Spinning particles in general relativity

Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 98. No. 3, pp. 456–466, March, 1994.     

Relative continuum mechanics in general relativity

Summary An axiomatic approach to relative continuum kinematics in General Relativity is proposed. In the space-time manifold ϑ₄, we consider a physical frame of reference [Γ], and a congruence ξ of world-lines, interpreted as the congruence of stream-lines of an ideal physical system ℬ. The kinematical and geometrical properties of ξ relative to [Γ] are then analysed on the basis of the following scheme: a) definition and group theoretical interpretation of the class C(ξ) of connection vectors associated with ξ; b) spatial resolution of C(ξ), and construction of the velocity gradient of ξ relative to [Γ]; c) analysis of the time-dependent metric concepts associated with ξ in the frame of reference [Γ] (spatial distances between neighbouring world-lines, spatial volumes, Lorentz contractions, etc.).

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Sunto. Si propone un approccio assiomatico allo studio della cinematica relativa dei continui in Relatività Generale. Nello spazio-tempo ϑ₄ è assegnato un sistema di riferimento [Γ], e una congruenza ξ di linee di universo, pensata come la congruenza di linee di corrente di un sistema fisico ideals ℬ. Vengono quindi analizzate le proprietà cinematiche e geometriche di ξ relative al riferimento [Γ], sulla base del seguente schema: a) definizione e caratterizzazione in termini gruppali della classe C(ξ) dei vettori di connessione associati alla congruenza ξ; b) risoluzione spaziale di C(ξ), e costruzione del gradiente di velocità di ξ relativo a [Γ]; c) analisi delle proprietà metriche dipendenti dal tempo della congruenza ξ nel riferimento [Γ] (distanze spaziali tra linee di universo contigue, volumi spaziali, contrazioni di Lorentz, etc.).

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Entrata in Redazione il 18 maggio 1977.

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Lavoro eseguito nell'ambito dell'attività del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica Matematica del C.N.R.     

An analytic method in general relativity

An analytic method, which Wu called the “Bochner technique,” has been used for fifty years to describe global Riemannian and Kähler geometries. We use this method to describe conformally Killing vector fields and harmonic timelike vector fields on a Lorentzian manifold and to study hydrodynamic models of the Universe, the existence of closed spacelike sections, and the possibility of fibering Lorentzian manifolds.     

Relative continuum mechanics in general relativity

Summary An axiomatic approach to the study of relative continuum mechanics in curved space-time is proposed. The explicit assumptions are: a) existence of the energy-momentum tensor T^ij, satisfying the equations of motion T^ij _‖j=0, and b) existence of the congruence of stream-lines of the given continuum. The argument relies on a relativistic extension of the Lagrangian viewpoint, and involves the analysis of the relative dynamical behaviour of an arbitrary infinitestimal globule Δ of continuum in a given frame of reference [Γ]. The plan is fulfilled in two steps:1) geometrical theory of the Lagrangian viewpoint, valid for any type of continua satisfying the stated requirements;2) physical applications, illustrating the general theory in the case of an energy-momentum tensor of the form T^ij=μ ₀ VⁱV^j—S^ij. Entrata in Redazione il 22 novembre 1977. Lavoro eseguito nell'ambito dell'attività del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica Matematica del C.N.R.     

On the sign of regular algebraic polarizable automorphic representations

We remove a parity condition from the construction of automorphic Galois representations carried out in the Paris Book Project. We subsequently generalize this construction to the case of ‘mixed-parity’ (but still regular essentially self-dual) automorphic representations over totally real fields, finding associated geometric projective representations. Finally, we optimize some of our previous results on finding geometric lifts, through central torus quotients, of geometric Galois representations, and apply them to the previous mixed-parity setting.     

El Naschie’s structures in the electrodynamics of polarizable media

Using the concept of ‘combined field’, an electrodynamics of polarizable media on a fractal space–time is constructed. In this context, using the scale relativity theory, the permanent electric moment, the induced electric moment, the vacuum fluctuations, the paraelectrics, the diaelectrics, the electric Zeeman-type effect, the electric Einstein–de Haas-type effect, the electric Aharonov–Bohm-type effect, the superconductors in the ‘combined field’, the double layers as coherent structures, the magnetic Aharonov–Casher-type effect, are analyzed. Correspondence with the ε^(∞) space–time is accomplished either by admitting an anomal electric Zeeman-type effect, or through a fractal string as in the case of a superconductor in ‘combined field’, or, by phase coherence of the electron–ion pairs from the electric double layers (El Naschie’s coherence). Moreover, the electric double layer or multiple layer may be considered as two-dimensional projections of the same El Naschie’s fractal strings (higher-dimensional strings in ε^(∞) space–time).     

Alternative-algebra methods in the special theory of relativity

Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 86, No. 2, pp. 294–299, February, 1991.     

States of total pure radiation in general relativity

Summary In this paper we investigate and exhibit space-times which admit states of pure radiation in the sense of Lichnerowicz. In § 1 the notion of special total pure radiation is introduced, and in § 2 we derive the canonical line element for this type of radiation. An additional type of spacetime admitting radiation is considered in § 3. A class of singular integrable electromagnetic fields for the space-times of § 2 are constructed in § 4. The final section is concerned with the radiation condition proposed by Zakharov. Work supported by National Science Foundation Grants GP 6876 and GP 7401.     

The arrival time brachistochrones in general relativity

We consider a general relativistic version of the classical brachistochrone problem, whose solutions are causal curves, parameterized by a constant multiple of their proper time and with 4-acceleration perpendicular to a given observer field, that extremize the arrival time measured by an observer at the final endpoint. This kind of brachistochrones presents characteristics different from the travel time brachistochrones, that were studied in [8, 9, 10]. In this article we formulate the variational problem in a general context; moreover, in the case of a stationary metric, we prove two variational principles and we determine the second order differential equation satisfied by the arrival time brachistochrone. Using these variational principles and techniques from Critical Point Theory we establish some results concerning the existence and the multiplicity of travel time brachistochrones with a given energy between an event and an observer.     

A cylindrically symmetric universe in general relativity

A cylindrically symmetric universe with two degrees of freedom which is of Petrov Type I degenerate, has been derived. Various physical and geometrical properties of the model have also been discussed.     

Point-particles and energy tensors in special relativity

Summary In order to study the interactions of point-particles in terms of classical concepts, it is necessary to calculate the flux of 4-momentum across a tube enclosing the world line of a particle. Since the field is assumed to be retarded, this may involve complicated and unpleasant work unless the tube is properly chosen. In this paper it is proposed to use a tube defined by w=const. where w is the retarded distance of an event from the world line, this retarded distance being simply defined in terms of Minkowskian geometry. Then, no matter what value w may have, the required flux is given by a triple integral in which the differential element is ds dw, where ds is an element of proper time on the world line and dw an elementary solid angle. When this is applied to the self-field of a charged particle, we get a very simple formula which gives the usual flux at infinity when w tends to infinity and a singular term when w tends to zero. A similar formula emerges for a particle producing a scalar field. Being now in possession of a technique of reasonable simplicity, we can explore the question whether the infinite self-energy of a charged particle can be eliminated by modifying the energy tensor by a term which falls off rapidly as the distance from the particle is increased. It is shown that this can be done. A Bruno Finzi nel suo 70^mo compleanno. Entrata in Redazione il 4 novembre 1969.