On the Poincaré Gauge Theory of Gravitation

We present a compact, self-contained review of the conventional gauge theoretical approach to gravitation based on the local Poincaré group of symmetry transformations. The covariant field equations, Bianchi identities and conservation laws for angular momentum and energy-momentum are obtained.     

Nonlinear gauge theory of Poincaré gravity

A Poincaré affine frame bundle (M) and its associated bundleÊ are established. Using the connection theory of fiber bundles, nonlinear connections on the bundleÊ are introduced as nonlinear gauge fields. An action and two sets of gauge field equations are presented.     

A magnetic-monopole-type solution in the Poincaré gauge field theory of gravity

In a microscopical theory of gravity the coupling of internal gauge degrees of freedom to those of space-time are studied. A magnetic-monopole-type solution for the coupledSO(3) Yang-Mills-Higgs system in a space-time with curvature and torsion is derived. The coupling constant of the Lorentz gauge bosons can be related directly to the (constant) Higgs field and to the cosmological constant which is induced by the quadratic curvature terms in the Lagrangian. This reveals a new interpretation of the parameters entering the general Lagrangian density of the Poincaré gauge field theory (PG).     

Effective Einsteinian gravity from Poincaré gauge field theory

The Poincaré gauge theory of gravity should apply in the microphysical domain. Here we investigate its implications for macrophysics. Weakly self double dual Riemann-Cartan curvature is assumed throughout. It is shown that the metrical background is then determined by Einstein's field equations with the Belinfante-Rosenfeld symmetrized energy-momentum current amended by spin squared terms. Moreover, the effective cosmological constant can be reconciled with the empirical data by absorbing the corresponding constant curvature part into the dynamical torsion of recently found exact solutions. Macroscopically this extra torsion remains undetectable.     

Synchronization of Huygens' clocks and the Poincaré method

We study two models of connected pendulum clocks synchronizing their oscillations, a phenomenon originally observed by Huygens. The oscillation angles are assumed to be small so that the pendulums are modeled by harmonic oscillators, clock escapements are modeled by the van der Pol terms. The mass ratio of the pendulum bobs to their casings is taken as a small parameter. Analytic conditions for existence and stability of synchronization regimes, and analytic expressions for their stable amplitudes and period corrections are derived using the Poincaré theorem on existence of periodic solutions in autonomous quasi-linear systems. The anti-phase regime always exists and is stable under variation of the system parameters. The in-phase regime may exist and be stable, exist and be unstable, or not exist at all depending on parameter values. As the damping in the frame connecting the clocks is increased the in-phase stable amplitude and period are decreasing until the regime first destabilizes and then disappears. The results are most complete for the traditional three degrees of freedom model, where the clock casings and the frame are consolidated into a single mass.     

All torsion-free spherical vacuum solutions of the quadratic Poincaré gauge theory of gravity

We find all torsion-free, spherically symmetric, vacuum solutions to the theory of gravity recently proposed by Hehl, Ne'eman, Nitsch, and von der Heyde. There are three classes of solutions: (A) the Schwarzschild metrics with arbitrary mass,M, and arbitrary cosmological constant, ; (B) the Nariai-Bertotti metrics with arbitrary positive cosmological constant, ; and (C) the conformally flat metrics whose conformai factor is ²/ ² where is a function of only the time coordinate , and the radial coordinate, and satisfies the wave equation in these variables. Hence there is no Birkhoff theorem for this theory. In fact, solutions (C) include some asymptotically flat but nonstationary solutions. On the other hand, solutions (A) include a gravitational confinement potential, as was sought by Hehl et al., since when <0, the weak field limit of the Schwarzschild metric becomes a harmonic oscillator potential. We also discuss the relationship of this theory to the Eddington theory, the Lichnerowicz-Kilmister-Newman-Yang theory, the Nordström theory and the Einstein theory with a cosmological constant.     

Jordanian twist quantization of D=4 Lorentz and Poincaré algebras and D=3 contraction limit

We describe in detail the two-parameter nonstandard quantum deformation of the D=4 Lorentz algebra , linked with a Jordanian deformation of . Using the twist quantization technique we obtain the explicit formulae for the deformed co-products and antipodes. Further extending the considered deformation to the D=4 Poincaré algebra we obtain a new Hopf-algebraic deformation of four-dimensional relativistic symmetries with a dimensionless deformation parameter. Finally, we interpret as the D=3 de Sitter algebra and calculate the contraction limit (R is the de Sitter radius) providing an explicit Hopf algebra structure for the quantum deformation of the D=3 Poincaré algebra (with mass-like deformation parameters), which is the two-parameter light-cone κ-deformation of the D=3 Poincaré symmetry.     

Direct gauging of the Poincaré group

Realization of the Poincaré group as a subgroup ofGL(5,R) that maps an affine set into itself is shown to lead to a well-defined minimal replacement operator when the Poincaré group is allowed to act locally. The minimal replacement operator is obtained by direct application of the Yang-Mills procedure without the explicit introduction of fiber bundle techniques. Its application gives rise to compensating 1-formsW , 1 6, for the local action of the Lorentz groupL(4,R), and to compensating 1-forms ^k , 1k4, for the translation groupT(4). When applied to the basis 1-formsdx ⁱ of Minkowski space, distortion 1-formsB ^k result that define a canonical anholonomic coframe that contains both theT(4) and theL(4,R) compensating fields. When the canonical coframe is considered as a differential system onM ₄, it gives rise to gauge curvature expressions and Cartan torsion, but the latter has important differences from that usually encountered in the associated literature in view of the inclusion of the compensating fields forL(4,R). The standard Yang-Mills minimal coupling construct is used to obtain a total Lagrangian. This leads to a system of field equations for the matter fields, theT(4) compensating fields, and theL(4,R) compensating fields. Part of the current that drives theT(4) compensating fields is the 3-form of gauge momentum energy that obtains directly from the momentum-energy tensor of the matter fields onM ₄ under minimal replacement. Introduction of the Cartan torsion in the free-field Lagrangian is shown to lead to a direct spin decoupling in the sense that the gauge momentum energy (orbital) contribution of the matter fields to the spin current is eliminated. Explicit conservation laws for total momentum energy current and total spin current are obtained.     

Poincaré vortices

Traditional interferometric methods for measuring the vortex structure of complex wave fields suffer from many intrinsic problems and seldom yield results of any accuracy. Using the unique properties of what I call Poincaré vortices, I develop a radically different method based on Stokes parameters that offers many practical advantages. The theory of this new method is discussed, and its unique capabilities are illustrated by reconstruction with high accuracy of the vortex structure of a simulated random field containing numerous vortices, including several closely spaced vortex pairs that would be difficult, if not impossible, to resolve by traditional means.     

Poincaré recurrences and Ulam method for the Chirikov standard map

We study numerically the statistics of Poincaré recurrences for the Chirikov standard map and the separatrix map at parameters with a critical golden invariant curve. The properties of recurrences are analyzed with the help of a generalized Ulam method. This method allows us to construct the corresponding Ulam matrix whose spectrum and eigenstates are analyzed by the powerful Arnoldi method. We also develop a new survival Monte Carlo method which allows us to study recurrences on times changing by ten orders of magnitude. We show that the recurrences at long times are determined by trajectory sticking in a vicinity of the critical golden curve and secondary resonance structures. The values of Poincaré exponents of recurrences are determined for the two maps studied. We also discuss the localization properties of eigenstates of the Ulam matrix and their relation with the Poincaré recurrences.     

Republication of: On the formal analogy between the basic electromagnetic equations and Einstein’s gravity equations in first approximation

This is an English translation of a paper by Hans Thirring, first published in German in 1918, which contains the first and correct presentation of the basic equations of gravitomagnetism in linear order. The paper has been selected by the Editors of General Relativity and Gravitation for republication in the Golden Oldies series of the journal. This republication is accompanied by an editorial note written by Herbert Pfister, and Thirring’s brief biography compiled by Andrzej Krasinski from internet sources     

On the interplay between particle-hole and Δ-hole phonons

We show that the nuclear polarizability plays a very important role in establishing the magnitude of the Δ-hole polarization effect on the axial-vector coupling constant.