Related papers: On reference frames and the definition of space in…
A mathematical formalism for treating spacetime topology as a quantum observable is provided. We describe spacetime foam entirely in algebraic terms. To implement the correspondence principle we express the classical spacetime manifold of…
I investigate a class of dynamical systems in which finite pieces of spacetime contain finite amounts of information. Most of the guiding principles for designing these systems are drawn from general relativity: the systems are…
In this paper the notion of the rigid frame of reference within special relativity is analysed. Three definitions of rigidity are formulated. By using several examples of non-inertial frames, it is shown that these definitions are not…
We describe a completely general and fully non-perturbative framework for constructing dynamical reference frames in generally covariant theories, and for understanding the gauge-invariant observables that they yield. Our approach makes use…
In this paper we scrutinize the concept of locally inertial reference frames (LIRF) in Lorentzian and Riemann-Cartan spacetime structures. We present rigorous mathematical definitions for those objects, something that needs preliminary a…
A generalization of the notion of ellipsoids to curved Riemannian spaces is given and the possibility to use it in describing the shapes of rotating bodies in general relativity is examined. As an illustrative example, stationary,…
We introduce regular charts as physical reference frames in spacetime, and we show that general spacetimes can always be fully captured by regular charts. Effective quantum field theories (QFTs) can be conveniently defined in regular…
A reference frame on a set $M$ is given by a 3-dimensional euclidean space $E$, a function from $M$ to $E$, a 1-dimensional affine space $A$ and a function from $M$ to $A$. The definition allows an intuitive and coordinate-free formulation…
The null-surface formulation of general relativity -- recently introduced -- provides novel tools for describing the gravitational field, as well as a fresh physical way of viewing it. The new formulation provides ``local'' observables…
The 3-space of a universe model is defined at a certain simultaneity. Hence space depends on which time is used. We find a general formula generating all known and also some new transformations to conformally flat spacetime coordinates. A…
A quantum frame is defined by a material object subject to the laws of quantum mechanics. The present paper studies the relations between quantum frames, which in the classical case are described by elements of the Poincare' group. The…
We define a conformal reference frame, i.e., a special projection of the six-dimensional sky bundle of a Lorentzian manifold (or the five-dimensional twistor space) to a three-dimensional manifold. We construct an example, a conformal…
We consider spacetime to be a 4-dimensional differentiable manifold that can be split locally into time and space. No metric, no linear connection are assumed. Matter is described by classical fields/fluids. We distinguish electrically…
Physics is a model of nature able to both describe and predict the results of measurements made with respect to reference systems. These reference systems, in turn, are themselves physical and thus subject to the laws of physics. The…
The `observer space' of a Lorentzian spacetime is the space of future-timelike unit tangent vectors. Using Cartan geometry, we first study the structure a given spacetime induces on its observer space, then use this to define abstract…
The concept of time-space defined in an earlier paper of the author is a certain generalization of the so-called space-time. In this paper we introduce the concept of time-space manifolds. In the homogeneous case, a time-space manifold is a…
A transition of focus from state space to frames of reference and their transformations is argued as being the appropriate setup for ensuring the covariance of physical laws. Such an approach can not only simplify and clarify aspects of…
The idea that possible configurations of a physical system can be represented as points in a multidimensional configuration space ${\cal C}$ is explored. The notion of spacetime, without ${\cal C}$, does not exist in this theory. Spacetime…
We argue that the account of Reference Frames quantum properties must change the standard space-time picture accepted in Quantum Mechanics. If RF is connected with some macroscopic solid object then its free quantum motion - wave packet…
The relationship between uniformly accelerated reference frames in flat spacetime and the uniform gravitational field is examined in a relativistic context. It is shown that, contrary to previous statements in the pages of this journal,…