy of time literature ⓘ |
| doesNotChange |
empirical predictions of special relativity
ⓘ
measured round-trip light speed ⓘ |
| epsilonRange | 0 ≤ ε ≤ 1 ⓘ |
| field |
Philosophy of Physics
ⓘ
surface form:
foundations of physics
philosophy of science ⓘ special relativity ⓘ |
| formalizedAs | family of coordinate transformations preserving two-way light speed ⓘ |
| generalizes |
Einstein synchronization convention
ⓘ
surface form:
Einstein synchronization
|
| hasConsequence |
different coordinate descriptions of the same physical worldlines
ⓘ
different time coordinates for spatially separated events ⓘ |
| historicalContext | 20th-century philosophy of physics ⓘ |
| implies |
coordinate-dependent one-way light speed
ⓘ
empirical equivalence of different one-way light speeds ⓘ |
| influenced | debates on conventionalism in geometry and time ⓘ |
| involves |
definition of simultaneity between spatially separated events
ⓘ
light-signal exchange between clocks ⓘ synchronization of distant clocks ⓘ |
| motivatedBy | underdetermination of the one-way speed of light by experiment ⓘ |
| namedAfter | Hans Reichenbach ⓘ |
| preserves | isotropy of the two-way speed of light ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
Edwards–Winnie synchronization schemes
ⓘ
Selleri synchronization ⓘ conventionality of simultaneity ⓘ gauge freedom in special relativity ⓘ relativity of simultaneity ⓘ |
| requires |
existence of light signals
ⓘ
measurement of round-trip light travel times ⓘ |
| specialCase | Einstein synchronization corresponds to ε = 1/2 ⓘ |
| symbol | ε ⓘ |
| usedToIllustrate |
distinction between observable and conventional structure in spacetime
ⓘ
underdetermination of theory by data ⓘ |
| usesParameter | Reichenbach epsilon ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.