This figure schematically represents the concept of radar distance, one of several distinct operationally significant notions of distance which can employed by Langevin observers (and other accelerating observers) in Minkowski spacetime. This figure depicts two thought experiments using a standard cylindrical coordinate chart.

At left, a Langevin observer with world line passing through events labeled A and A″ experimentally determines the radar distance to a static observer with world line on the axis of symmetry r = 0, by sending a radar pulse at A which reaches the central observer at event C′, is sent back, and returns at A″. To determine the radar distance of the central observer, he divides the elapsed time (measured by an ideal clock which he carries) by two.

At right, the central observer experimentally determines the radar distance to the Langevin observer, by sending a radar pulse at C to A′ which then returns at C″. To determine the radar distance of the central observer, he divides the elapsed time (measured by an ideal clock which he carries) by two.