In Physical, the cone of light is the fundamental object of the General relativity. It finds its origin in the relation past-future. It is this object which creates the distinction between a last event and an event Futur.
That is to say an event made conspicuous, all the other events of the Espace-temps are divided into three categories: the last absolute and the future absolute of on the one hand, these events occurring inside cone represented on the diagram, and the elsewhere on the other hand which is consititué other events. The events located in elsewhere of are known as causalement disconnected from and cannot thus influence it.
Time interval
Another event, that we will name
(letter
I for
interior ), located inside the cone of
is separated from this last by an interval known as
of the type time (
negative).
Interval of space
Let us see what occurs outside this cone. Let us consider a third event
now (
has for
elsewhere ). That Ci will then be separated from
by an interval known as
of the type spaces (
being then positive).
Interval of light
For all the other event located
on the surface even of the cone of light, their interval of space time with
is cancelled. And this because they are located at the border between the interior and elsewhere (consequently,
is null). These intervals are called intervals
of the type light . To explain why, consider a fourth event,
(
S for surface), which, him, would be located on the surface of the cone of light of
. The space distance which separates these two event, is then the distance which the Lumière would cross during the temporal distance which separates them.
See too