Say I have light moving in a spaceship that travels at velocity $v$ perpendicular to the light ray, as shown in the diagram below. Now due to relativity the shape ship appears length contracted in the direction of $v$ and therefore the light wave in my reference frame appears squished together. Does this mean from my POV that the electric field oscillations that are perpendicular to the light ray are also squished and therefore would the light I see have different properties(i.e less energy or power) as the amplitude of the wave appears to be squished in my frame of reference?
Asked
Active
Viewed 117 times
0
Lagrangian
- 10,439
Gunnar
- 335
1 Answers
2
No. Although you have drawn the light wave as if the amplitude is a displacement over distance, it is not. The amplitude is a measure of field strength, not distance, so it will not be subject to length contraction.
Professor Sushing
- 29,350