Quantum Mechanics of Extended Objects

We propose a quantum mechanics of extended objects that accounts for the finite extent of a particle defined via its Compton wavelength. The Hilbert space representation theory of such a quantum mechanics is presented and this representation is used to demonstrate the quantization of spacetime. The quantum mechanics of extended objects is then applied to two paradigm examples, namely, the fuzzy (extended object) harmonic oscillator and the Yukawa potential. In the second example, we theoretically predict the phenomenological coupling constant of the $\omega$ meson, which mediates the short range and repulsive nucleon force, as well as the repulsive core radius.Comment: RevTex, 24 pages, 1 eps and 5 ps figures, format change

Coordinate time and proper time in the GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) provides an excellent educational example as to how the theory of general relativity is put into practice and becomes part of our everyday life. This paper gives a short and instructive derivation of an important formula used in the GPS, and is aimed at graduate students and general physicists. The theoretical background of the GPS (see \cite{ashby}) uses the Schwarzschild spacetime to deduce the {\it approximate} formula, ds/dt\approx 1+V-\frac{|\vv|^2}{2}, for the relation between the proper time rate $s$ of a satellite clock and the coordinate time rate $t$. Here $V$ is the gravitational potential at the position of the satellite and \vv is its velocity (with light-speed being normalized as $c=1$). In this note we give a different derivation of this formula, {\it without using approximations}, to arrive at ds/dt=\sqrt{1+2V-|\vv|^2 -\frac{2V}{1+2V}(\n\cdot\vv)^2}, where \n is the normal vector pointing outward from the center of Earth to the satellite. In particular, if the satellite moves along a circular orbit then the formula simplifies to ds/dt=\sqrt{1+2V-|\vv|^2}. We emphasize that this derivation is useful mainly for educational purposes, as the approximation above is already satisfactory in practice.Comment: 5 pages, revised, over-over-simplified... Does anyone care that the GPS uses an approximate formula, while a precise one is available in just a few lines??? Physicists don'

Towards gravitationally assisted negative refraction of light by vacuum

Propagation of electromagnetic plane waves in some directions in gravitationally affected vacuum over limited ranges of spacetime can be such that the phase velocity vector casts a negative projection on the time-averaged Poynting vector. This conclusion suggests, inter alia, gravitationally assisted negative refraction by vacuum.Comment: 6 page

Asymptotic Conformal Yano--Killing Tensors for Schwarzschild Metric

The asymptotic conformal Yano--Killing tensor proposed in J. Jezierski, On the relation between metric and spin-2 formulation of linearized Einstein theory [GRG, in print (1994)] is analyzed for Schwarzschild metric and tensor equations defining this object are given. The result shows that the Schwarzschild metric (and other metrics which are asymptotically ``Schwarzschildean'' up to O(1/r^2) at spatial infinity) is among the metrics fullfilling stronger asymptotic conditions and supertranslations ambiguities disappear. It is also clear from the result that 14 asymptotic gravitational charges are well defined on the ``Schwarzschildean'' background.Comment: 8 pages, latex, no figure

Can one detect a non-smooth null infinity?

It is shown that the precession of a gyroscope can be used to elucidate the nature of the smoothness of the null infinity of an asymptotically flat spacetime (describing an isolated body). A model for which the effects of precession in the non-smooth null infinity case are of order $r^{-2}\ln r$ is proposed. By contrast, in the smooth version the effects are of order $r^{-3}$. This difference should provide an effective criterion to decide on the nature of the smoothness of null infinity.Comment: 6 pages, to appear in Class. Quantum Gra

Numerical treatment of the hyperboloidal initial value problem for the vacuum Einstein equations. I. The conformal field equations

This is the first in a series of articles on the numerical solution of Friedrich's conformal field equations for Einstein's theory of gravity. We will discuss in this paper why one should be interested in applying the conformal method to physical problems and why there is good hope that this might even be a good idea from the numerical point of view. We describe in detail the derivation of the conformal field equations in the spinor formalism which we use for the implementation of the equations, and present all the equations as a reference for future work. Finally, we discuss the implications of the assumptions of a continuous symmetry.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX2

Spin and Center of Mass in Axially Symmetric Einstein-Maxwell Spacetimes

We give a definition and derive the equations of motion for the center of mass and angular momentum of an axially symmetric, isolated system that emits gravitational and electromagnetic radiation. A central feature of this formulation is the use of Newman-Unti cuts at null infinity that are generated by worldlines of the spacetime. We analyze some consequences of the results and comment on the generalization of this work to general asymptotically flat spacetimes.Comment: 20 page

Freely falling 2-surfaces and the quasi-local energy

We derive an expression for effective gravitational mass for any closed spacelike 2-surface. This effective gravitational energy is defined directly through the geometrical quantity of the freely falling 2-surface and thus is well adapted to intuitive expectation that the gravitational mass should be determined by the motion of test body moving freely in gravitational field. We find that this effective gravitational mass has reasonable positive value for a small sphere in the non-vacuum space-times and can be negative for vacuum case. Further, this effective gravitational energy is compared with the quasi-local energy based on the $(2+2)$ formalism of the General Relativity. Although some gauge freedoms exist, analytic expressions of the quasi-local energy for vacuum cases are same as the effective gravitational mass. Especially, we see that the contribution from the cosmological constant is the same in general cases.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, REVTeX. Estimation of the effective mass of small spheres in non-vaccum spacetime and Schwarzschild spacetime are added. The negativity of the latter is discusse