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Introduction to Mathematical Physics/Relativity/Space geometrization
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Classical mechanics
Classical mechanics is based on two fundamental principles: the Galilean relativity principle and the fundamental principle of dynamics.
Let us state Galileo relativity principle:
Galileo relativity principle.
Classical mechanics laws (in particular Newton's law of motion) have
the same form in every frame in uniform translation with respect to each
other. Such frames are called Galilean frames or inertial frames.
In classical mechanics the time interval separating two events is
independent of the movement of the reference frame. Distance between two
points of a rigid body is independent of the movement of the
reference frame.
Classical mechanics laws are invariant by transformations belonging to Galileo transformation group. A Galileo transformation of coordinates can be written:
Following Gallilean relativity, the light speed should depend on the
Galilean reference frame considered. In 1881, the experiment of Michelson
and Morley attempting to measure this dependance fails.
secrelat
Relativistic mechanics (Special relativity)
Relativistic mechanics in the special case introduced by Einstein, as
he was 26 years old, is based on the following postulate:
All the laws of Universe i. e. laws of mechanics and electromagnetism) are the same in all Galilean reference frames.
Because Einstein believes in the Maxwell equations (and because the
Michelson Morley experiment fails) has to be a constant. So
Einstein postulates:
The light speed in vacuum is the same in every Galilean
reference frame. This speed is an upper bound.
We will see how the physical laws have to be modified to obey to
those postulates later on The fundamental laws of dyanmics
is deeply modified (see section secdynasperel (see section secdynasperel), but as guessed by Einstein
Maxwell laws obey to the special relativity postulates (see section seceqmaxcov..
The existence of a universal speed, the light speed, modifies deeply
space--time structure.
It yields to precise the metrics (see appendix chaptens for an introduction to the notion of
metrics) adopted in special relativity. Let us consider two Galilean reference frames characterized by coordinates: and . Assume that at both
coordinate system coincide. Then:
that is to say:
and
Quantity is thus an invariant.
The most natural metrics that should equip space--time is thus:
It is postulated that this metrics should be invariant by Galilean change of
coordinates.
Metrics is invariant by change of Galilean reference frame.
Let us now look for the representation of a transformation of space--time that
keeps unchanged this metrics. We look for transformations such
that:
is invariant.
From, the metrics, a "position vector" have to be defined. It is called
four-vector position, and two formalisms are possible to define it:\index{four--vector}.
Either coordinates of four-vector position are taken equal to and space is equipped by pseudo scalar product defined by matrix: Then: where represents the transposed of four-vector position .
Or coordinates of four-vector position are taken equal to and space is equipped by pseudo scalar product defined by matrix: Then: where represents the transposed four-vector position .
Once the formalism is chosen, the representation of transformations i. e., the matrices), that leaves the pseudo-norm invariant can be investigated (see (references)). Here we will just exhibit such matrices. In first formalism, condition that pseudo-product scalar is invariant implies
that:
thus
cond
Following matrix suits:
where ( is the speed of the reference frame) and
.
The inverse of :
Equation cond implies a condition for the determinant:
Matrices of determinant 1 form a group called Lorentz group.
\index{Lorentz group}
In the second formalism, this same condition implies:
Following matrix suits:
and its inverse is:
A unitary matrix (see section secautresrep) is a matrix such that:
where is the adjoint matrix of , that is the conjugated transposed matrix of . Then, scalar product defined by:
is preserved by the action of .
Eigen time
Four-scalar (or Lorentz invariant) allows to define other
four-vectors (as four-vector velocity):
Eigen time of a mobile is time marked by a clock travelling with this mobile.
If mobile travels at velocity in reference frame , then events A and B that are referenced in travelling the mobile by:
and are referenced in by:
So, one gets the relation verified by ::
so
Velocity four-vector
Velocity four-vector is defined by:
where is the classical speed.
Other four-vectors
Here are some other four-vectors (expressed using first formalism):
four-vector position :
four-vector wave:
four-vector nabla:
General relativity
There exists two ways to tackle laws of Nature discovery problem:
First method can be called
"phenomenological". A good example of phenomenological theory is quantum
mechanics theory. This method consists in starting from known facts (from
experiments) to infer laws. Observable notion is then a fundamental notion.
There exist another method less "anthropocentric" whose advantages had been underlined at century 17 by philosophers like Descartes.
It is the method called a priori. It has been used by Einstein to propose his relativity theory. It consists in starting from principles that are believed to be true and to look for laws that obey to those principles.
Here are the fundamental postulates of general relativity:
Generalized relativity principle: All the laws of Nature are covariant\index{covariance} relatively to any
continuous transformation of coordinates system.
<ref>Special relativity states only covariance with respect to Lorentz transformations (see (references)) and classical mechanics states covariance only under Galilean transformations.<\ref>
Maximum logical simplicity principle for laws formulation: All geometrical properties of space--time can be described by the means
of a differential tensor . This tensor
is expressed in a four dimension Riemannian space whose metrics is defined by a tensor
is a second order tensor and is noted
is a function of the 's that doesn't contain any partial derivatives of order greater than two and that is linear with respect to second order partial derivatives.
Divergence of tensor is zero.
Space curvature is due to matter:
or, using tensors:
Einstein believes strongly in those postulates. On another hand, he believes
that modelization of gravitational field have to be improved.
From this postulates, Einstein equation can be obtained: One can show that any
tensor that verifies those postulates:
where and are two constants and , the Ricci
curvature tensor, and , the scalar curvature are defined from
tensor\footnote{
Reader is invited to refer to specialized books for the expression of
and .}
Einstein equation corresponds to . Constant is called
cosmological constant. Matter tensor is not deduced from symmetries implied by postulates as tensor is. Please refer to references) for indications about how to model matter tensor. Anyway, there is great difference between curvature tensor and matter tensor. Einstein opposes those two terms saying that curvature term is smooth as gold and matter term is rough as wood.