Radiation from a Superluminal Source

The sweep speed of an electron beam across the face of an oscilloscope can exceed the velocity of light, although of course the velocity of the electrons does not. Associated with this possibility there should be a kind of Cherenkov radiation, as if the oscilloscope trace were due to a charge moving with superluminal velocity

Circular Orbits Inside the Sphere of Death

A wheel or sphere rolling without slipping on the inside of a sphere in a uniform gravitational field can have stable circular orbits that lie wholly above the "equator", while a particle sliding freely cannot.Comment: Figures revised slightly since publicatio

Can a "Hidden Variable'' Quantum Theory Evade the "No-Cloning" Theorem?

If YES, then we can look forward to physical realization of superluminal communication, as the original considerations of the ``no-cloning'' theorem were motivated in part as an explanation of why certain schemes for superluminal signaling cannot work. If NO, then it would seem that some aspects of the ``hidden'' variables must be ``intrinsically hidden'', i.e., ``unknowable'', such that ``hidden-variable'' theories belong more to the ``idealist'' than to the ``realist'' school of thought. I pose this question without proposing a definite answer. I am unaware of any commentary on this topic during these 23 years since the formulation of the ``no-cloning'' theorem, but I would be pleased to be enlightened by more knowledgeable readers

Hidden Momentum in a Coaxial Cable

As an illustration of the concept of "hidden" mechanical momentum, we consider a coaxial cable one end of which is connected to a battery and the other to a load resistor. The nonzero electromagnetic momentum of this configuration is balanced by the slight difference in the mechanical momenta of the conduction electrons in the inner and outer conductors.Comment: 4 pages, no figure

Axicon Gaussian Laser Beams

We deduce the simplest form for an axicon Gaussian laser beam, i.e., one with radial polarization of the electric field.Comment: v2 adds one figure and one referenc

Magnetostatic Spin Waves

In general, Maxwell's equations require that a wave of magnetic field be accompanied by a wave of electric field, and vice versa. In magnetic media it is possible to have waves of magnetization with negligible electric field. We discuss an example of this based on ferromagnetic spin waves.Comment: 7 pages, no figure

The Hawking-Unruh Temperature and Quantum Fluctuations in Particle Accelerators

We wish to draw attention to a novel view of the effect of the quantum fluctuations during the radiation of accelerated particles, particularly those in storage rings. This view is inspired by the remarkable insight of Hawking that the effect of the strong gravitational field of a black hole on the quantum fluctuations of the surrounding space is to cause the black hole to radiate with a temperature T = hbar g / 2 pi c k, where g is the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the black hole, c is the speed of light, and k is Boltzmann's constant. Shortly thereafter Unruh argued that an accelerated observer should become excited by quantum fluctuations to a temperature T = hbar a* / 2 pi c k, where a* is the acceleration of the observer in its instantaneous rest frame. In a series of papers Bell and co-workers have noted that electron storage rings provide a demonstration of the utility of the Hawking-Unruh temperature, with emphasis on the question of the incomplete polarization of the electrons due to quantum fluctuations of synchrotron radiation. Here we expand slightly on the results of Bell et al., and encourage the reader to consult the literature for more detailed understanding

Maximal Gravity at the Surface of an Asteroid

The maximum strength of gravity at the surface of an object of a given mass is not attained for a spherical shape, but for a small departure from sphericity.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

An Off-Axis Neutrino Beam

In this pedagogic note, set as problem for the reader, it is shown how the existence of a maximum energy of a neutrino that appears at a given angle to the direction of its parent pion leads to a useful enhancment of neutrino flux in an off-axis beam

The Laser-Driven Vacuum Photodiode

A vacuum photodiode driven by a pulsed laser can sustain an average current very similar to that of a continous diode, where the latter is described by Child's law