Physics of the Universe

by Sachs, Mendel

• ISBN13: 9781848165328
• ISBN10: 1848165323
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-17
• Publisher: Imperial College Pr

Summary

This book presents a new approach to the subject of cosmology. It fully exploits Einstein’s theory of general relativity. It is found that the most general formal expression of the theory replaces the (10-component) tensor formalism with a (16-component) quaternion formalism. This leads to a unified field theory, where one field incorporates gravitation and electromagnetism. The theory predicts an oscillating universe cosmology with a spiral configuration. Dark matter is explained in terms of a sea of particle–antiparticle pairs, each in a particular (derived) ground state. This leads to an explanation for the separation between matter and antimatter in the universe. There is a brief discussion of black holes and pulsars. The final chapter delves into philosophical considerations such as the different types of ‘truth’, positivism versus realism and a discussion of the role of the Mach principle in physics and cosmology.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgements	p. xvii
Physics of the Universe	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Is Newton's Theory an Explanation of Gravity?	p. 4
The Expanding Universe	p. 5
The Oscillating Universe Cosmology	p. 6
The Theory of General Relativity	p. 7
The Role of Space and Time	p. 8
Geometry and Matter	p. 11
Generalization of Einstein's Field Equations	p. 13
A Unified Field Theory	p. 16
A Language of Cosmology: The Mathematical Basis of General Relativity	p. 18
Introduction	p. 18
Einstein's Tensor Formulation	p. 19
The Riemann Curvature Tensor	p. 19
The Geodesic Equation	p. 21
The Vacuum Equation	p. 21
The Schwarzschild Solution	p. 22
The black hole	p. 23
The Crucial Tests of General Relativity	p. 24
The Logic of the Spacetime Language	p. 25
A Unified Field Theory in General Relativity: Extension from the Tensor to the Quaternion Language	p. 27
Introduction	p. 27
Factorization of Einstein's Tensor Field Equations	p. 28
The Riemann Curvature Tensor in Quaternion Form	p. 29
Spin-affine connection	p. 30
Spin curvature	p. 31
The Quaternion Metrical Field Equations	p. 32
A Symmetric Tensor-Antisymmetric Tensor Representation of General Relativity - Gravity and Electromagnetism	p. 32
The Einstein Field Equations from the Symmetric Tensor Part	p. 33
The Maxwell Field Equations from the Antisymmetric Tensor Part	p. 33
Conclusions	p. 35
An Oscillating, Spiral Universe Cosmology	p. 37
Introduction	p. 37
The oscillating universe cosmology	p. 39
Equations of motion in general relativity	p. 39
Dynamics of the Expansion and Contraction of the Universe	p. 41
The geodesic equation in quaternion form	p. 41
Dynamics of the Oscillating Universe Cosmology	p. 44
Derivation of the Hubble Law as an Approximation	p. 46
The Spiral Structure of the Universe	p. 46
Concluding Remarks	p. 49
Dark Matter	p. 51
Introduction	p. 51
The Field Equations and the Ground State Solution for the Bound Particle-Antiparticle Pair	p. 53
Separation of Matter and Antimatter in the Universe	p. 56
Olber's Paradox	p. 57
Concluding Remarks	p. 60
Black Holes	p. 60
Pulsars	p. 61
On the Human Race and Cosmology	p. 62
Philosophical Considerations	p. 64
On Truth	p. 64
Positivism versus Realism, Subjectivity versus Objectivity	p. 67
On Mach's Influence in Physics and Cosmology	p. 70
The quantum mechanical limit	p. 70
The Mach principle	p. 71
The Mach principle and a unified field theory	p. 72
References and Notes	p. 74
Postscript	p. 77
Physics in the 21st Century	p. 78
Holism	p. 95
The Universe	p. 99
The Mach Principle and the Origin of Inertia from General Relativity	p. 108
Index	p. 125
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