Electromagnetic Models of the Electron and the Transition from Classical to Relativistic Mechanics*
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Hendrik Antoon Lorentz's Struggle with Quantum Theory A. J
Hendrik Antoon Lorentz’s struggle with quantum theory A. J. Kox Archive for History of Exact Sciences ISSN 0003-9519 Volume 67 Number 2 Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. (2013) 67:149-170 DOI 10.1007/s00407-012-0107-8 1 23 Your article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution license which allows users to read, copy, distribute and make derivative works, as long as the author of the original work is cited. You may self- archive this article on your own website, an institutional repository or funder’s repository and make it publicly available immediately. 1 23 Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. (2013) 67:149–170 DOI 10.1007/s00407-012-0107-8 Hendrik Antoon Lorentz’s struggle with quantum theory A. J. Kox Received: 15 June 2012 / Published online: 24 July 2012 © The Author(s) 2012. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract A historical overview is given of the contributions of Hendrik Antoon Lorentz in quantum theory. Although especially his early work is valuable, the main importance of Lorentz’s work lies in the conceptual clarifications he provided and in his critique of the foundations of quantum theory. 1 Introduction The Dutch physicist Hendrik Antoon Lorentz (1853–1928) is generally viewed as an icon of classical, nineteenth-century physics—indeed, as one of the last masters of that era. Thus, it may come as a bit of a surprise that he also made important contribu- tions to quantum theory, the quintessential non-classical twentieth-century develop- ment in physics. The importance of Lorentz’s work lies not so much in his concrete contributions to the actual physics—although some of his early work was ground- breaking—but rather in the conceptual clarifications he provided and his critique of the foundations and interpretations of the new ideas. -
Abraham-Solution to Schwarzschild Metric Implies That CERN Miniblack Holes Pose a Planetary Risk
Abraham-Solution to Schwarzschild Metric Implies That CERN Miniblack Holes Pose a Planetary Risk O.E. Rössler Division of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, 72076 F.R.G. Abstract A recent mathematical re-interpretation of the Schwarzschild solution to the Einstein equations implies global constancy of the speed of light c in fulfilment of a 1912 proposal of Max Abraham. As a consequence, the horizon lies at the end of an infinitely long funnel in spacetime. Hence black holes lack evaporation and charge. Both features affect the behavior of miniblack holes as are expected to be produced soon at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. The implied nonlinearity enables the “quasar-scaling conjecture.“ The latter implies that an earthbound minihole turns into a planet-eating attractor much earlier than previously calculated – not after millions of years of linear growth but after months of nonlinear growth. A way to turn the almost disaster into a planetary bonus is suggested. (September 27, 2007) “Mont blanc and black holes: a winter fairy-tale.“ What is being referred to is the greatest and most expensive and potentially most important experiment of history: to create miniblack holes [1]. The hoped-for miniholes are only 10–32 cm large – as small compared to an atom (10–8 cm) as the latter is to the whole solar system (1016 cm) – and are expected to “evaporate“ within less than a picosecond while leaving behind a much hoped-for “signature“ of secondary particles [1]. The first (and then one per second and a million per year) miniblack hole is expected to be produced in 2008 at the Large Hadron Collider of CERN near Geneva on the lake not far from the white mountain. -
Unification of the Maxwell- Einstein-Dirac Correspondence
Unification of the Maxwell- Einstein-Dirac Correspondence The Origin of Mass, Electric Charge and Magnetic Spin Author: Wim Vegt Country: The Netherlands Website: http://wimvegt.topworld.center Email: [email protected] Calculations: All Calculations in Mathematica 11.0 have been printed in a PDF File Index 1 “Unified 4-Dimensional Hyperspace 5 Equilibrium” beyond Einstein 4-Dimensional, Kaluza-Klein 5-Dimensional and Superstring 10- and 11 Dimensional Curved Hyperspaces 1.2 The 4th term in the Unified 4-Dimensional 12 Hyperspace Equilibrium Equation 1.3 The Impact of Gravity on Light 15 2.1 EM Radiation within a Cartesian Coordinate 23 System in the absence of Gravity 2.1.1 Laser Beam with a Gaussian division in the x-y 25 plane within a Cartesian Coordinate System in the absence of Gravity 2.2 EM Radiation within a Cartesian Coordinate 27 System under the influence of a Longitudinal Gravitational Field g 2.3 The Real Light Intensity of the Sun, measured in 31 our Solar System, including Electromagnetic Gravitational Conversion (EMGC) 2.4 The Boundaries of our Universe 35 2.5 The Origin of Dark Matter 37 3 Electromagnetic Radiation within a Spherical 40 Coordinate System 4 Confined Electromagnetic Radiation within a 42 Spherical Coordinate System through Electromagnetic-Gravitational Interaction 5 The fundamental conflict between Causality and 48 Probability 6 Confined Electromagnetic Radiation within a 51 Toroidal Coordinate System 7 Confined Electromagnetic Radiation within a 54 Toroidal Coordinate System through Electromagnetic-Gravitational -
Einstein's Physical Strategy, Energy Conservation, Symmetries, And
Einstein’s Physical Strategy, Energy Conservation, Symmetries, and Stability: “but Grossmann & I believed that the conservation laws were not satisfied” April 12, 2016 J. Brian Pitts Faculty of Philosophy, University of Cambridge [email protected] Abstract Recent work on the history of General Relativity by Renn, Sauer, Janssen et al. shows that Einstein found his field equations partly by a physical strategy including the Newtonian limit, the electromagnetic analogy, and energy conservation. Such themes are similar to those later used by particle physicists. How do Einstein’s physical strategy and the particle physics deriva- tions compare? What energy-momentum complex(es) did he use and why? Did Einstein tie conservation to symmetries, and if so, to which? How did his work relate to emerging knowledge (1911-14) of the canonical energy-momentum tensor and its translation-induced conservation? After initially using energy-momentum tensors hand-crafted from the gravitational field equa- ′ µ µ ν tions, Einstein used an identity from his assumed linear coordinate covariance x = Mν x to relate it to the canonical tensor. Usually he avoided using matter Euler-Lagrange equations and so was not well positioned to use or reinvent the Herglotz-Mie-Born understanding that the canonical tensor was conserved due to translation symmetries, a result with roots in Lagrange, Hamilton and Jacobi. Whereas Mie and Born were concerned about the canonical tensor’s asymmetry, Einstein did not need to worry because his Entwurf Lagrangian is modeled not so much on Maxwell’s theory (which avoids negative-energies but gets an asymmetric canonical tensor as a result) as on a scalar theory (the Newtonian limit). -
Einstein and Physics Hundred Years Ago∗
Vol. 37 (2006) ACTA PHYSICA POLONICA B No 1 EINSTEIN AND PHYSICS HUNDRED YEARS AGO∗ Andrzej K. Wróblewski Physics Department, Warsaw University Hoża 69, 00-681 Warszawa, Poland [email protected] (Received November 15, 2005) In 1905 Albert Einstein published four papers which revolutionized physics. Einstein’s ideas concerning energy quanta and electrodynamics of moving bodies were received with scepticism which only very slowly went away in spite of their solid experimental confirmation. PACS numbers: 01.65.+g 1. Physics around 1900 At the turn of the XX century most scientists regarded physics as an almost completed science which was able to explain all known physical phe- nomena. It appeared to be a magnificent structure supported by the three mighty pillars: Newton’s mechanics, Maxwell’s electrodynamics, and ther- modynamics. For the celebrated French chemist Marcellin Berthelot there were no major unsolved problems left in science and the world was without mystery. Le monde est aujourd’hui sans mystère— he confidently wrote in 1885 [1]. Albert A. Michelson was of the opinion that “The more important fundamen- tal laws and facts of physical science have all been discovered, and these are now so firmly established that the possibility of their ever being supplanted in consequence of new discoveries is exceedingly remote . Our future dis- coveries must be looked for in the sixth place of decimals” [2]. Physics was not only effective but also perfect and beautiful. Henri Poincaré maintained that “The theory of light based on the works of Fresnel and his successors is the most perfect of all the theories of physics” [3]. -
Mathematical Genealogy of the Union College Department of Mathematics
Gemma (Jemme Reinerszoon) Frisius Mathematical Genealogy of the Union College Department of Mathematics Université Catholique de Louvain 1529, 1536 The Mathematics Genealogy Project is a service of North Dakota State University and the American Mathematical Society. Johannes (Jan van Ostaeyen) Stadius http://www.genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/ Université Paris IX - Dauphine / Université Catholique de Louvain Justus (Joost Lips) Lipsius Martinus Antonius del Rio Adam Haslmayr Université Catholique de Louvain 1569 Collège de France / Université Catholique de Louvain / Universidad de Salamanca 1572, 1574 Erycius (Henrick van den Putte) Puteanus Jean Baptiste Van Helmont Jacobus Stupaeus Primary Advisor Secondary Advisor Universität zu Köln / Université Catholique de Louvain 1595 Université Catholique de Louvain Erhard Weigel Arnold Geulincx Franciscus de le Boë Sylvius Universität Leipzig 1650 Université Catholique de Louvain / Universiteit Leiden 1646, 1658 Universität Basel 1637 Union College Faculty in Mathematics Otto Mencke Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus Key Universität Leipzig 1665, 1666 Universität Altdorf 1666 Universiteit Leiden 1669, 1674 Johann Christoph Wichmannshausen Jacob Bernoulli Christian M. von Wolff Universität Leipzig 1685 Universität Basel 1684 Universität Leipzig 1704 Christian August Hausen Johann Bernoulli Martin Knutzen Marcus Herz Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg 1713 Universität Basel 1694 Leonhard Euler Abraham Gotthelf Kästner Franz Josef Ritter von Gerstner Immanuel Kant -
Hermann Minkowski Et La Mathématisation De La Théorie De La Relativité Restreinte 1905-1915
THÈSE présentée à L’UNIVERSITÉ DE PARIS VII pour obtenir le grade de DOCTEUR Spécialité : Épistémologie et Histoire des Sciences par Scott A. WALTER HERMANN MINKOWSKI ET LA MATHÉMATISATION DE LA THÉORIE DE LA RELATIVITÉ RESTREINTE 1905-1915 Thèse dirigée par M. Christian Houzel et soutenue le 20 décembre 1996 devant la Commission d’Examen composée de : Examinateur : M. Christian Houzel Professeur à l’Université de Paris VII Examinateur : M. Arthur I. Miller Professeur à UniversityCollege London Rapporteur : M. Michel Paty Directeur de recherche, CNRS Rapporteur : M. Jim Ritter Maître de conférences à l’Univ. de Paris VIII S. Walter LA MATHÉMATISATION DE LA RELATIVITÉ RESTREINTE i Résumé Au début du vingtième siècle émergeait l’un des produits les plus remarquables de la physique théorique : la théorie de la relativité. Prise dans son contexte à la fois intellectuel et institution- nel, elle est l’objet central de la dissertation. Toutefois, seul un aspect de cette histoire est abordé de façon continue, à savoir le rôle des mathématiciens dans sa découverte, sa diffusion, sa ré- ception et son développement. Les contributions d’un mathématicien en particulier, Hermann Minkowski, sont étudiées de près, car c’est lui qui trouva la forme mathématique permettant les développements les plus importants, du point de vue des théoriciens de l’époque. Le sujet de la thèse est abordé selon deux axes; l’un se fonde sur l’analyse comparative des documents, l’autre sur l’étude bibliométrique. De cette façon, les conclusions de la première démarche se trouvent encadrées par les résultats de l’analyse globale des données bibliographiques. -
Einstein, Nordström and the Early Demise of Scalar, Lorentz Covariant Theories of Gravitation
JOHN D. NORTON EINSTEIN, NORDSTRÖM AND THE EARLY DEMISE OF SCALAR, LORENTZ COVARIANT THEORIES OF GRAVITATION 1. INTRODUCTION The advent of the special theory of relativity in 1905 brought many problems for the physics community. One, it seemed, would not be a great source of trouble. It was the problem of reconciling Newtonian gravitation theory with the new theory of space and time. Indeed it seemed that Newtonian theory could be rendered compatible with special relativity by any number of small modifications, each of which would be unlikely to lead to any significant deviations from the empirically testable conse- quences of Newtonian theory.1 Einstein’s response to this problem is now legend. He decided almost immediately to abandon the search for a Lorentz covariant gravitation theory, for he had failed to construct such a theory that was compatible with the equality of inertial and gravitational mass. Positing what he later called the principle of equivalence, he decided that gravitation theory held the key to repairing what he perceived as the defect of the special theory of relativity—its relativity principle failed to apply to accelerated motion. He advanced a novel gravitation theory in which the gravitational potential was the now variable speed of light and in which special relativity held only as a limiting case. It is almost impossible for modern readers to view this story with their vision unclouded by the knowledge that Einstein’s fantastic 1907 speculations would lead to his greatest scientific success, the general theory of relativity. Yet, as we shall see, in 1 In the historical period under consideration, there was no single label for a gravitation theory compat- ible with special relativity. -
Max Abraham's and Tullio Levi-Civita's Approach to Einstein
Alma Mater Studiorum Universita` di · Bologna DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN Matematica Ciclo XXV Settore concorsuale di afferenza: 01/A4 Settore Scientifico disciplinare: MAT/07 Max Abraham’s and Tullio Levi-Civita’s approach to Einstein Theory of Relativity Presentata da: Michele Mattia Valentini Coordinatore Dottorato: Relatore: Chiar.ma Prof.ssa Chiar.mo Prof. Giovanna Citti Sandro Graffi Esame finale anno 2014 Introduction This thesis deals with the theory of relativity and its diffusion in Italy in the first decades of the XX century. Albert Einstein’s theory of Special and General relativity is deeply linked with Italy and Italian scientists. Not many scientists really involved themselves in that theory understanding, but two of them, Max Abraham and Tullio Levi-Civita left a deep mark in the theory development. Max Abraham engaged a real battle against Ein- stein between 1912 and 1914 about electromagnetic theories and gravitation theories, while Levi-Civita played a fundamental role in giving Einstein the correct mathematical instruments for the general relativity formulation since 1915. Many studies have already been done to explain their role in the develop- ment of Einstein theory from both a historical and a scientific point of view. This work, which doesn’t have the aim of a mere historical chronicle of the events, wants to highlight two particular perspectives. 1. Abraham’s objections against Einstein focused on three important con- ceptual kernels of theory of relativity: the constancy of light speed, the relativity principle and the equivalence hypothesis. Einstein was forced by Abraham to explain scientific and epistemological reasons of the formulation of his theory. -
Voigt Transformations in Retrospect: Missed Opportunities?
Voigt transformations in retrospect: missed opportunities? Olga Chashchina Ecole´ Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France∗ Natalya Dudisheva Novosibirsk State University, 630 090, Novosibirsk, Russia† Zurab K. Silagadze Novosibirsk State University and Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, 630 090, Novosibirsk, Russia.‡ The teaching of modern physics often uses the history of physics as a didactic tool. However, as in this process the history of physics is not something studied but used, there is a danger that the history itself will be distorted in, as Butterfield calls it, a “Whiggish” way, when the present becomes the measure of the past. It is not surprising that reading today a paper written more than a hundred years ago, we can extract much more of it than was actually thought or dreamed by the author himself. We demonstrate this Whiggish approach on the example of Woldemar Voigt’s 1887 paper. From the modern perspective, it may appear that this paper opens a way to both the special relativity and to its anisotropic Finslerian generalization which came into the focus only recently, in relation with the Cohen and Glashow’s very special relativity proposal. With a little imagination, one can connect Voigt’s paper to the notorious Einstein-Poincar´epri- ority dispute, which we believe is a Whiggish late time artifact. We use the related historical circumstances to give a broader view on special relativity, than it is usually anticipated. PACS numbers: 03.30.+p; 1.65.+g Keywords: Special relativity, Very special relativity, Voigt transformations, Einstein-Poincar´epriority dispute I. INTRODUCTION Sometimes Woldemar Voigt, a German physicist, is considered as “Relativity’s forgotten figure” [1]. -
Ether and Electrons in Relativity Theory (1900-1911) Scott Walter
Ether and electrons in relativity theory (1900-1911) Scott Walter To cite this version: Scott Walter. Ether and electrons in relativity theory (1900-1911). Jaume Navarro. Ether and Moder- nity: The Recalcitrance of an Epistemic Object in the Early Twentieth Century, Oxford University Press, 2018, 9780198797258. hal-01879022 HAL Id: hal-01879022 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01879022 Submitted on 21 Sep 2018 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Ether and electrons in relativity theory (1900–1911) Scott A. Walter∗ To appear in J. Navarro, ed, Ether and Modernity, 67–87. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018 Abstract This chapter discusses the roles of ether and electrons in relativity the- ory. One of the most radical moves made by Albert Einstein was to dismiss the ether from electrodynamics. His fellow physicists felt challenged by Einstein’s view, and they came up with a variety of responses, ranging from enthusiastic approval, to dismissive rejection. Among the naysayers were the electron theorists, who were unanimous in their affirmation of the ether, even if they agreed with other aspects of Einstein’s theory of relativity. The eventual success of the latter theory (circa 1911) owed much to Hermann Minkowski’s idea of four-dimensional spacetime, which was portrayed as a conceptual substitute of sorts for the ether. -
Lorentz's Electromagnetic Mass: a Clue for Unification?
Lorentz’s Electromagnetic Mass: A Clue for Unification? Saibal Ray Department of Physics, Barasat Government College, Kolkata 700 124, India; Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune 411 007, India; e-mail: [email protected] Abstract We briefly review in the present article the conjecture of electromagnetic mass by Lorentz. The philosophical perspectives and historical accounts of this idea are described, especially, in the light of Einstein’s special relativistic formula E = mc2. It is shown that the Lorentz’s elec- tromagnetic mass model has taken various shapes through its journey and the goal is not yet reached. Keywords: Lorentz conjecture, Electromagnetic mass, World view of mass. 1. Introduction The Nobel Prize in Physics 2004 has been awarded to D. J. Gross, F. Wilczek and H. D. Politzer [1,2] “for the discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction” which was published three decades ago in 1973. This is commonly known as the Standard Model of mi- crophysics (must not be confused with the other Standard Model of macrophysics - the Hot Big Bang!). In this Standard Model of quarks, the coupling strength of forces depends upon distances. Hence it is possible to show that, at distances below 10−32 m, the strong, weak and electromagnetic interactions are “different facets of one universal interaction”[3,4]. This instantly reminds us about another Nobel Prize award in 1979 when S. Glashow, A. Salam and S. Weinberg received it “for their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electro- magnetic interaction between elementary particles, including, inter alia, the prediction of the arXiv:physics/0411127v4 [physics.hist-ph] 31 Jul 2007 weak neutral current”.