A more direct representation for complex relativity

An alternative to the representation of complex relativity by self‐dual complex 2‐forms on the spacetime manifold is presented by assuming that the bundle of real 2‐forms is given an almost‐complex structure. From this, one can define a complex orthogonal structure on the bundle of 2‐forms, which results in a more direct representation of the complex orthogonal group in three complex dimensions. The geometrical foundations of general relativity are then presented in terms of the bundle of oriented complex orthogonal 3‐frames on the bundle of 2‐forms in a manner that essentially parallels their construction in terms of self‐dual complex 2‐forms. It is shown that one can still discuss the Debever‐Penrose classification of the Riemannian curvature tensor in terms of the representation presented here.     

Projective geometry from Poisson algebras

By analogy with the Poisson algebra of quadratic forms on the symplectic plane and with the concept of duality in the projective plane introduced by Arnold (2005) [1], where the concurrence of the triangle altitudes is deduced from the Jacobi identity, we consider the Poisson algebras of the first degree harmonics on the sphere, on the pseudo-sphere and on the hyperboloid, to obtain analogous duality concepts and similar results for spherical, pseudo-spherical and hyperbolic geometry. Such algebras, including the algebra of quadratic forms, are isomorphic either to the Lie algebra of the vectors in R³${\mathbb{R}}^3$, with the vector product, or to algebra s_l2(R)$s{l}_2\left(\mathbb{R}\right)$. The Tomihisa identity, introduced in (Tomihisa, 2009) [3] for the algebra of quadratic forms, holds for all these Poisson algebras and has a geometrical interpretation. The relationships between the different definitions of duality in projective geometry inherited by these structures are shown here.     

牛顿力学中的惯性质量与狭义相对论中的惯性质量

分别详细说明了在牛顿力学中和在狭义相对论中,惯性和惯性质量的概念是如何引入的.明确地阐述了狭义相对论同牛顿力学相类似,物体(可视为质点或粒子)的固有质量(或静止质量)就是其惯性质量.通过分析,指出并强调了运动质量只是个规定,并非物体惯性的大小真的随运动发生了改变.最后还对静止质量为零、速度为光速的粒子只遵从狭义相对论而...     

On the inertial mass concept in special and general relativity

Inertial mass in relativity theory is discussed from a conceptual view. It is shown that though relativistic dynamics implies a particular dependence of the momentum of a free particle on its velocityin special relativity, which diverges as v approaches c, the inertial mass itself of a moving body remains constant, from any frame of observation. However, extension to general relativity does conceptually introduce variability of the inertial mass of a body, through a necessarily generally covariant field theory of inertia, when the Mach principle is incorporated into the theory of general relativity, as a theory of matter.     

Synchronisation conventions in test theories of special relativity

The Mansouri-Sexl class of test theories of special relativity has motivated various experiments to observe or limit the difference between slow clock transport and Einstein synchronisation. These do not constitute tests of the isotropy of the one-way speed of light, since the latter is conventional. We discuss the effects of the conventionality of synchrony in the preferred frame, as well as the laboratory frame, within the Mansouri-Sexl formalism. We also consider the mutual inter-relationships of both synchrony conventions with measurements of the one-way speed of light and of time dilation factors.     

Distance and the conventionality of simultaneity in special relativity

The conventionality of simultaneity within inertial frames is presented in a general formalism that clarifies the relationship of spatial measures to the choice of simultaneity. A number of claims that such measures undermine the conventional nature of simultaneity are presented and shown to be unfounded. In particular, a recent claim by Coleman and Korte [9] that such measures empirically establish a unique simultaneity relationship is shown to be in error. In addition, the general formalism enables the empirical status of simultaneity within an inertial frame to be clarified by presenting the choice of simultaneity as a gauge choice.1. Recent introductions to the literature have been given by Redhead [35], Ungar [47], Havas [21], and Vetharaniam and Stedman [48].2. The conventionalist position is by no means a uniform one, and in particular, it is worth noting an important distinction exemplified in the respective positions of Reichenbach and Grünbaum. For Reichenbach [37, p. 144f.] we have no empirical access to the one-way speed of light due to the nature of light as a first signal, and the conventionality comes from our absence ofknowledge about the one-way speed of light. For Grünbaum the one-way speed of light is actually objectively undetermined, and the physical attributes that sustain a speed in a given direction are non-existent. See, for example, [16, p. 87] and [17, p. 352]. Discussions of the differences between the positions of Reichenbach and Grünbaum may be found in [14] and [35]. Naturally, one may adhere to a position espoused by Reichenbach without the added ontological commitment of Grünbaum.3. Our is equivalent to (1 - 2), where is the symbol introduced by Reichenbach and customarily used in the discussions of the conventionality of simultaneity.4. An exposition of this argument may be found in the recent text by Lucas and Hodgson [28].5. Schrödinger [42, p. 78] has aptly labeled this quantity the distance of simultaneity.6. Examples of previous uses space-dependent synchrony parameters may be found in studies by Clifton [8], Havas [21], Anderson and Stedman [1], and Stedman [43; 44, § 2].7. This approach has been reviewed by Basri in [4] and [3].8. A number of faulty assessments of the empirical status of the conventionality of simultaneity may be similarly traced at least in part to overly simplistic assumptions on the nature of as Havas [21] and Clifton [8], for example, have had occasion to point out.9. See, for example, [1]. Kinematic formula relating other quantities in a treatment of STR without the standard convention on the one-way speed of light were first derived by Winnie [53].10. In comparison to other space dependent treatments of the synchrony parameter, ourh is analogous to defined by Clifton in Eq. (15) of [8], and equivalent to -f defined by Havas in Eq. (A1) of [21] and to defined in Eq. (6) of our earlier treatment in [1]. We take this opportunity to mention that the irrotational property ofh was inadvertently referred to as solenoidal in this work.11. Equation (26) is equivalent to Møller's expression in § 8.8 of [32] for the speed of light in terms of the metric components where our-h _i is equivalent to Møller's _i (g _i0)/ .12. Note as well, the expression of this operation in standard texts on STR by Rindler [38, pp. 27–28] and Mermin [30, p. 79] respectively: To measure the rod's length in any inertial frame in which it moves longitudinally, its end-point must be observed simultaneously... and, ...a measurement of the length of a moving meter stick involves determining how far apart the two ends areat the same time. In the same context of determining the length of moving rods, Mermin [30, p. 185] proposes that the sense of length entailing the concept of being determined at simultaneous times is inherent in the notion of rods: ...it is precisely the lines of constant time that determine whatA orB means by the stick. For the notion of the stick includes implicitly the assumption that all the points of matter making up the stick exist at the same moment.13. In many ways the claim that the special properties of proper lengths with Einstein synchronization undermines the conventionality of simultaneity is analogous to the claim that the correspondence of the slow-clock transport method of synchronization with that of Einstein synchronization provides an empirical determination of synchronization. The use of clock transport as a means for synchronization was discussed by Reichenbach [37, p. 133f], while the proposal that slow transport of clocks provides a unique form of synchronization was first argued for by Eddington [10]. Arguments that it undermines any significant sense of the conventionality in the one-way speed of light have been given by Ellis and Bowman [13] with responses by Grünbaum [19] and Salmon [41, 40].14. Coleman and Korte [9, pp. 423–425] claim their method is free from any assumptions on the one-way speed of light; however, they assume that is a constant 3-vector.15. Reichenbach explicitly mentioned in [36, § 43] that a condition equivalent to Eq. (13) is a sufficient condition for a constant roundtrip speed of light.16. The remarks of one of the referees have served to alert us to the need to emphasize both of these points.17. The manner in which gravity may be viewed as a gauge theory has been the subject of considerable discussion (see, for example, the discussion in [23] and [24]). We note that the manner in which we are takingh as a potential differs from the sense in which the Christoffel symbols as affine connections may be seen to play a role of gauge potentials in GTR.18. A discussion of the significance of Weyl's work and the importance of the round-trip measurements may be found in works by Yang [56] and Mills [31].19. In the context only of time orthogonal coordinates, an example of the fiber structure we are imposing on space and time may be found in [26, p. 71f]. Again we note that in a more general treatment, where the Christoffel symbols are considered as connections, the fiber structure instead consists of a bundle of linear frames of Riemannian spacetime (see, for example, the presentations in [46] and [23]).20. Our position is not unlike Göckeler and Schücker's [15, p. 75] claim that Einstein's particular choice of coordinates in GTR masks the general gauge structure of the theory.     

The momentum conservation law in special relativity

The derivation of the functional form of the relativistic momentum of a particle has a history going back to Lewis and Tolman's paper of 1909, yet satisfactory presentations seem to be few in number. Careful examination of the several types of derivation shows that their shortcomings are avoidable and allows the presentation of exact and improved analyses.     

狭义相对论中的重力及"潜水艇佯谬"

在狭义相对论范畴内,如果考虑地球周围较小区域内的动力学问题,可以用均匀质量密度的无限大平面产生的重力场替代地球的史瓦西场,从而得到较为简单的重力表达式.在此基础上可以很方便地解释所谓的"潜水艇佯谬".     

The homogeneity of the ball inR 3 and special relativity

Einstein's velocity addition formula ofspecial relativity (SR) defines a transformation _v of the ballB _c of radiusc inR ³, representing all possible velocities in an inertial systemK, onto identical ballB _c , which represents the velocities in another systemK, moving with velocity v relative toK. Since _v maps the zero velocity ofB _c into arbitrary vector v ofB _c ,B _c is homogeneous under all possible _v.A similar homogeneity of the unit ballB inL(G, H) under a set of maps _a, a B, arises also in theLine Transmission Theory (TLT) for a lossless line. HereL(G, H) is the space of all linear operators between Hilbert spacesG,H, representing the signals on the line in the two directions. The explicit form of _a is obtained naturally in TLT.     

Beltrami-de Sitter时空和de Sitter不变的狭义相对论

分析了在相对论体系中狭义相对性原理和宇宙学原理之间的关系以及Beltrami-de Sitter -陆启铿疑难.指出可以把狭义相对性原理推广到非零常曲率时空，在具有Beltrami度规 的de Sitter/反de Sitter时空中建立狭义相对论的运动学和粒子动力学. 在这类狭义相对 论中,相对于Beltrami坐标同时性，Beltrami坐标系就是惯性坐标系，相应的观测者为惯 性观测者; 对于自由粒子和光讯号, 惯性定律成立;可以定义可观测量,它们不但守恒而且还 满足推广的爱因斯坦关系.除了Beltrami坐标时同时性之外，对于共动观测, 还可以取固 有时同时性;此时，Beltrami度规成为Robertson-Walker型的度规，其3维空间是闭的,对 于平坦的偏离为宇宙学常数的量级.这表明,在这类狭义相对论中,相对性原理与“完美”宇 宙学原理之间存在内在联系,并不存在那些问题.进而,基于最新观测事实，重述了Mach原 理；指出对于Beltrami-de Sitter/反de Sitter时空，宇宙学常数恰恰给出惯性运动的起 源. 关键词： 狭义相对性原理 宇宙学原理 de Sitter不变的狭义相对论 Beltrami-de Sitter时空 同时性 Mach原理     

On linear electromagnetic constitutive laws that define almost‐complex structures

It is shown that not all linear electromagnetic constitutive laws will define almost‐complex structures on the bundle of 2‐forms on the spacetime manifold when composed with the Poincaré duality isomorphism, but only a restricted class of them that includes linear spatially isotropic and some bi‐isotropic constitutive laws. Although this result does not trivialize the formulation of the basic equations of pre‐metric electromagnetism, it does affect their reduction to metric electromagnetism by its effect on the types of media that are reducible, and possibly its effect on the way that such media support the propagation of electromagnetic waves.     

狭义相对论教学中的几个问题

本文讨论了相对论教学中几个方面的问题,包括常见例子的问题,洛伦兹变换的方便形式,同时相对性例子在另一参考系的讨论,长度测量在另一参考系看到的现象,时间延缓及运动参考系各点时间不同和光的多普勒效应的简单推导.通过不同过程在不同参考系中的讨论,掌握在运动系讨论问题的方法,以及同一过程在不同惯性系内的不同表现,而所有现象的测量结论在洛伦兹变换下保持不变.     

相对论动力学方程的一个简单例解

采用在牛顿力学中常用的方法,用一种简洁的数学形式给出了一维运动情形下受恒力作用的粒子的相对论动力学方程的一个例解,详细讨论了相对论粒子的加速度、速度和运动方程与牛顿力学中对应物理量的区别和联系.     

Noncommutative geometry of the quantum clock

We introduce a model of noncommutative geometry that gives rise to the uncertainty relations recently derived from the discussion of a quantum clock. We investigate the dynamics of a free particle in this model from the point of view of doubly special relativity and discuss the geodesic motion in a Schwarzschild background.     

Doubly special relativity in de Sitter spacetime

We discuss the generalization of Doubly Special Relativity to a curved de Sitter background. The model has three fundamental observer‐independent scales, the velocity of light c, the de Sitter radius α, and the Planck energy κ, and can be realized through a nonlinear action of the de Sitter group on a noncommutative position space. We consider different choices of coordinates on the de Sitter hyperboloid that, although equivalent, may be more suitable for treating different problems. Also the momentum space can be described as a hyperboloid embedded in a five‐dimensional space, but in this case different choices of coordinates lead to inequivalent models. We investigate the kinematics and the Hamiltonian dynamics of some specific models and describe some of their phenomenological consequences. Finally, we show that it is possible to construct a model exhibiting a duality for the interchange of positions and momenta together with the interchange of α and κ.     

Proposal for experiments to detect the missing torque in special relativity

The torque experienced by a current loop, of magnetic momentm, and moving with velocityv in an electric fieldE, cannot be explained in terms of the interaction between the loop current andE, but only by taking into account the internal stress in the loop. This subtle effect can be tested by measuring the frequency changes in the Zeeman splitting of moving atoms, the change of helicity of elementary particles, and the current induced in a moving coil. These tests may have relevance in the context of modern ether theories and of the Aharonov-Casher effect.1. On sabbatical leave from the Departamento de Fisica, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida, 5101 Venezuela.     

Spatial measures in special relativity do not empirically determine simultaneity relations: A reply to Coleman and Korté

Coleman and Korté have restated and defended an earlier attempt to refute the traditional thesis of the conventionality of simultaneity within special relativity. Here we argue their attempt still fails and respond to criticisms of a paper in which we addressed the inadequacies of their earlier paper. The spatial criterion they use to argue for standard synchronization throughout an inertial frame is merely a definition and provides no demonstration that a unique distant simultaneity relation exists in nature.     

Evidence for special relativity with de Sitter space-time symmetry

I show the formulation of de Sitter Special Relativity (dS-SR) based on Dirac-Lu-Zou-Guo's discussions, dS-SR quantum mechanics is formulated, and the dS-SR Dirac equation for hydrogen is suggested. The equation in the earth-QSO framework reference is solved by means of the adiabatic approach. It's found that the fine-structure "constant" α in dS-SR varies with time. By means of the t-z relation of the ACDM model, α's time-dependency becomes redshift z-dependent. The dS-SR's predictions of △α/α agree with data of spectra of 143 quasar absorption systems, the dS-space-time symmetry is SO(3,2) (i.e., anti-dS group) and the universal parameter R (de Sitter ratio) in dS-SR is estimated to be R ≈ 2.73 x 10<'12> ly. The effects of dS-SR become visible at the cosmic space-time scale (i.e., the distance≥ 10<'9> ly). At that scale, dS-SR is more reliable than Einstein SR. The α-variation with time is evidence of SR with de Sitter symmetry.     

狭义相对论下电子自旋轨道耦合对X射线光谱的影响

基于狭义相对论的基本观点,研究了特征X射线的产生机理,分析了电子自旋轨道耦合对特征X射线波长的影响,导出了一个计算特征X射线波长的公式,同时对计算推导的波长值做了系统的误差分析,得到了相对误差的规律.结果表明,计算推导的波长值与实验的波长值非常接近,在实际应用中对分析特征X射线光谱具有一定的参考意义.