Circuit analogue of relativistic aberration of light using low-cost, low-complexity operational amplifier-based all-pass filters

Abstract

We propose, simulate, and experimentally demonstrate a circuit analogue of a special relativity phenomenon known as relativistic aberration of light (RAL) by using a surprisingly simple, low-cost, and easily accessible electronic circuit-based all-pass filter. This work is useful for two audiences: (i) physicists who are interested in research on circuit analogues; and (ii) physics educators who are interested in using the research results to raise interest among students by incorporating analogue-based learning into undergraduate physics lecture and laboratory courses. For the first type of audience, we present a rigorous theoretical framework describing this RAL-on-an-electronic-chip analogy. We show by (i) analytical modelling, (ii) commercial circuit software simulation, and (iii) experiment that the electrical phase shift Φ of the output signal is analogous to the RAL angle, Ψ. This parameter opens up a path among researchers to model the effects of other relativistic phenomena with electronic circuits. For the second type of audience, we discuss the potential role of RAL-on-an-electronic-chip in physics education (both in lectures and laboratory) that combines students’ learnings of both physics and electronic circuits, at the same time. We also explore briefly its relevance to engineering education.

Publication-driven Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in optics and photonics in the Philippines using circuit analogue-based research experiments

“…An example of this electronic circuit analogue for RAL is given in Fig. 1b which we reported in [2].…”

“…Table 1 shows the generated 4 published journal and conference papers [2][3][4][5] based on these research topics. A more detailed description of the REU program will be provided in the actual conference presentation.…”

Smartphone-based approach to demonstrating relativistic aberration of light using electronic circuit analogues for undergraduates in the Philippines

“…We also recently reported an electronic analogue of the RAL, which consists of an operational amplifier (OP-AMP)-based cascaded all-pass filter (APF) circuit [1]. This device was initially developed to serve as an educational tool for students across secondary and tertiary schools in the Philippines [1].…”

Concept connectivity: an educational and research framework for scientific learning in optics, photonics, and electronic education

“…In recent years, we have been researching three main relativistic effectsnamely the (a) Relativistic Aberration of Light (RAL), 4,5 (b) Thomas Rotation Effect (TRE), [6][7] and (c) Einstein's Velocity Addition (EVA). 8 A unique aspect of our research approach is that we employ different implementation schemes to mimic a specific behavior or property of any of the three aforementioned relativistic effects. In particular, we have developed relativistic analogues based on low-cost and simple technological platforms in our previous works.…”