Torsion nonminimally coupled to the electromagnetic field and birefringence

In conventional Maxwell--Lorentz electrodynamics, the propagation of light is influenced by the metric, not, however, by the possible presence of a torsion T. Still the light can feel torsion if the latter is coupled nonminimally to the electromagnetic field F by means of a supplementary Lagrangian of the type l^2 T^2 F^2 (l = coupling constant). Recently Preuss suggested a specific nonminimal term of this nature. We evaluate the spacetime relation of Preuss in the background of a general O(3)-symmetric torsion field and prove by specifying the optical metric of spacetime that this can yield birefringence in vacuum. Moreover, we show that the nonminimally coupled homogeneous and isotropic torsion field in a Friedmann cosmos affects the speed of light.Comment: Revtex, 12 pages, no figure

Head of State of Exception

During the escalation of the “German Autumn” in 1977 the Federal German government resorted to a specific form of crisis management that had been described as an undeclared state of exception. It was Federal chancellor Helmut Schmidt in the first place who oversaw the anti-terrorist measures in the situation room where the executive branch ruled for six weeks beyond any parliamentary control. This article examines the role that Helmut Schmidt had played for the creation of a “subjective state of exception” (Julius Hatschek) and how this could be seen as stemming from Schmidt’s earlier experiences and handling of crisis situations dating back to the 1960s. In this regard it has to be asked with Giorgio Agamben, if in the West German case, the state of exception had become the rule

Teacher Judgement on the Aptitude of Schoolchildren for Secondary Schools

Equal opportunities in the selection process for secondary schools. The social origins of schoolchildren as determinants of decision of the teacher. Topics: The survey consists of five parts: 1. For all schoolchildren: application of an intelligence test (achievement test system Horn, LPS). 2. Written survey of teachers: judgement on individual schoolchildren regarding their aptitude for secondary school graduation, first public examination in secondary school or completion of elementary school; character judgement on the schoolchildren by means of a semantic differential; development disturbances of the schoolchildren; contacts of teacher with parents; assumed attitudes of parents to school and secondary schools; religious denomination and sex of schoolchild. 3. Interviewer determination from the files of the school: occupation of father. 4. Oral survey of the teachers: personal social origins and training. 5. Also encoded were: school and city of school; religious denomination of school; class to which the respondent belongs. Demography: age (classified); sex; religious denomination; school education; vocational training; social origins.Die Chancengleichheit beim Auswahlprozeß für weiterführende Schulen. Die soziale Herkunft des Schülers als Determinante der Entscheidung des Lehrers. Themen: Die Erhebung besteht aus fünf Teilen: 1.) Bei allen Schülern: Applizierung eines Intelligenztests (Leistungsprüfungssystem Horn, LPS). 2.) Schriftliche Befragung der Lehrer: Beurteilung der einzelnen Schüler bezüglich ihrer Eignung für Abitur, mittlere Reife oder Volksschulabschluß; charakterliche Beurteilung der Schüler anhand eines semantischen Differentials; Entwicklungsstörungen des Schülers; Kontakte des Lehrers mit den Eltern; vermutete Einstellungen der Eltern zur Schule und zu weiterführenden Schulen; Konfession und Geschlecht des Schülers. 3.) Interviewerermittlung aus den Akten der Schule: Beruf des Vaters. 4.) Mündliche Befragung der Lehrer: Eigene soziale Herkunft und Ausbildung. 5.) Zusätzlich verkodet wurden: Schule und Schulort; Konfession der Schule; Klasse, zu der der Befragte gehört. Demographie: Alter (klassiert); Geschlecht; Konfession; Schulbildung; Berufsausbildung; soziale Herkunft

Grundblätter für Rosen

O. Janicaud. Preuss. W. von Güldenstubbe. Alb. Hartun