Equivalence principle and electromagnetic field: no birefringence,no dilaton,and no axion

The coupling of the electromagnetic field to gravity is discussed. In the premetric axiomatic approach based on the experimentally well established conservation laws of electric charge and magnetic flux, the Maxwell equations are the same irrespective of the presence or absence of gravity. In this sense, one can say that the charge “substratum” and the flux “substratum” are not influenced by the gravitational field directly. However, the interrelation between these fundamental substrata, formalized as the spacetime relation H = H(F) between the 2-forms of the electromagnetic excitation H and the electromagnetic field strength F, is affected by gravity. Thus the validity of the equivalence principle for electromagnetism depends on the form of the spacetime relation. We discuss the nonlocal and local linear constitutive relations and demonstrate that the spacetime metric can be accompanied also by skewon, dilaton, and axion fields. All these premetric companions of the metric may eventually lead to a violation of the equivalence principle.     

Is the Lorentz signature of the metric of spacetime electromagnetic in origin?

We formulate a premetric version of classical electrodynamics in terms of the excitation and the field strength F=(E,B). A local, linear, and symmetric spacetime relation between H and F is assumed. It yields, if electric/magnetic reciprocity is postulated, a Lorentzian metric of spacetime thereby excluding Euclidean signature (which is, nevertheless, discussed in some detail). Moreover, we determine the Dufay law (repulsion of like charges and attraction of opposite ones), the Lenz rule (the relative sign in Faraday’s law), and the sign of the electromagnetic energy. In this way, we get a systematic understanding of the sign rules and the sign conventions in electrodynamics. The question in the title of the paper is answered affirmatively.     

Ground State Energy of Large Atoms in a Self-Generated Magnetic Field

We consider a large atom with nuclear charge Z described by non-relativistic quantum mechanics with classical or quantized electromagnetic field. We prove that the absolute ground state energy, allowing for minimizing over all possible self-generated electromagnetic fields, is given by the non-magnetic Thomas-Fermi theory to leading order in the simultaneous Z → ∞, α → 0 limit if Z α ² ≤ κ for some universal κ, where α is the fine structure constant.     

Photon electrodynamics and photon structure as a bunch of one of many possible states of electromagnetic field

Fundamental laws of conservation are used to show that electromagnetic field is generally represented (even in vacuum at ρ = 0 and j = 0) using four vectors D, E, B, and H with different equations of state (material equations) that are linear for electromagnetic waves and nonlinear for photons and particles. An equation that describes different states of electromagnetic field (i.e., different but not arbitrary relationships of field vectors E, H, D, and B) is derived. It is shown that electromagnetic wave and photon are different states of electromagnetic field that exhibit different dependences of energy density on field vectors. Partial analytical solutions are obtained for a photon (spatially localized bunch of electromagnetic field energy) that propagates at a velocity of light along a single (as distinct from electromagnetic wave) direction.     

The relativistic statistical theory and Kaniadakis entropy: an approach through a molecular chaos hypothesis

We have investigated the proof of the H theorem within a manifestly covariant approach by considering the relativistic statistical theory developed in [G. Kaniadakis, Phys. Rev. E 66, 056125 (2002); G. Kaniadakis, Phys. Rev. E 72, 036108 (2005)]. As it happens in the nonrelativistic limit, the molecular chaos hypothesis is slightly extended within the Kaniadakis formalism. It is shown that the collisional equilibrium states (null entropy source term) are described by a κ power law generalization of the exponential Juttner distribution, e.g., , with θ=α(x)+β_μp^μ, where α(x) is a scalar, β_μ is a four-vector, and p^μ is the four-momentum. As a simple example, we calculate the relativistic κ power law for a dilute charged gas under the action of an electromagnetic field F^μν. All standard results are readly recovered in the particular limit κ→0.     

Scott Correction for Large Atoms and Molecules in a Self-Generated Magnetic Field

We consider a large neutral molecule with total nuclear charge Z in non-relativistic quantum mechanics with a self-generated classical electromagnetic field. To ensure stability, we assume that Z α ² ≤ κ ₀ for a sufficiently small κ ₀, where α denotes the fine structure constant. We show that, in the simultaneous limit Z → ∞, α → 0 such that κ = Z α ² is fixed, the ground state energy of the system is given by a two term expansion c ₁ Z ^7/3 + c ₂(κ) Z ² + o(Z ²). The leading term is given by the non-magnetic Thomas-Fermi theory. Our result shows that the magnetic field affects only the second (so-called Scott) term in the expansion.     

An Assessment of Evans’ Unified Field Theory I

Evans developed a classical unified field theory of gravitation and electromagnetism on the background of a spacetime obeying a Riemann-Cartan geometry. This geometry can be characterized by an orthonormal coframe ϑ ^α and a (metric compatible) Lorentz connection Γ ^{α β} . These two potentials yield the field strengths torsion T ^α and curvature R ^{α β} . Evans tried to infuse electromagnetic properties into this geometrical framework by putting the coframe ϑ ^α to be proportional to four extended electromagnetic potentials ; these are assumed to encompass the conventional Maxwellian potential A in a suitable limit. The viable Einstein-Cartan (-Sciama-Kibble) theory of gravity was adopted by Evans to describe the gravitational sector of his theory. Including also the results of an accompanying paper by Obukhov and the author, we show that Evans’ ansatz for electromagnetism is untenable beyond repair both from a geometrical as well as from a physical point of view. As a consequence, his unified theory is obsolete.     

Cosmological Horizons and Reconstruction of Quantum Field Theories

As a starting point, we state some relevant geometrical properties enjoyed by the cosmological horizon of a certain class of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker backgrounds. Those properties are generalised to a larger class of expanding spacetimes M admitting a geodesically complete cosmological horizon common to all co-moving observers. This structure is later exploited in order to recast, in a cosmological background, some recent results for a linear scalar quantum field theory in spacetimes asymptotically flat at null infinity. Under suitable hypotheses on M, encompassing both the cosmological de Sitter background and a large class of other FRW spacetimes, the algebra of observables for a Klein-Gordon field is mapped into a subalgebra of the algebra of observables constructed on the cosmological horizon. There is exactly one pure quasifree state λ on which fulfills a suitable energy-positivity condition with respect to a generator related with the cosmological time displacements. Furthermore λ induces a preferred physically meaningful quantum state λ _M for the quantum theory in the bulk. If M admits a timelike Killing generator preserving , then the associated self-adjoint generator in the GNS representation of λ _M has positive spectrum (i.e., energy). Moreover λ _M turns out to be invariant under every symmetry of the bulk metric which preserves the cosmological horizon. In the case of an expanding de Sitter spacetime, λ _M coincides with the Euclidean (Bunch-Davies) vacuum state, hence being Hadamard in this case. Remarks on the validity of the Hadamard property for λ _M in more general spacetimes are presented. Dedicated to Professor Klaus Fredenhagen on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Remarks on Causality in Relativistic Quantum Field Theory

It is shown that the correlations predicted by relativistic quantum field theory in locally normal states between projections in local von Neumann algebras (V ₁),(V ₂) associated with spacelike separated spacetime regions V ₁,V ₂ have a (Reichenbachian) common cause located in the union of the backward light cones of V ₁ and V ₂. Further comments on causality and independence in quantum field theory are made. Originally published in International Journal of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 44, No. 7, 2005,Due to a publishing error, authorship of the article was credited incorrectly. The corrected article is reprinted in its entirety here. The online version of the original article can be found at     

Non-Topological Multi-Vortex Solutions to the Self-Dual Chern-Simons-Higgs Equation

 In this article, we construct self-dual N-vortex solutions with a large magnetic flux Φ of (2+1)-dimensional relativistic Chern-Simons model, provided that the coupling constant κ is small and the cites of vorticity satisfies

Inverse problems of the general-relativistic mechanics of test bodies and applications to general relativity

In a generally relativistic framework, we pose and solve problems of reconstructing a tensor force field of Lorentz type and a scalar force field V(xⁱ) from a given metric of a four-dimensional Riemannian space-time and given properties of the motion of test bodies in this space. We solve the problem of finding the potentials g_i of the gravitational field from known tensor force field F_i = F_i and from given properties of the motion of bodies in the gravitational field which is being sought. The functional arbitrariness in the solution of these inverse problems is established. Applications of the results to the general theory of relativity are demonstrated and reveal new possibilities of experimental determination of physical fields from their effect on test bodies.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 25–29, October, 1980.     

Theory of superfluidity of nuclear matter based on the Fermi-liquid approach

This paper discusses how an electromagnetic field consisting of a superposition of a constant magnetic field and a field of laser type can affect nuclear beta decay. In general it is not assumed that the intensities of the two types of fields are small compared to the characteristic field H _cr*=β ₁ H _cr, where H _cr=m ² c ³/eℏ and the quantity β ₁ depends on the energy liberated in the decay and the configuration of the electromagnetic field. For nonrelativistic decays the quantity β ₁ is found to be of the same order as the maximum kinetic energy of an electron referenced to its rest energy β ₁∼I≪1. It is assumed that the frequency of the wave field satisfies ℏω/mc ²⩽I. The behavior of the probability for the process is studied over a wide range of the fundamental parameters that characterize the fields. Corresponding asymptotic expressions are derived in the “weak”-and “strong”-field regimes. Also discussed are so-called interference corrections to the unperturbed decay probability, which cannot in principle be studied by the methods of perturbation theory. It is shown that the times and distances that are important in generating these contributions exceed the parameters of the unperturbed processes, just as in the case of a plane-wave field previously investigated in detail by Nikishov and Ritus. However, in contrast to the case of a pure wave field, when a system is simultaneously subjected to a constant magnetic field and a wave field, the degree to which these characteristic regions are enlarged can depend not only on the intensities of the electromagnetic fields but also on their rates of change, even in the limit in which the wave field is slowly varying. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 3–24 (January 1997)     

Gravitation,Electromagnetism and Cosmological Constant in Purely Affine Gravity

The Ferraris-Kijowski purely affine Lagrangian for the electromagnetic field, that has the form of the Maxwell Lagrangian with the metric tensor replaced by the symmetrized Ricci tensor, is dynamically equivalent to the metric Einstein-Maxwell Lagrangian, except the zero-field limit, for which the metric tensor is not well-defined. This feature indicates that, for the Ferraris-Kijowski model to be physical, there must exist a background field that depends on the Ricci tensor. The simplest possibility, supported by recent astronomical observations, is the cosmological constant, generated in the purely affine formulation of gravity by the Eddington Lagrangian. In this paper we combine the electromagnetic field and the cosmological constant in the purely affine formulation. We show that the sum of the two affine (Eddington and Ferraris-Kijowski) Lagrangians is dynamically inequivalent to the sum of the analogous (ΛCDM and Einstein-Maxwell) Lagrangians in the metric-affine/metric formulation. We also show that such a construction is valid, like the affine Einstein-Born-Infeld formulation, only for weak electromagnetic fields, on the order of the magnetic field in outer space of the Solar System. Therefore the purely affine formulation that combines gravity, electromagnetism and cosmological constant cannot be a simple sum of affine terms corresponding separately to these fields. A quite complicated form of the affine equivalent of the metric Einstein-Maxwell-Λ Lagrangian suggests that Nature can be described by a simpler affine Lagrangian, leading to modifications of the Einstein-Maxwell-ΛCDM theory for electromagnetic fields that contribute to the spacetime curvature on the same order as the cosmological constant.     

Thomson scattering induced by gravitational waves

We investigate the effects of a weak gravitational wave, modelled as a gaussian wavepacket, on the polarization state of an electromagnetic field enclosed in a cavity. Our approach is semiclassical, in that the electromagnetic field is described as a quantum field, while the gravitational perturbation is treated classically, as a slightly curved background spacetime. Assuming that before the interaction the electromagnetic field has been prepared in a given polarization state, we show that – due to the gravitational scattering with the wave – some photons having different polarization states are found in the cavity at late times. Such polarization scattering has some resemblance with Thomson scattering, well-known in Quantum Electrodynamics: hence the motivation for the title. We give a numerical estimate of the resulting photon polarization spreading in the case of a typical gravitational burst from a final supernova rebound. We also briefly comment about the possible influence of such gravitational scattering on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization.     

Three-variable solution in the $$$$-dimensional null-surface formulation

The null-surface formulation of general relativity (NSF) describes gravity by using families of null surfaces instead of a spacetime metric. Despite the fact that the NSF is (to within a conformal factor) equivalent to general relativity, the equations of the NSF are exceptionally difficult to solve, even in 2+1 dimensions. The present paper gives the first exact \((2+1)\)-dimensional solution that depends nontrivially upon all three of the NSF’s intrinsic spacetime variables. The metric derived from this solution is shown to represent a spacetime whose source is a massless scalar field that satisfies the general relativistic wave equation and the Einstein equations with minimal coupling. The spacetime is identified as one of a family of \((2+1)\)-dimensional general relativistic spacetimes discovered by Cavaglià.     

Electromagnetic absorption of acoustic-wave packets in metals

Damping of quasimonochromatic sound-wave packets in metals caused by the electromagnetic interaction of lattice vibrations with resonant current carriers is studied. It is assumed that the acoustic wavelength λ is much shorter than the electron mean free path length l but much longer than the characteristic damping depth σ of an electromagnetic wave in metals under anomalous-skin-effect conditions. It is also assumed that the transit time of a resonant particle through the region of field nonuniformity (∼λ) is shorter than the electronic relaxation time , where is the characteristic velocity of the resonant electrons). The distribution of the potential of the eddy electromagnetic field accompanying an acoustic radiopulse with a prescribed shape is found by solving the kinetic equation and Maxwell’s equations. The force exerted on the lattice by the resonant electrons is investigated, and the equation from the theory of elasticity that describes the evolution of a sound wave is solved. It is shown that a weak damping (of the order of the small parameter a) at the extrema of the deformation on the pulse edges as well as the appearance of high-frequency precursors near the pulse boundaries are characterisic for the evolution of a powerful transverse radiopulse. Such precursors were observed earlier by Fil’ et al., as components of a noise burst arising on the leading edge of a powerful transverse radiopulse propagating in ultrapure gallium. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 966–973 (June 1998)     

Derivation of O(3) Electrodynamics from the Irreducible Representations of the Einstein Group

By considering the irreducible representations of the Einstein group (the Lie group of general relativity), Sachs [1] has shown that the electromagnetic field tensor can be developed in terms of a metric q , which is a set of four quaternion-valued components of four-vector. Using this method, it is shown that the electromagnetic field vanishes [1] in flat spacetime, and that electromagnetism in general is a non-Abelian field theory. In this paper the non-Abelian component of the field tensor is developed to show the presence of the B ⁽³⁾ field of the O(3) electrodynamics, and the basic structure of O(3) electrodynamics is shown to be a sub-structure of general relativity as developed by Sachs. The extensive empirical evidence for both theories is summarized.     

Light propagation in noninertial reference systems

The fundamental equations of geometric optics are obtained in noninertial reference systems associated with arbitrarily moving observers. The electromagnetic wave being propagated in an arbitrary space-time metric background is characterized by the observed quantities ⁰ (relative frequency), n (the unit vector indicating the direction of wave propagation), and f (the complex spatial polarization vector). Equations are obtained which govern the observed change in ⁰, n, f for transfer along the rays (isotropic geodesies) as a function of the accelerations, rotations, and deformations in the reference system. It is shown that the kind of polarization does not change during transfer along the ray and is independent of the selection of the reference system. The angular velocity of the polarization vector is determined.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 7–12, August, 1978.The author is grateful to V. I. Rodichev for formulating the problem and numerous discussions.