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This lecture by Dr. Souvik Ghose from the Harish-Chandra Research Institute explores the controversial origins of the Sagnac Effect in relativistic physics. Delve into the ongoing debate surrounding this phenomenon, particularly from the perspective of rotating observers. Examine how experimental findings by Wang et al. (2003, 2004) have challenged conventional understanding about platform rotation's role in the effect, leading to alternative theoretical frameworks focused on relative motion between observers and light-guiding reflectors. Follow Dr. Ghose's critical analysis of existing relativistic formulations and their limitations as he presents a thought experiment on the linear Sagnac effect. Discover his argument that the effect stems not from frame rotation or source-observer motion, but fundamentally from the observer's asymmetric positioning relative to light paths—a conclusion reinforced through rotational gedanken experiment analysis. This 53-minute Warsaw colloquium for theoretical physics was presented at the Centrum Fizyki Teoretycznej PAN on March 19, 2025.
