Special Relativity and Its Experimental Foundations

by Chang, Yuan-Chung; Zhang, Yuan-Zhong

• ISBN13: 9789810227494
• ISBN10: 9810227493
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-02-01
• Publisher: World Scientific Pub Co Inc

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Part 1. Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity	3	(72)
Chapter 1. Foundations of Space-Time Theories	3	(18)
1.1 Introduction	3	(1)
1.2. Definition of Inertial Reference Frame	3	(5)
1.2.1. Definition of Space Coordinates	3	(4)
1.2.2. Definitions of Time Coordinate	7	(1)
1.2.3. Definition of "Inertial" Frames	7	(1)
1.3. Simultaneity and Clock Synchronization	8	(8)
1.3.1. Newtonian Absolute Simultaneity	9	(1)
1.3.2. Einstein's Definition of Simultaneity	10	(1)
1.3.3. Edwards' Definition of Simultaneity	11	(1)
1.3.4. Coordinate Transformation Between Einstein and Edwards' Frames	11	(3)
1.3.5. Robertson's Definition of Simultaneity	14	(1)
1.3.6. Mansouri-Sexl's Definition of Simultaneity	15	(1)
1.3.7. Coordinate Transformation Between Robertson and MS Frames	16	(1)
1.4. Principle of Relativity	16	(1)
1.5. Velocity and Simultaneity	17	(4)
Chapter 2. Relativistic Kinematics	21	(30)
2.1. Galilean Transformation	21	(1)
2.2. Lorentz Transformation	22	(5)
2.3. Four-Dimensional Minkowski Space-Time	27	(5)
2.4. Einstein's Law of the Addition of Velocities	32	(3)
2.5. Transformation of Accelerations	35	(1)
2.6. Infinitesimal Lorentz Transformation	36	(1)
2.7. Simultaneity and Causality	37	(2)
2.8. Contraction of a Moving Body	39	(1)
2.9. Time Dilation of a Moving Clock	40	(1)
2.10. Aberration and Doppler Effect	41	(4)
2.11. The Thomas Precession	45	(6)
Chapter 3. Relativistic Mechanics	51	(6)
3.1. Mass, Momentum, Force, Work and Energy	51	(4)
3.2. Transformations of Mass, Momentum, Energy and Force	55	(2)
Chapter 4. Electrodynamics in Media	57	(10)
4.1. The Fundamental Equations	57	(1)
4.2. Relativistic Transformations of Electromagnetic Quantities	58	(2)
4.3. Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves in a Medium	60	(2)
4.4. Reflection and Refraction of Electromagnetic Waves	62	(5)
Chapter 5. The VPROCA Vector Field	67	(8)
5.1. Covariant Form of Maxwell's Field Equations	67	(3)
5.2. Proca's Vector Field Equations	70	(1)
5.3. Dispersion in Vacuum	71	(4)
Part 2. Test Theories of Special Relativity	75	(60)
Chapter 6. Edwards' Theory	75	(28)
6.1. Introduction	75	(1)
6.2. One-Way and Two-Way Velocities of Light	76	(2)
6.3. Edwards Transformation	78	(4)
6.4. Anisotropic Four-Dimensional Space-Time	82	(6)
6.5. Comparison Among Edwards' Theory and Experiments	88	(12)
6.5.1. Edwards' law of the Addition of Velocities	88	(1)
6.5.2. On Reciprocity of Relative Velocities	89	(1)
6.5.3. Time Dilation of a Moving Clock	90	(1)
6.5.4. The Romer Experiment	91	(3)
6.5.5. Aberration and Doppler Effect	94	(4)
6.5.6. Contraction of a Moving Body	98	(1)
6.5.7. Conclusion	99	(1)
6.6. On Dynamics of Edwards' Theory	100	(3)
Chapter 7. The General Test Theories	103	(32)
7.1. Introduction	103	(1)
7.2. Robertson's Test Theory	103	(10)
7.2.1. Robertson Transformation	103	(2)
7.2.2. Comparison among Robertson and Lorentz Transformations	105	(1)
7.2.3. Four-Dimensional Space-Time	106	(3)
7.2.4. Kinematical Effects	109	(2)
7.2.5. Comparison between Robertson's Theory and Experiments	111	(2)
7.3. Mansouri-Sexl (MS) Transformation	113	(4)
7.4. Comparison between the MS Transformations and Experiments	117	(9)
7.4.1. MS' Law of the Addition of Velocities	118	(1)
7.4.2. Time Dilation	119	(1)
7.4.3. The Romer experiment and Slow Transport of Clocks	120	(2)
7.4.4. Transverse Doppler Effect and Mossbauer Rotor Experiment	122	(1)
7.4.5. Anisotropic Four-Dimensional Space-Time	123	(3)
7.4.6. Dynamics	126	(1)
7.5. Relationships among Lorentz and Generalized Transformations	126	(2)
7.6. Comparison of Different Conventions	128	(7)
Part 3. Experimental Tests of Special Relativity	135	(140)
Chapter 8. The Tests of Einstein's Two Postulates	135	(40)
8.1. Introduction	135	(1)
8.2. Tests of Directionality	136	(14)
8.2.1. The Closed-Path Experiments	136	(9)
8.2.2. The One-Way Experiments	145	(5)
8.3. The Experiments with Moving Sources of Light	150	(21)
8.3.1. The Astronomical Verification	151	(3)
8.3.2. The Laboratory Evidences	154	(17)
8.4. Summary of the Tests of the Constancy of the Velocity of Light	171	(3)
8.5. Tests of the Principle of Special Relativity	174	(1)
Chapter 9. The Tests of Time Dilation	175	(26)
9.1. The Problem of Clock Paradox	175	(5)
9.2. Around-the-World Atomic Clocks	180	(3)
9.3. Doppler Effect	183	(12)
9.3.1. The Hydrogen Canal Ray Experiment	183	(5)
9.3.2. Doppler Effect of y-Rays from Capture Reactions	188	(2)
9.3.3. The Doppler Effect Experiments Based on Mossbaue Effect	190	(5)
9.3.4. Other Measurements of the Second-Order Doppler Effect	195	(1)
9.4. Lifetime Dilation of Moving Mesons	195	(6)
9.4.1. The XXX-Mesons in the Cosmic Rays	196	(1)
9.4.2. Measurements of the Lifetime of the XXX-Mesons in the Cosmic Rays	197	(1)
9.4.3. Measurements of the Lifetime of the Mesons Produced by Accelerators	197	(4)
Chapter 10. The Electromagnetism Experiments	201	(24)
10.1. Introduction	201	(1)
10.2. Electromagnetic Induction of Moving Bodies	202	(5)
10.2.1. Unipolar Induction	202	(2)
10.2.2. Magnetic Effects of Moving Bodies	204	(2)
10.2.3. The Wilson-Wilson Experiment	206	(1)
10.3. The Fresnel Drag Effect	207	(15)
10.3.1. Fizeau's and Zeeman's Experiments	209	(5)
10.3.2. The Transverse "Drag" Experiment	214	(4)
10.3.3. Other "Drag" Experiments	218	(4)
10.4. Reflection at Moving Mirrors	222	(3)
Chapter 11. The Tests of Relativistic Mechanics	225	(20)
11.1. The Test of Variation of Mass with Velocity	225	(14)
11.1.1. Deflection of Charged Particles in Electric and Magnetic Fields	225	(6)
11.1.2. High Energy Synchro-Cyclotron	231	(1)
11.1.3. Other Measurements	232	(1)
11.1.4. The Measurements of Flight-Time for Moving Particles	233	(1)
11.1.5. Elastic Collisions	234	(4)
11.1.6. The Fine Structure of Atomic Spectra	238	(1)
11.2. Relation of Mass and Energy	239	(6)
Chapter 12. The Upper Bounds on Photon Mass	245	(24)
12.1. Dispersion Effect of Velocity of Light in Vacuum	245	(3)
12.1.1. Measurements of the Velocity of Light	246	(1)
12.1.2. Arrival Time of Light Ray from Stars	246	(2)
12.2. The Tests of Coulomb's Law	248	(5)
12.3. The Magnetostatic Effect of Photon Mass	253	(5)
12.3.1. Schrodinger's (External Field) Method	253	(3)
12.3.2. Altitude-Dependence of Geomagnetic Field	256	(1)
12.3.3. Eccentric Dipole or "Vertical Current" Effect	257	(1)
12.4. The Magnetohydrodynamic Effects	258	(7)
12.4.1. Hydromagnetic Waves	258	(3)
12.4.2. Dissipation of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field	261	(3)
12.4.3. Instability of Interstellar Plasma	264	(1)
12.5. Other Methods	265	(1)
12.6. Summary	266	(3)
Chapter 13. The Tests of Thomas Precession	269	(6)
13.1. The Fine Structure of Atomic Spectra	269	(1)
13.2. Measurements for (g-2) Factor of Leptons	270	(5)
References	275	(10)
Index	285