574 research outputs found
The Einstein static universe with torsion and the sign problem of the cosmological constant
In the field equations of Einstein-Cartan theory with cosmological constant a
static spherically symmetric perfect fluid with spin density satisfying the
Weyssenhoff restriction is considered. This serves as a rough model of space
filled with (fermionic) dark matter. From this the Einstein static universe
with constant torsion is constructed, generalising the Einstein Cosmos to
Einstein-Cartan theory.
The interplay between torsion and the cosmological constant is discussed. A
possible way out of the cosmological constant's sign problem is suggested.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX; minor layout changes, typos corrected, one new
equation, new reference [5], completed reference [13], two references adde
A formal framework for a nonlocal generalization of Einstein's theory of gravitation
The analogy between electrodynamics and the translational gauge theory of
gravity is employed in this paper to develop an ansatz for a nonlocal
generalization of Einstein's theory of gravitation. Working in the linear
approximation, we show that the resulting nonlocal theory is equivalent to
general relativity with "dark matter". The nature of the predicted "dark
matter", which is the manifestation of the nonlocal character of gravity in our
model, is briefly discussed. It is demonstrated that this approach can provide
a basis for the Tohline-Kuhn treatment of the astrophysical evidence for dark
matter.Comment: 13 pages RevTex, no figures; v2: minor corrections, reference added,
matches published versio
Axial Torsion-Dirac spin Effect in Rotating Frame with Relativistic Factor
In the framework of spacetime with torsion and without curvature, the Dirac
particle spin precession in the rotational system is studied. We write out the
equivalent tetrad of rotating frame, in the polar coordinate system, through
considering the relativistic factor, and the resultant equivalent metric is a
flat Minkowski one. The obtained rotation-spin coupling formula can be applied
to the high speed rotating case, which is consistent with the expectation.Comment: 6 page
A generalized photon propagator
A covariant gauge independent derivation of the generalized dispersion
relation of electromagnetic waves in a medium with local and linear
constitutive law is presented. A generalized photon propagator is derived. For
Maxwell constitutive tensor, the standard light cone structure and the standard
Feynman propagator are reinstated
On possible skewon effects on light propagation
We start from a local and linear spacetime relation between the
electromagnetic excitation and the field strength. Then we study the generally
covariant Fresnel surfaces for light rays and light waves. The metric and the
connection of spacetime are left unspecified. Accordingly, our framework is
ideally suited for a search of possible violations of the Lorentz symmetry in
the photon sector of the extended standard model. We discuss how the skewon
part of the constitutive tensor, if suitably parametrized, influences the
Fresnel surfaces and disturbs the light cones of vacuum electrodynamics.
Conditions are specified that yield the reduction of the original quartic
Fresnel surface to the double light cone structure (birefringence) and to the
single light cone. Qualitatively, the effects of the real skewon field can be
compared to those in absorbing material media. In contrast, the imaginary
skewon field can be interpreted in terms of non-absorbing media with natural
optical activity and Faraday effects. The astrophysical data on gamma-ray
bursts are used for deriving an upper limit for the magnitude of the skewon
field.Comment: Revtex, 29 pages, 10 figures, references added, text as in the
published versio
An assessment of Evans' unified field theory I
Evans developed a classical unified field theory of gravitation and
electromagnetism on the background of a spacetime obeying a Riemann-Cartan
geometry. This geometry can be characterized by an orthonormal coframe theta
and a (metric compatible) Lorentz connection Gamma. These two potentials yield
the field strengths torsion T and curvature R. Evans tried to infuse
electromagnetic properties into this geometrical framework by putting the
coframe theta to be proportional to four extended electromagnetic potentials A;
these are assumed to encompass the conventional Maxwellian potential in a
suitable limit. The viable Einstein-Cartan(-Sciama-Kibble) theory of gravity
was adopted by Evans to describe the gravitational sector of his theory.
Including also the results of an accompanying paper by Obukhov and the author,
we show that Evans' ansatz for electromagnetism is untenable beyond repair both
from a geometrical as well as from a physical point of view. As a consequence,
his unified theory is obsolete.Comment: 39 pages of latex, modified because of referee report, mistakes and
typos removed, partly reformulated, taken care of M.W.Evans' rebutta
Use of Mobile Devices in Public Participation for the Design of Open Spaces
Mobile devices are ubiquitous nowadays. Their use is expanding into a wide range of
applications. The potential contribution of mobile devices for public participation during
the decision-making process is yet unclear. This study uses the case study of a new urban
park in Sheffield, UK. Using iPads, views of stakeholders including hard-to-reach groups,
students and professionals are sought regarding the mobile device technology and regarding
the park design. Participants were shown a short animated video of a three-dimensional
model of the study site and were asked questions about the mobile device visualization. The
study shows that visualization using mobile devices can contribute to enhancing the understanding
of the general public, thus creating a broader base for decision-making
The use of mobile devices in participatory decision-making
Simulations have always been used for public participation in the form of maps, photos, sketches and models. Technological developments in computing and mobile platform have brought a new perspective to simulations and their use for participation. To our best knowledge, no in-depth study has been conducted related to the strengths and weaknesses of mobile device 3D visualisation use in landscape architecture. Therefore, this paper investigates the opportunities and challenges and mobile device use during a participatory decision-making process, with the help of related literature and experiences from the surveys conducted. Although pre-prepared visualisations have positive influence on engaging the public and enhancing the understanding, there is still need for future research to decide which specific mobile visualisation technique is advantageous compared to the rest of visualisation techniques
Singularity Theory in Classical Cosmology
This paper compares recent approaches appearing in the literature on the
singularity problem for space-times with nonvanishing torsion.Comment: 4 pages, plain-tex, published in Nuovo Cimento B, volume 107, pages
849-851, year 199
On reference frames in spacetime and gravitational energy in freely falling frames
We consider the interpretation of tetrad fields as reference frames in
spacetime. Reference frames may be characterized by an antisymmetric
acceleration tensor, whose components are identified as the inertial
accelerations of the frame (the translational acceleration and the frequency of
rotation of the frame). This tensor is closely related to
gravitoelectromagnetic field quantities. We construct the set of tetrad fields
adapted to observers that are in free fall in the Schwarzschild spacetime, and
show that the gravitational energy-momentum constructed out of this set of
tetrad fields, in the framework of the teleparallel equivalent of general
relatrivity, vanishes. This result is in agreement with the principle of
equivalence, and may be taken as a condition for a viable definition of
gravitational energy.Comment: 19 pages, no figures, accepted by Classical and Quantum Gravit
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