rainbow

[Jeffrey Reid]

On Thu, 2 May 1996, Brian D. McCary wrote:
> > Since gravity has it's own particles (gravitons) analagous to photons I
> > would imagine the 'true' Gravity's Rainbow as made up of these.
> >
> Here at work we've concluded that a metephorical gravitational rainbow
> could exist.  However, in order for it to be considered reasonably
> analogous to a normal rainbow, it would have to be only those portions
> of the gravitational spectrum which we are sensitive to, since the
> rainbow is considered to only be composed of those parts of the EM spectrum
> which we can see.
>
Maybe you consider the rainbow to consist of only visible light, but the
photons don't know visible from invisible, and the rainbow effect
(scattering angle dependent on frequency) continues far past the visible
range (limited only by the frequncy dependent nature of the index of
refraction of water).  This is the very reason that I find this
interpretation of GR so meaningful.  It highlights the 'man behind the
curtain' in nature.  There is always a lot going on that we can't and
don't percieve, like the scientific equivalent of a hidden conspiracy
which operates in our seemingly mundane world, but which (with the right
tools) can be exposed for what it is.  I see a nice analogy between
nature's conspiracies and socio-political ones.  It makes Slothrop a sort
of scientist probing and investingating the rules and forces with govern
Their world.

Jeff

---------------------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey G Reid       			jgreid at u.washington.edu
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"O holy mathematics, may I for the rest of my days be consoled
 by perpetual intercourse with you, consoled for the wickedness
 of man and the injustice of the Almighty!"  -- Isidore Ducasse