| Description |
1 online resource (xxi, 418 pages) : illustrations, portrait |
| Series |
Advanced series on theoretical physical science ; v. 7 |
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Advanced series on theoretical physical science ; v. 7.
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| Contents |
Logical Connections of Relativity Theories with 4-Dimensional Symmetry xix -- 0a. Limitations of Special Relativity 1 -- 0b. Question #1: Can the theory of relativity be formulated solely on the basis of the first principle of relativity (without assuming the constancy of the speed of light)? 2 -- 0c. Question #2: Can one generalize the 4-dimensional transformation for inertial frames to non-inertial frames with a constant acceleration or rotation? In accelerated frames, the speed of light is no longer a universal constant; is the Planck constant still a universal constant? 4 -- 0d. Question #3: Within the 4-dimensional symmetry framework of special relativity, it appears to be impossible, in principle, to generalize the classical Liouville equation for many-particle systems to a Lorentz invariant Liouville equation. Can we overcome this difficulty? 4 -- 0e. Question #4: In view of the profound divergence difficulties in quantum field theory, is the spacetime 4-dimensional symmetry exact at very large momenta or short distances? 5 -- 1. A Brief Review of Space and Time 9 -- 1a. Space and Objects 9 -- 1b. Time and Motion 11 -- 1c. Inertial Frames of References 11 -- 1d. Space and Time Transformations 13 -- 1e. Absolute Time, Relative Time, Common Time and Taiji Time 14 -- 2. Nontrivial Pursuit of Earth's Absolute Motion 19 -- 2a. Newton, Classical Mechanics and Invariant Laws of Motion 19 -- 2b. Maxwell's Suggestion for Finding Absolute Motion and Michelson's Interferometer 22 -- 3. On the Right Track--Voigt, Lorentz and Larmor 27 -- 3a. "Absolute Contraction of Length" and Lorentz's Heuristic Local Time 27 -- 3b. Exact Transformations Discovered by Larmor and Lorentz 29 -- 4. Poincare's Contributions and the Aether (Past and Present) 35 -- 4a. A Remarkable Insight of Physical Time 35 -- 4b. Poincare's Innovative Principle of Relativity 37 -- 4c. Poincare's Theory of Relativity Based on 1 Postulate and 1 Definition 39 -- 4d. Concept of an "Aether" Never Fades Away 46 -- 4e. Conformal Transformations for Inertial Frames with Absolute Velocity and "Conformal 4-Dimensional Symmetry" with the Constant Speed of Light 48 -- 4f. Poincare's Contributions to Relativity and Symmetry Principles 51 -- 5. Young Einstein's Novel Creation Based on 2 Postulates 61 -- 5a. Power of a Young Mind 61 -- 5b. Einstein's Formulation of Special Relativity with 2 Postulates 62 -- 5c. Derivation of the Lorentz Transformations 66 -- 5d. Novel Relative Properties of Space and Time 68 -- 5e. Physical Implications of Einstein's Special Relativity 71 -- 5f. Einstein and Poincare 72 -- 6. Minkowski's 4-Dimensional Spacetime, Adjustable Clocks and Flexibility in the Concept of Time 80 -- 6a. Completion of Special Relativity by Minkowski's Idea of 4-Dimensional Spacetime 80 -- 6b. Collision of the Titanic and Haywire Clocks 82 -- 6c. Primacy of the 4-Dimensional Symmetry 83 -- 6d. A Flexible Concept of Time 83 -- 7. Taiji Relativity Based Solely on 1 Principle--the First Principle of Relativity 87 -- 7a. Refreshingly Innocent Questions 87 -- 7b. 4-Dimensional Taiji Transformations 88 -- 7c. Taiji Time and Clock Systems 90 -- 7d. Taiji Velocity Transformations 91 -- 7e. Comparisons with Special Relativity 92 -- 7f. Einstein's Time, Common Time, Reichenbach's Time and Unspecified Time 95 -- 8. Arbitrary Speed of Light in Taiji Relativity and the Michelson-Morley Experiment 100 -- 8a. Does the Michelson-Morley Experiment Imply a Constant and Isotropic Speed of Light? 100 -- 8b. Michelson-Morley Experiment Supports the First Postulate of Relativity 103 -- 8c. Do Any Experiments Really Show the Universal Constancy of the Speed of Light c? 106 -- 8d. Physical Quantities Measured by Using Taiji Time 109 -- 9. Lorentz and Poincare Invariance Without Involving a Constant Corresponding to the Speed of Light 112 -- 9a.o Group Properties of Taiji Transformations 112 -- 9b. Lorentz Group Without Involving the Constant Speed of Light 115 -- 9c. Poincare Group with Ten Generators and Without Involving the Constant Speed of Light 120 -- 10. Truly Universal Constants and Physical Laws Based on Taiji Relativity 125 -- 10a. Truly Universal Constants and Invariant Actions 125 -- 10b. Atomic Structures and Doppler Shifts 128 -- 10c. Dirac's Conjecture of Truly Fundamental Constants vs. Taiji Relativity's Results, and the Origin of the "Universal Value" c = 29979245800cm/sec 131 -- 10d. Maxwell Equations Without the Constant Speed of Light c 134 -- 11. Quantum Electrodynamics Based on Taiji Relativity and Dilatation of Lifetimes and Decay-Lengths 138 -- 11a. Quantum Electrodynamics Based on Taiji Relativity 138 -- 11b. Experimental Measurements of Dilatation for Decay-Lengths and Decay-Lifetimes 142 -- 12. Common Relativity: A Common Time for All Observers 148 -- 12a. Why Common Time? 148 -- 12b. Two Basic Postulates of Common Relativity 149 -- 12c. Space-Lightime Transformations and Physical Clocks 150 -- 12d. Relativity of the Speed of Light Measured by Using Common Time 153 -- 12e. Symmetry Between Any Two Frames F and F' 154 -- 12f. Two-Way Speed of Light 155 -- 12g. Inverse Transformations and the Lorentz Group 157 -- 12h. 4-Dimensional Maxwell Equations and Lorentz Force with Scalar Physical Time 158 -- 12i. Quantum Electrodynamics Based on Common Relativity 162 -- 12j. New Properties in Common Relativity 164 -- 13. Common Time and Many-Particle Systems in a 4-Dimensional Symmetry Framework 167 -- 13a. Problems of Relative Simultaneity for Many-Particle Systems 167 -- 13b. Invariant Hamiltonian Dynamics and Phase Space 170 -- 13c. Invariant Kinetic Theory of Gases 174 -- 13d. Invariant Liouville Equation 178 -- 13e. Invariant Entropy, Temperature and Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution 180 -- 13f. Invariant Boltzmann-Vlasov Equation 182 -- 13g. Boltzmann's Transport Equation with 4-Dimensional Symmetry 188 -- 13h. Boltzmann's H Theorem with 4-Dimensional Symmetry 191 -- 14. Common Relativity and Quantum Mechanics 195 -- 14a. Fuzziness at Short Distances and the Invariant 'Genergy' 195 -- 14b. Fuzzy Quantum Mechanics with an Inherent Fuzziness in the Position of a Point Particle 197 -- 14c. A Fuzzy Point and Modified Coulomb Potential at Short Distances 202 -- 14d. Inherent Probability for Suppression of Large Momentum States 204 -- 15. Common Relativity and Fuzzy Quantum Field Theory 207 -- 15a. Fuzzy Quantum Field Theories 207 -- 15b. Fuzzy Quantum Electrodynamics Based on Common Relativity 212 -- 15c. Experimental Tests of Possible Approximate 4-Dimensional Symmetry of Special Relativity at Very High Energies and Short Distances 216 -- 16. Common Relativity and the 3 K Cosmic Background Radiation 221 -- 16a. Implications of Non-Invariant Planck's Law of Blackbody Radiation 221 -- 16b. Invariant Partition Function 221 -- 16c. Covariant Thermodynamics 223 -- 16d. Canonical Distribution and Blackbody Radiation 226 -- 16e. Question on Earth's "Absolute" Motion in the 3 K Radiation 228 -- 17. Extended Relativity: A Weaker Postulate for the Speed of Light 232 -- 17a. 4-Dimensional Symmetry as a Guiding Principle 232 -- 17b. Edwards' Transformations with Reichenbach's Time 234 -- 17c. Difficulties of Edwards' Transformations 236 -- 17d. Extended Relativity--A 4-Dimensional Theory with Reichenbach's Time 238 -- 17e. Two Basic Postulates of Extended Relativity 242 -- 17f. Invariant Action for a Free Particle in Extended Relativity 244 -- 18. Extended Relativity with the Lorentz Group and Lifetime Dilatation 248 -- 18a. A Comparison of Extended Relativity and Special Relativity 248 -- 18b. An Unpassable Limit and Non-Constant Speed of Light 250 -- 18c. Lorentz Group and the Space-Lightime Transformations 251 -- 18d. Decay Rate and "Lifetime Dilatation" 253 -- 19. Physical Implications of Extended Relativity 256 -- 19a. 4-Dimensional Symmetry with a Universal 2-Way Speed of Light 256 -- 19b. Some Experimental Implications of Extended Relativity 259 -- 19c. Doppler Shifts of Frequency and Atomic Energy Levels 260 -- 19d. Classical Electrodynamics Based on Extended Relativity 263 -- 19e. Quantum Electrodynamics Based on Extended Relativity 266 -- 19f. A Clock System for Lightime, Lifetime Dilatation and the Maximum Speed of Physical Objects 270 -- 20. Determination of the Parameters of General Linear Transformations by Precision Experiments 273 -- 20a. A General Parameterization of Linear Transformations 273 -- 20b. Determinations of Parameters by Three Experiments 275 -- 20c. Flexibility of the Relation for t and t' in 4-Dimensional Symmetry Framework 278 -- 21. Generalized Lorentz Transformations for Non-Intertial Frames Based on the Limiting 4-Dimensional Symmetry 282 -- 21a. An Answer to Young Einstein's Question and Its Implications 282 -- 21b. Physical Time and Clocks in Linearly Accelerated Frames 286 -- 21c. Moller's Gravitational Approach to Accelerated Transformations 290 -- 21d. A Kinematical Approach to Accelerated Transformations Based on the Limiting 4-Dimensional Symmetry 293 -- 21e. Generalized Moller-Wu-Lee Transformations Based on the Limiting 4-Dimensional Symmetry 296 -- 21f. Minimal Generalization of the Lorentz Transformations--the Wu Transformations 300 -- 22. Dynamics of Classical and Quantum Particles in Non-Inertial Frames with the Limiting 4-Dimensional Symmetry 304 -- 22a. Classical Electrodynamics in Constant-Linear-Acceleration Frames 304 -- 22b. Quantum Particles and Dirac's Equation in a CLA Frame 307 |
| Summary |
"The purposes of this book are (1) to explore and expound relativity physics and 4-dimensional symmetry from the logically simplest viewpoint by making one single postulate instead of two: and (2) to indicate the simplest generalization of the Lorentz transformation in order to cope with frames with constant linear accelerations. The fundamentally new ideas of the first purpose are developed on the basis of the term paper of a Harvard physics undergraduate. They lead to an unexpected affirmative answer to the long-standing question of whether it is possible to construct a relativity theory without postulating the constancy of the speed of light and retaining only the first postulate of special relativity."--Jacket |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| Subject |
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955
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| SUBJECT |
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 fast |
| Subject |
Relativity (Physics)
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Symmetry (Physics)
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Special relativity (Physics)
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Space and time.
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SCIENCE -- Physics -- Relativity.
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Relativity (Physics)
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Space and time
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Special relativity (Physics)
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Symmetry (Physics)
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RELATIVITY.
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SYMMETRY.
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SPACE-TIME FUNCTIONS.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9789812813480 |
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9812813489 |
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