# On the general relativistic framework of the Sagnac effect

## TL;DR

This paper offers a new general relativistic perspective on the Sagnac effect, clarifying its physical interpretation by analyzing the gravitational fields acting on light beams and the beam splitter.

## Contribution

It introduces an alternative general relativistic approach that enhances understanding of the physical origin of the Sagnac effect beyond traditional null geodesic methods.

## Key findings

- Provides a clearer physical interpretation of the Sagnac effect.
- Analyzes the gravitational influence on light and the beam splitter.
- Offers insights into the variation of light speed in rotating frames.

## Abstract

The Sagnac effect is usually considered as being a relativistic effect produced in an interferometer when the device is rotating. General relativistic explanations are known and already widely explained in many papers. Such general relativistic approaches are founded on Einstein's equivalence principle (EEP), which states the equivalence between the gravitational "force" and the pseudo-force experienced by an observer in a non-inertial frame of reference, included a rotating observer. Typically, the authors consider the so-called Langevin-Landau-Lifschitz metric and the path of light is determined by null geodesics. This approach partially hides the physical meaning of the effect. It seems indeed that the light speed varies by c\pm\omega r in one or the other direction around the disk. In this paper, a slightly different general relativistic approach will be used. The different "gravitational field" acting on the beam splitter and on the two rays of light is analyzed. This different approach permits a better understanding of the physical meaning of the Sagnac effect.