Einstein's relativity and beyond new symmetry approaches - Hsu, J. P., (Jong-Ping) (World Scientific, 2000)
Includes bibliographical references and index
Logical Connections of Relativity Theories with 4-Dimensional Symmetry - xix -- - 0a - Limitations of Special Relativity - 1 -- - 0b - Question #1: Can the theory of relativity be formulated solely on the basis of the first principle of relativity (without assuming the constancy of the speed of light)? - 2 -- - 0c - Question #2: Can one generalize the 4-dimensional transformation for inertial frames to non-inertial frames with a constant acceleration or rotation? In accelerated frames, the speed of light is no longer a universal constant; is the Planck constant still a universal constant? - 4 -- - 0d - Question #3: Within the 4-dimensional symmetry framework of special relativity, it appears to be impossible, in principle, to generalize the classical Liouville equation for many-particle systems to a Lorentz invariant Liouville equation. Can we overcome this difficulty? - 4 -- - 0e
- Question #4: In view of the profound divergence difficulties in quantum field theory, is the spacetime 4-dimensional symmetry exact at very large momenta or short distances? - 5 -- - 1 - A Brief Review of Space and Time - 9 -- - 1a - Space and Objects - 9 -- - 1b - Time and Motion - 11 -- - 1c - Inertial Frames of References - 11 -- - 1d - Space and Time Transformations - 13 -- - 1e - Absolute Time, Relative Time, Common Time and Taiji Time - 14 -- - 2 - Nontrivial Pursuit of Earth's Absolute Motion - 19 -- - 2a - Newton, Classical Mechanics and Invariant Laws of Motion - 19 -- - 2b - Maxwell's Suggestion for Finding Absolute Motion and Michelson's Interferometer - 22 -- - 3 - On the Right Track--Voigt, Lorentz and Larmor - 27 -- - 3a - "Absolute Contraction of Length" and Lorentz's Heuristic Local Time - 27 -- - 3b - Exact Transformations Discovered by Larmor and Lorentz - 29 -- - 4 - Poincare's Contributions and the Aether (Past and Present) - 35 -- - 4a
- A Remarkable Insight of Physical Time - 35 -- - 4b - Poincare's Innovative Principle of Relativity - 37 -- - 4c - Poincare's Theory of Relativity Based on 1 Postulate and 1 Definition - 39 -- - 4d - Concept of an "Aether" Never Fades Away - 46 -- - 4e - Conformal Transformations for Inertial Frames with Absolute Velocity and "Conformal 4-Dimensional Symmetry" with the Constant Speed of Light - 48 -- - 4f - Poincare's Contributions to Relativity and Symmetry Principles - 51 -- - 5 - Young Einstein's Novel Creation Based on 2 Postulates - 61 -- - 5a - Power of a Young Mind - 61 -- - 5b - Einstein's Formulation of Special Relativity with 2 Postulates - 62 -- - 5c - Derivation of the Lorentz Transformations - 66 -- - 5d - Novel Relative Properties of Space and Time - 68 -- - 5e - Physical Implications of Einstein's Special Relativity - 71 -- - 5f - Einstein and Poincare - 72 -- - 6
- Minkowski's 4-Dimensional Spacetime, Adjustable Clocks and Flexibility in the Concept of Time - 80 -- - 6a - Completion of Special Relativity by Minkowski's Idea of 4-Dimensional Spacetime - 80 -- - 6b - Collision of the Titanic and Haywire Clocks - 82 -- - 6c - Primacy of the 4-Dimensional Symmetry - 83 -- - 6d - A Flexible Concept of Time - 83 -- - 7 - Taiji Relativity Based Solely on 1 Principle--the First Principle of Relativity - 87 -- - 7a - Refreshingly Innocent Questions - 87 -- - 7b - 4-Dimensional Taiji Transformations - 88 -- - 7c - Taiji Time and Clock Systems - 90 -- - 7d - Taiji Velocity Transformations - 91 -- - 7e - Comparisons with Special Relativity - 92 -- - 7f - Einstein's Time, Common Time, Reichenbach's Time and Unspecified Time - 95 -- - 8 - Arbitrary Speed of Light in Taiji Relativity and the Michelson-Morley Experiment - 100 -- - 8a - Does the Michelson-Morley Experiment Imply a Constant and Isotropic Speed of Light? - 100 -- - 8b