Related papers: Relative-observer definition of the Simon tensor
Given a generic Cremonian space-time, its three spatial dimensions are shown to exhibit an intriguing, "two-plus-one" partition with respect to standard observers. Such observers are found to form three distinct, disjoint groups based on…
The description of relativistic effects requires a preliminary definition of events localised in space-time while the clocks used for time definition and the fields used in synchronisation or localisation procedures are necessarily quantum…
The phenomenologically observed flatness - or near flatness - of spacetime cannot be understood as emerging from continuum Planck (or sub-Planck) scales using known physics. Using dimensional arguments it is demonstrated that any…
In this work, we use real quaternions and the basic concept of the final speed of light in an attempt to enhance the standard description of special relativity. First, we demonstrate that it is possible to introduce a quaternion time domain…
Inspired by Bohr's dictum that "physical phenomena are observed relative to different experimental setups", this article investigates the notion of relativity in Bohr's sense, starting from a set of binary elements. The most general form of…
Observer-invariance is regarded as a minimum requirement for an appropriate definition and derived systematically from a spacetime setting, where observer-invariance is a special case of a covariance principle and covered by Ricci-calculus.…
We develop a generic spacetime model in General Relativity which can be used to build any gravitational model within General Relativity. The generic model uses two types of assumptions: (a) Geometric assumptions additional to the inherent…
Several other factors, besides the intrinsic local geometry, contribute to give a meaning to a space-time model. The simplest example comes from comparing Minkowski's and Milne's model, that both have a null Riemann tensor. We add to these…
I show that, by the same criteria that led to Galilean and Special Relativity and gauge symmetries, there is no way to identify a unique set of observables that give the structure of space or spacetime. In some sense, space is lost in the…
We study contact terms of conserved currents and the energy-momentum tensor in three-dimensional quantum field theory. They are associated with Chern-Simons terms for background fields. While the integer parts of these contact terms are…
By referring to theorems of Donaldson and Hitchin, we exhibit a rigorous AdS/CFT-type correspondence between classical 2+1 dimensional vacuum general relativity theory on S x R and SO(3) Hitchin theory (regarded as a classical conformal…
We consider a hybrid bimetric model where, in addition to the ordinary metric tensor that determines geometry, an informational metric is introduced to describe the reference frame of an observer. We note that the local information metric…
The classical procedures which define the relativistic notion of space-time can be implemented in the framework of Quantum Field Theory. Only relying on the conformal symmetries of field propagation, time-frequency transfer and localization…
The classical theory of strain in material continua is reviewed and generalized to space-time. Strain is attributed to "external" (matter/energy fields) and intrinsic sources fixing the global symmetry of the universe (defects in the…
It is shown that the Chern-Simons functional, built in the spinor representation from the initial data on spacelike hypersurfaces, is invariant with respect to infinitesimal conformal rescalings if and only if the vacuum Einstein equations…
We address the problem of observables in generally invariant spacetime theories such as Einstein's general relativity. Using the refined notion of an event as a ``point-coincidence'' between scalar fields that completely characterise a…
With a more relaxed perspective on what constitutes a relativity symmetry mathematically, we revisit the notion of possible relativity or kinematic symmetries mutually connected through Lie algebra contractions. We focus on the contractions…
Following Geroch, Traschen, Mars and Senovilla, we consider Lorentzian manifolds with distributional curvature tensor. Such manifolds represent spacetimes of general relativity that possibly contain gravitational waves, shock waves, and…
We present a new scheme of defining invariant observables for general relativistic systems. The scheme is based on the introduction of an observer which endowes the construction with a straightforward physical interpretation. The…
In the Ashtekar-Barbero formulation of canonical general relativity based on an SU(2) connection, Lorentz covariance is a subtle issue which has been the focus of some debate. Here we present a Lorentz covariant formulation generalising the…