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Showing papers on "Special relativity (alternative formulations) published in 1985"


Book
01 Jan 1985
TL;DR: The second edition of this widely-used textbook as mentioned in this paper provides the first step into general relativity for undergraduate students with a minimal background in mathematics, and includes a revised chapter on relativistic stars, including new information on pulsars.
Abstract: Clarity, readability and rigor combine in the second edition of this widely-used textbook to provide the first step into general relativity for undergraduate students with a minimal background in mathematics. Topics within relativity that fascinate astrophysical researchers and students alike are covered with Schutz's characteristic ease and authority - from black holes to gravitational lenses, from pulsars to the study of the Universe as a whole. This edition now contains discoveries by astronomers that require general relativity for their explanation; a revised chapter on relativistic stars, including new information on pulsars; an entirely rewritten chapter on cosmology; and an extended, comprehensive treatment of modern detectors and expected sources. Over 300 exercises, many new to this edition, give students the confidence to work with general relativity and the necessary mathematics, whilst the informal writing style makes the subject matter easily accessible. Selected solutions for instructors are available under Resources.

847 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Halzen and Martin this article conjecture the part that fashion plays in the choice of topics for physics books and conjecture that the fashion plays a role in the selection of topics as well.
Abstract: Francis Halzen and Alan D Martin 1984 Chichester: John Wiley xvi + 396 pp price £23.95 ISBN 0 471 88741 2 It is interesting to conjecture the part that fashion plays in the choice of topics for physics books. Not so long ago special relativity seemed to attract authors and publishers – several books appeared in quick succession.

620 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the fundamental laws of the universe are probabilistic and not deterministic, and that probabilism is only true if there does exist such an absolute distinction between one past and many possible future events.
Abstract: In this paper I expound an argument which seems to establish that probabilism and special relativity are incompatible. I examine the argument critically, and consider its implications for interpretative problems of quantum theory, and for theoretical physics as a whole. 1. The Argument. I begin with a simple and, I hope, intuitively clear exposition of my basic argument, designed to establish that probabilism and special relativity are incompatible. I then go on to add some refinements to the argument, in an attempt to ensure its validity, before considering its implications for interpretative problems of quantum theory, and for theoretical physics as a whole. Probabilism, as understood here, is the thesis that the universe is such that, at any instant, there is only one past but many alternative possible futures-the fundamental laws of the universe being probabilistic and not deterministic. According to probabilism, then, there is a physically real difference between past and future events-the future alone containing physically, ontologically real alternative possibilities. Because of this physically real difference between past and future, probabilism requires that, at any instant, there be a universal, absolute, unambiguous distinction between past and future-to divide off the one past from the many alternative possible futures. Probabilism, in short, is only true if there does exist such an absolute distinction between one past and many possible futures. Special relativity, on the other hand, is only true if there is no universal, absolute, unambiguous distinction between past and future. According to special relativity, given any two physical events, El and E2, having space-like separation from each other (so that they lie outside each other's past and future light cones), then there is no absolute, frameindependent way in which El is unambiguously either earlier than, simultaneous with, or later than E2. Which relationship holds depends on the choice of inertial reference frame, all such choices being physically

86 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Conditions are found for the existence of integral constraints on stress-energy perturbations in general relativity using a vector field V, and the Robertson-Walker spacetimes are shown to have such constraint vectors.
Abstract: Conditions are found for the existence of integral constraints on stress-energy perturbations in general relativity. The integral constraints can be thought of as a general-relativistic generalization of the conservation of energy and momentum of matter perturbations in special relativity. The constraints are stated in terms of a vector field V\ensuremath{\rightarrow}, and the Robertson-Walker spacetimes are shown to have such constraint vectors. Although in general V\ensuremath{\rightarrow} is not a Killing vector, in a vacuum spacetime the constraint vectors are precisely the Killing vectors.

66 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Effects that could distinguish the Lorentz ether theory from Einstein's special relativity, and their measurability, are analyzed.
Abstract: Effects that could distinguish the Lorentz ether theory from Einstein's special relativity, and their measurability, are analyzed.

27 citations


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1985

22 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Øyvind Grøn1
TL;DR: Lopez's source of the Kerr-Newman field is constructed by means of Israel's formulation of the theory of surface layers in general relativity.
Abstract: Lopez's source of the Kerr-Newman field is constructed by means of Israel's formulation of the theory of surface layers in general relativity.

21 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the relation between the general theory of relativity and the Einstein-Cartan theory in the case that matter is described by a Dirac field was considered and the condition that an (arbitrary) solution of general relativity with Dirac fields is also a solution of the ECCD theory and vice versa.
Abstract: Considers the relation between the general theory of relativity and the Einstein-Cartan theory in the case that matter is described by a Dirac field. Thereby the author finds the condition that an (arbitrary) solution of general relativity with a Dirac field is also a solution of the Einstein-Cartan-Dirac theory and vice versa. Exploiting this result the author generates new non-ghost solutions of the Einstein-Cartan-Dirac theory from ghost solutions of general relativity.

20 citations


Book
01 Jan 1985

15 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that Einstein abandoned his earlier view that there are material consequences, such as asymmetric aging, implied by the space-time transformations of transformations of relativity theory as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: It is shown that Einstein abandoned his earlier view that there are material consequences, such as asymmetric aging, implied by the space-time transformations of transformations of relativity theory.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A proof that absolute synchronization is impossible is sketched and the application of the proof to several synchronization schemes (the rigid rod, clock transport, and wave‐front synchronization) is discussed.
Abstract: A proof that absolute synchronization is impossible is sketched The proof divides synchronization schemes into two broad classes: single‐agent schemes and two‐agent schemes The application of the proof to several synchronization schemes (the rigid rod, clock transport, and wave‐front synchronization) is discussed The conclusion is the same as was stated by Einstein in his 1905 relativity paper—synchronization must utilize a convention




Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple experiment for testing the isotropy of the speed of light is described, based on a method which yields a first-order sensitivity in (v/c).
Abstract: This paper reports on a simple experiment for testing the isotropy of the speed of light. It is based on a method which yields a first‐order sensitivity in (v/c).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In teaching courses on special relativity, we should take care to emphasize that experiments done to date are tests of Lorentz invariance up to the momenta accessible to modern equipment.
Abstract: In teaching courses on special relativity, we should take care to emphasize that experiments done to date are tests of Lorentz invariance up to the momenta accessible to modern equipment. Specifically, these experiments do not verify the two postulates of special relativity. There is still the possibility that space is permeated by a medium which supports the propagation of particles, and that this medium will eventually be detected.



Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jul 1985-Nature
TL;DR: The suggestion that there are systematic departures from the strict requirements of special relativity has been persistently put forward by Dr Stefan Marinov and there is a case for repeating his experiment as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The suggestion that there are systematic departures from the strict requirements of special relativity has been persistently put forward by Dr Stefan Marinov. There is a case for repeating his experiment.


Book ChapterDOI
K. Kraus1
01 Jan 1985
TL;DR: In this paper, it is shown that previous attempts at deriving a contradiction between this postulate and the predictions of quantum mechanics for EPR experiments are inconclusive, and that the postulate is not consistent with quantum mechanics.
Abstract: Special relativity requires that (at least) macroscopic events in a space-time region I are not influenced by changes of the macroscopic conditions in another, spacelike separated region II. It is shown that previous attempts at deriving a contradiction between this postulate and the predictions of quantum mechanics for EPR experiments are inconclusive.


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1985
TL;DR: In flat space physics, we expect of a soliton or in Coleman's famous phrase a “classical lump” that it be a ==================a)============�
Abstract: In flat space physics we expect of a soliton or in Coleman’s famous phrase a “classical lump” that it be a a) time independent (static or stationary) b) finite (positive) energy c) non-singular d) classically and semi-classically stable solution of the classical equations of motion which frequently e) spatially interpolates between different vacua.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a history of the history of electromagnetism, including the origin of Newton's law of gravitation, and the evolution of the theory of black body radiation.
Abstract: Acknowledgements Preface 1. Introduction 2. Tycho Brahe, Kepler and Newton - the origin of Newton's law of gravitation 3. The origin of Maxwell's equations 4. How to rewrite the history of electromagnetism 5. Approaches to mechanics and dynamics 6. Simple thermodynamics 7. The kinetic theory of gases and the origin of statistical mechanics 8. Black body radiation up to 1895 9. 1895-1900: Planck and the spectrum of black body radiation 10. Planck's theory of black body radiation 11. Einstein and the quantisation of light 12. The story concluded - a further classical paper by Einstein 13. Special relativity - a study in invariance 14. An introduction to general relativity 15. Cosmology 16. Epilogue References and further reading Index.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the concept of phase waves is re-examined on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of de Broglie's thesis, and a modern conceptual presentation of these waves is described via phase invariance.
Abstract: On the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of Louis de Broglie's thesis, the concept of phase waves, is re-examined. After a brief historical survey a modern conceptual presentation of these waves is described via phase invariance. In this respect de Broglie's hypothesis appears not to be self-consistent. Phase waves in galilean relativity are briefly discussed. As an interesting pedagogical device, inverse phase waves in two-dimensional special relativity are presented. Finally, some remarks are added concerning the development of concepts and theories.