Author: Jong-Ping Hsu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9789812810984
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 620
Book Description
This collection of papers provides a broad view of the development of Lorentz and Poincar(r) invariance and spacetime symmetry throughout the past 100 years. The issues explored in these papers include: (1) formulations of relativity theories in which the speed of light is not a universal constant but which are consistent with the four-dimensional symmetry of the Lorentz and Poincar(r) groups and with experimental results, (2) analyses and discussions by Reichenbach concerning the concepts of simultaneity and physical time from a philosophical point of view, and (3) results achieved by the union of the relativity and quantum theories, marking the beginnings of quantum electrodynamics and relativistic quantum mechanics. Ten of the fundamental experiments testing special relativity are also discussed, showing that they actually support a four-dimensional spacetime based on broad Lorentz and Poincar(r) invariance which is more general than and includes the special theory of relativity. The generalization of the concepts of simultaneity, physical time and the nature of the speed of light within a four-dimensional spacetime framework leads to the conclusion that the symmetries embodied by the special theory of relativity can be realized using only a single postulate OCo the principle of relativity for physical laws. Contents: Theoretical Implications of Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance: The Dawn of Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance (1887OCo1905): Inquiries Regarding the Constancy of the Speed of Light (1908-1910); The Splendid Union of Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics (1927OCo1949); The Isotropy of the Speed of Light c: A Convenient Assumption (1963OCo1995); The Logically Simplest Theory of Relativity and Its 4-Dimensional Symmetry (1990OCo1994); Experiments for Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance: The Fizeau Experiment; The WilsonOCoWilson Experiment; The Observation of the Muon Lifetime Dilation; The MassOCoVelocity Relation Experiment; The Thomas Precession Experiment; and other papers. Readership: Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, researchers and academics in mathematical physics and theoretical physics."
Lorentz and Poincar Invariance
Author: Jong-Ping Hsu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9789812810984
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 620
Book Description
This collection of papers provides a broad view of the development of Lorentz and Poincar(r) invariance and spacetime symmetry throughout the past 100 years. The issues explored in these papers include: (1) formulations of relativity theories in which the speed of light is not a universal constant but which are consistent with the four-dimensional symmetry of the Lorentz and Poincar(r) groups and with experimental results, (2) analyses and discussions by Reichenbach concerning the concepts of simultaneity and physical time from a philosophical point of view, and (3) results achieved by the union of the relativity and quantum theories, marking the beginnings of quantum electrodynamics and relativistic quantum mechanics. Ten of the fundamental experiments testing special relativity are also discussed, showing that they actually support a four-dimensional spacetime based on broad Lorentz and Poincar(r) invariance which is more general than and includes the special theory of relativity. The generalization of the concepts of simultaneity, physical time and the nature of the speed of light within a four-dimensional spacetime framework leads to the conclusion that the symmetries embodied by the special theory of relativity can be realized using only a single postulate OCo the principle of relativity for physical laws. Contents: Theoretical Implications of Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance: The Dawn of Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance (1887OCo1905): Inquiries Regarding the Constancy of the Speed of Light (1908-1910); The Splendid Union of Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics (1927OCo1949); The Isotropy of the Speed of Light c: A Convenient Assumption (1963OCo1995); The Logically Simplest Theory of Relativity and Its 4-Dimensional Symmetry (1990OCo1994); Experiments for Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance: The Fizeau Experiment; The WilsonOCoWilson Experiment; The Observation of the Muon Lifetime Dilation; The MassOCoVelocity Relation Experiment; The Thomas Precession Experiment; and other papers. Readership: Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, researchers and academics in mathematical physics and theoretical physics."
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9789812810984
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 620
Book Description
This collection of papers provides a broad view of the development of Lorentz and Poincar(r) invariance and spacetime symmetry throughout the past 100 years. The issues explored in these papers include: (1) formulations of relativity theories in which the speed of light is not a universal constant but which are consistent with the four-dimensional symmetry of the Lorentz and Poincar(r) groups and with experimental results, (2) analyses and discussions by Reichenbach concerning the concepts of simultaneity and physical time from a philosophical point of view, and (3) results achieved by the union of the relativity and quantum theories, marking the beginnings of quantum electrodynamics and relativistic quantum mechanics. Ten of the fundamental experiments testing special relativity are also discussed, showing that they actually support a four-dimensional spacetime based on broad Lorentz and Poincar(r) invariance which is more general than and includes the special theory of relativity. The generalization of the concepts of simultaneity, physical time and the nature of the speed of light within a four-dimensional spacetime framework leads to the conclusion that the symmetries embodied by the special theory of relativity can be realized using only a single postulate OCo the principle of relativity for physical laws. Contents: Theoretical Implications of Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance: The Dawn of Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance (1887OCo1905): Inquiries Regarding the Constancy of the Speed of Light (1908-1910); The Splendid Union of Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics (1927OCo1949); The Isotropy of the Speed of Light c: A Convenient Assumption (1963OCo1995); The Logically Simplest Theory of Relativity and Its 4-Dimensional Symmetry (1990OCo1994); Experiments for Lorentz and Poincar(r) Invariance: The Fizeau Experiment; The WilsonOCoWilson Experiment; The Observation of the Muon Lifetime Dilation; The MassOCoVelocity Relation Experiment; The Thomas Precession Experiment; and other papers. Readership: Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, researchers and academics in mathematical physics and theoretical physics."
A Broader View of Relativity
Author: Jong-Ping Hsu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812566511
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 538
Book Description
A Broader View of Relativity shows that there is still new life in old physics. The book examines the historical context and theoretical underpinnings of Einstein's theory of special relativity and describes Broad Relativity, a generalized theory of coordinate transformations between inertial reference frames that includes Einstein's special relativity as a special case. It shows how the principle of relativity is compatible with multiple concepts of physical time and these different procedures for clock synchronization can be useful for thinking about different physical problems, including many-body systems and the development of a Lorentz-invariant thermodynamics. Broad relativity also provides new answers to old questions such as the necessity of postulating the constancy of the speed of light and the viability of Reichenbach's general concept of time. The book also draws on the idea of limiting-four-dimensional symmetry to describe coordinate transformations and the physics of particles and fields in non-inertial frames, particularly those with constant linear accelerations. This new edition expands the discussion on the role that human conventions and unit systems have played in the historical development of relativity theories and includes new results on the implications of broad relativity for clarifying the status of constants that are truly fundamental and inherent properties of our universe. Contents: Special Relativity is NOT Incorrect!; Space, Time, and Inertial Frames; The Novel Creation of the Young Einstein; Experimental Tests; Group Properties; Common Relativity and Quantum Mechanics; Extended Relativity; Dynamics of Classical and Quantum Particles; Group and Lie Algebra Properties of Accelerated Transformation of Spacetime; Graphic Representations of the Geometry of Spacetime in Accelerated Frames; Two Rocketships with Constant-Linear Acceleration; On a Gauge Theory of Gravity with Translation Gauge Symmetry in Inertial and Non-Inertial Frames; Appendices: Technical Aspects of Extended Relativity; Coordinate Transformations for Rotating Frames; and other papers. Key Features Includes five new chapters A complete and comprehensive description of Broad Relativity, which generalizes Einstein's original theory of special relativity to new physical time systems and a limited class of non-inertial frames Brings a fresh viewpoint with new physical implications and predictions to old physics Gives an updated discussion on fundamental physical constants and unit systems and their influence on the development of relativity theories Readership: Researchers in the field of relativity theory and advanced undergraduate students as a supplementary text.
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812566511
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 538
Book Description
A Broader View of Relativity shows that there is still new life in old physics. The book examines the historical context and theoretical underpinnings of Einstein's theory of special relativity and describes Broad Relativity, a generalized theory of coordinate transformations between inertial reference frames that includes Einstein's special relativity as a special case. It shows how the principle of relativity is compatible with multiple concepts of physical time and these different procedures for clock synchronization can be useful for thinking about different physical problems, including many-body systems and the development of a Lorentz-invariant thermodynamics. Broad relativity also provides new answers to old questions such as the necessity of postulating the constancy of the speed of light and the viability of Reichenbach's general concept of time. The book also draws on the idea of limiting-four-dimensional symmetry to describe coordinate transformations and the physics of particles and fields in non-inertial frames, particularly those with constant linear accelerations. This new edition expands the discussion on the role that human conventions and unit systems have played in the historical development of relativity theories and includes new results on the implications of broad relativity for clarifying the status of constants that are truly fundamental and inherent properties of our universe. Contents: Special Relativity is NOT Incorrect!; Space, Time, and Inertial Frames; The Novel Creation of the Young Einstein; Experimental Tests; Group Properties; Common Relativity and Quantum Mechanics; Extended Relativity; Dynamics of Classical and Quantum Particles; Group and Lie Algebra Properties of Accelerated Transformation of Spacetime; Graphic Representations of the Geometry of Spacetime in Accelerated Frames; Two Rocketships with Constant-Linear Acceleration; On a Gauge Theory of Gravity with Translation Gauge Symmetry in Inertial and Non-Inertial Frames; Appendices: Technical Aspects of Extended Relativity; Coordinate Transformations for Rotating Frames; and other papers. Key Features Includes five new chapters A complete and comprehensive description of Broad Relativity, which generalizes Einstein's original theory of special relativity to new physical time systems and a limited class of non-inertial frames Brings a fresh viewpoint with new physical implications and predictions to old physics Gives an updated discussion on fundamental physical constants and unit systems and their influence on the development of relativity theories Readership: Researchers in the field of relativity theory and advanced undergraduate students as a supplementary text.
100 Years of Gravity and Accelerated Frames
Author: Jong-Ping Hsu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812703403
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 664
Book Description
This collection of papers presents ideas and problems arising over the past 100 years regarding classical and quantum gravity, gauge theories of gravity, and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames. Both Einstein''s theory of gravity and the YangOCoMills theory are gauge invariant. The invariance principles in physics have transcended both kinetic and dynamic properties and are at the very heart of our understanding of the physical world. In this spirit, this book attempts to survey the development of various formulations for gravitational and YangOCoMills fields and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames, and to reveal their associated problems and limitations. The aim is to present some of the leading ideas and problems discussed by physicists and mathematicians. We highlight three aspects: formulations of gravity as a YangOCoMills field, first discussed by Utiyama; problems of gravitational theory, discussed by Feynman, Dyson and others; spacetime properties and the physics of fields and particles in accelerated frames of reference. These unfulfilled aspects of Einstein and YangOCoMills'' profound thoughts present a great challenge to physicists and mathematicians in the 21st century."
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812703403
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 664
Book Description
This collection of papers presents ideas and problems arising over the past 100 years regarding classical and quantum gravity, gauge theories of gravity, and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames. Both Einstein''s theory of gravity and the YangOCoMills theory are gauge invariant. The invariance principles in physics have transcended both kinetic and dynamic properties and are at the very heart of our understanding of the physical world. In this spirit, this book attempts to survey the development of various formulations for gravitational and YangOCoMills fields and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames, and to reveal their associated problems and limitations. The aim is to present some of the leading ideas and problems discussed by physicists and mathematicians. We highlight three aspects: formulations of gravity as a YangOCoMills field, first discussed by Utiyama; problems of gravitational theory, discussed by Feynman, Dyson and others; spacetime properties and the physics of fields and particles in accelerated frames of reference. These unfulfilled aspects of Einstein and YangOCoMills'' profound thoughts present a great challenge to physicists and mathematicians in the 21st century."
Einstein, Relativity and Absolute Simultaneity
Author: William Lane Craig
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134003889
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 311
Book Description
Einstein, Relativity and Absolute Simultaneity is an anthology of original essays by an international team of leading philosophers and physicists who have come together to reassess the contemporary paradigm of the relativistic concept of time. A great deal has changed since 1905 when Einstein proposed his Special Theory of Relativity, and this book offers a fresh reassessment of Special Relativity’s relativistic concept of time in terms of epistemology, metaphysics, and physics.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134003889
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 311
Book Description
Einstein, Relativity and Absolute Simultaneity is an anthology of original essays by an international team of leading philosophers and physicists who have come together to reassess the contemporary paradigm of the relativistic concept of time. A great deal has changed since 1905 when Einstein proposed his Special Theory of Relativity, and this book offers a fresh reassessment of Special Relativity’s relativistic concept of time in terms of epistemology, metaphysics, and physics.
100 Years of Gravity and Accelerated Frames
Author: Jong-Ping Hsu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812563350
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 662
Book Description
This collection of papers presents ideas and problems arising over the past 100 years regarding classical and quantum gravity, gauge theories of gravity, and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames. Both Einstein's theory of gravity and the Yang-Mills theory are gauge invariant. The invariance principles in physics have transcended both kinetic and dynamic properties and are at the very heart of our understanding of the physical world. In this spirit, this book attempts to survey the development of various formulations for gravitational and Yang-Mills fields and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames, and to reveal their associated problems and limitations.The aim is to present some of the leading ideas and problems discussed by physicists and mathematicians. We highlight three aspects: formulations of gravity as a Yang-Mills field, first discussed by Utiyama; problems of gravitational theory, discussed by Feynman, Dyson and others; spacetime properties and the physics of fields and particles in accelerated frames of reference.These unfulfilled aspects of Einstein and Yang-Mills' profound thoughts present a great challenge to physicists and mathematicians in the 21st century.
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9812563350
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 662
Book Description
This collection of papers presents ideas and problems arising over the past 100 years regarding classical and quantum gravity, gauge theories of gravity, and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames. Both Einstein's theory of gravity and the Yang-Mills theory are gauge invariant. The invariance principles in physics have transcended both kinetic and dynamic properties and are at the very heart of our understanding of the physical world. In this spirit, this book attempts to survey the development of various formulations for gravitational and Yang-Mills fields and spacetime transformations of accelerated frames, and to reveal their associated problems and limitations.The aim is to present some of the leading ideas and problems discussed by physicists and mathematicians. We highlight three aspects: formulations of gravity as a Yang-Mills field, first discussed by Utiyama; problems of gravitational theory, discussed by Feynman, Dyson and others; spacetime properties and the physics of fields and particles in accelerated frames of reference.These unfulfilled aspects of Einstein and Yang-Mills' profound thoughts present a great challenge to physicists and mathematicians in the 21st century.
Space-time, Yang-mills Gravity, And Dynamics Of Cosmic Expansion: How Quantum Yang-mills Gravity In The Super-macroscopic Limit Leads To An Effective Gμv(t) And New Perspectives On Hubble's Law, The Cosmic Redshift And Dark Energy
Author: Jong-ping Hsu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9811200459
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 367
Book Description
This book shows how one can combine Yang-Mills gauge symmetry and effective Einstein-Grossmann metric tensors to tackle physical problems at microscopic, macroscopic and super-macroscopic length scales in inertial frames, including the late-time accelerated cosmic expansion due to baryon masses and charges. The combination of gauge symmetry and effective metric tensor provides a framework and leads to an alternative dynamics of cosmic expansion based on quantum Yang-Mills gravity at a super-macroscopic limit. Together with cosmological principle, one can investigate and derive expanding scale factors, the age of the universe, the cosmic redshift, and the Hubble recession velocity with an upper limit. All these discussions are based on inertial frames with operationally defined space and time coordinates.
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9811200459
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 367
Book Description
This book shows how one can combine Yang-Mills gauge symmetry and effective Einstein-Grossmann metric tensors to tackle physical problems at microscopic, macroscopic and super-macroscopic length scales in inertial frames, including the late-time accelerated cosmic expansion due to baryon masses and charges. The combination of gauge symmetry and effective metric tensor provides a framework and leads to an alternative dynamics of cosmic expansion based on quantum Yang-Mills gravity at a super-macroscopic limit. Together with cosmological principle, one can investigate and derive expanding scale factors, the age of the universe, the cosmic redshift, and the Hubble recession velocity with an upper limit. All these discussions are based on inertial frames with operationally defined space and time coordinates.
Foundations Of The Hyperunified Field Theory
Author: Yue-liang Wu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9811257108
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 397
Book Description
The quest for the unification of fundamental interactions has become the most challenging frontier of sciences in the 21st century. This book presents a detailed analysis and systematic investigation of the foundations of the hyperunified field theory (HUFT) in light of the path integral formulation with the least action principle. Alternative to other unification theories, the starting point of HUFT is initiated from a simple notion that the universe is made of the fundamental building block which is always moving and obeys the basic rule. Such a rule is delved into in this book by proposing the maximum locally entangled-qubits motion principle together with the scaling and gauge invariance principle. These two basic guiding principles are demonstrated to lay the foundations of HUFT, which enable enables us to discuss a series of long-standing fundamental questions, such as: why does the fundamental building block of nature appear as an entangled qubit-spinor field? what brings about the fundamental symmetry of nature? how does the inhomogeneous hyperspin gauge symmetry govern all basic forces? what is the nature of gravity and space-time? how can the space-time dimension and qubit-spinor field be categorized? why do we live in a universe with only four-dimensional space-time? why are there more than one family of leptons and quarks? how does the early universe evolve to be inflationary? what is the nature of dark matter and dark energy?Foundations of the Hyperunified Field Theory will be of great interest to graduate and senior undergraduate students, junior and senior researchers in theoretical physics, quantum field theory, particle physics, gravitational theory, cosmology, as well as mathematical physics and general physics.
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9811257108
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 397
Book Description
The quest for the unification of fundamental interactions has become the most challenging frontier of sciences in the 21st century. This book presents a detailed analysis and systematic investigation of the foundations of the hyperunified field theory (HUFT) in light of the path integral formulation with the least action principle. Alternative to other unification theories, the starting point of HUFT is initiated from a simple notion that the universe is made of the fundamental building block which is always moving and obeys the basic rule. Such a rule is delved into in this book by proposing the maximum locally entangled-qubits motion principle together with the scaling and gauge invariance principle. These two basic guiding principles are demonstrated to lay the foundations of HUFT, which enable enables us to discuss a series of long-standing fundamental questions, such as: why does the fundamental building block of nature appear as an entangled qubit-spinor field? what brings about the fundamental symmetry of nature? how does the inhomogeneous hyperspin gauge symmetry govern all basic forces? what is the nature of gravity and space-time? how can the space-time dimension and qubit-spinor field be categorized? why do we live in a universe with only four-dimensional space-time? why are there more than one family of leptons and quarks? how does the early universe evolve to be inflationary? what is the nature of dark matter and dark energy?Foundations of the Hyperunified Field Theory will be of great interest to graduate and senior undergraduate students, junior and senior researchers in theoretical physics, quantum field theory, particle physics, gravitational theory, cosmology, as well as mathematical physics and general physics.
Space-time Symmetry And Quantum Yang-mills Gravity: How Space-time Translational Gauge Symmetry Enables The Unification Of Gravity With Other Forces
Author: Jong-ping Hsu
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814436208
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
Yang-Mills gravity is a new theory, consistent with experiments, that brings gravity back to the arena of gauge field theory and quantum mechanics in flat space-time. It provides solutions to long-standing difficulties in physics, such as the incompatibility between Einstein's principle of general coordinate invariance and modern schemes for a quantum mechanical description of nature, and Noether's ‘Theorem II’ which showed that the principle of general coordinate invariance in general relativity leads to the failure of the law of conservation of energy. Yang-Mills gravity in flat space-time appears to be more physically coherent than conventional gravity in curved space-time. The problems of quantization of the gravitational field, the operational meaning of space-time coordinates and momenta, and the conservation of energy-momentum are all resolved in Yang-Mills gravity.The aim of this book is to provide a treatment of quantum Yang-Mills gravity, with an emphasis on the ideas and evidence that the gravitational field is the manifestation of space-time translational symmetry in flat space-time, and that there exists a fundamental space-time symmetry framework that can encompass all of physics, including gravity, for all inertial and non-inertial frames of reference.
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814436208
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
Yang-Mills gravity is a new theory, consistent with experiments, that brings gravity back to the arena of gauge field theory and quantum mechanics in flat space-time. It provides solutions to long-standing difficulties in physics, such as the incompatibility between Einstein's principle of general coordinate invariance and modern schemes for a quantum mechanical description of nature, and Noether's ‘Theorem II’ which showed that the principle of general coordinate invariance in general relativity leads to the failure of the law of conservation of energy. Yang-Mills gravity in flat space-time appears to be more physically coherent than conventional gravity in curved space-time. The problems of quantization of the gravitational field, the operational meaning of space-time coordinates and momenta, and the conservation of energy-momentum are all resolved in Yang-Mills gravity.The aim of this book is to provide a treatment of quantum Yang-Mills gravity, with an emphasis on the ideas and evidence that the gravitational field is the manifestation of space-time translational symmetry in flat space-time, and that there exists a fundamental space-time symmetry framework that can encompass all of physics, including gravity, for all inertial and non-inertial frames of reference.
100 Years of Chronogeometrodynamics: The Status of the Einstein’s Theory of Gravitation in Its Centennial Year
Author: Lorenzo Iorio
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 303842482X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 469
Book Description
This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "100 Years of Chronogeometrodynamics: the Status of the Einstein's Theory of Gravitation in Its Centennial Year" that was published in Universe
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 303842482X
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 469
Book Description
This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "100 Years of Chronogeometrodynamics: the Status of the Einstein's Theory of Gravitation in Its Centennial Year" that was published in Universe
Physical Relativity
Author: Harvey R. Brown
Publisher: Clarendon Press
ISBN: 0191534706
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
Physical Relativity explores the nature of the distinction at the heart of Einstein's 1905 formulation of his special theory of relativity: that between kinematics and dynamics. Einstein himself became increasingly uncomfortable with this distinction, and with the limitations of what he called the 'principle theory' approach inspired by the logic of thermodynamics. A handful of physicists and philosophers have over the last century likewise expressed doubts about Einstein's treatment of the relativistic behaviour of rigid bodies and clocks in motion in the kinematical part of his great paper, and suggested that the dynamical understanding of length contraction and time dilation intimated by the immediate precursors of Einstein is more fundamental. Harvey Brown both examines and extends these arguments (which support a more 'constructive' approach to relativistic effects in Einstein's terminology), after giving a careful analysis of key features of the pre-history of relativity theory. He argues furthermore that the geometrization of the theory by Minkowski in 1908 brought illumination, but not a causal explanation of relativistic effects. Finally, Brown tries to show that the dynamical interpretation of special relativity defended in the book is consistent with the role this theory must play as a limiting case of Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity: the general theory of relativity. Appearing in the centennial year of Einstein's celebrated paper on special relativity, Physical Relativity is an unusual, critical examination of the way Einstein formulated his theory. It also examines in detail certain specific historical and conceptual issues that have long given rise to debate in both special and general relativity theory, such as the conventionality of simultaneity, the principle of general covariance, and the consistency or otherwise of the special theory with quantum mechanics. Harvey Brown' s new interpretation of relativity theory will interest anyone working on these central topics in modern physics.
Publisher: Clarendon Press
ISBN: 0191534706
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
Physical Relativity explores the nature of the distinction at the heart of Einstein's 1905 formulation of his special theory of relativity: that between kinematics and dynamics. Einstein himself became increasingly uncomfortable with this distinction, and with the limitations of what he called the 'principle theory' approach inspired by the logic of thermodynamics. A handful of physicists and philosophers have over the last century likewise expressed doubts about Einstein's treatment of the relativistic behaviour of rigid bodies and clocks in motion in the kinematical part of his great paper, and suggested that the dynamical understanding of length contraction and time dilation intimated by the immediate precursors of Einstein is more fundamental. Harvey Brown both examines and extends these arguments (which support a more 'constructive' approach to relativistic effects in Einstein's terminology), after giving a careful analysis of key features of the pre-history of relativity theory. He argues furthermore that the geometrization of the theory by Minkowski in 1908 brought illumination, but not a causal explanation of relativistic effects. Finally, Brown tries to show that the dynamical interpretation of special relativity defended in the book is consistent with the role this theory must play as a limiting case of Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity: the general theory of relativity. Appearing in the centennial year of Einstein's celebrated paper on special relativity, Physical Relativity is an unusual, critical examination of the way Einstein formulated his theory. It also examines in detail certain specific historical and conceptual issues that have long given rise to debate in both special and general relativity theory, such as the conventionality of simultaneity, the principle of general covariance, and the consistency or otherwise of the special theory with quantum mechanics. Harvey Brown' s new interpretation of relativity theory will interest anyone working on these central topics in modern physics.