Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Scientific paper
2000-01-06
Lect.Notes Phys. 562 (2001) 479
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Latex2e, 26 pages. Contribution to "Testing Relativistic Gravity in Space: Gyroscopes, Clocks, Interferometers ...", Proceedin
Scientific paper
The coupling of the electromagnetic field to gravity is an age-old problem. Presently, there is a resurgence of interest in it, mainly for two reasons: (i) Experimental investigations are under way with ever increasing precision, be it in the laboratory or by observing outer space. (ii) One desires to test out alternatives to Einstein's gravitational theory, in particular those of a gauge-theoretical nature, like Einstein-Cartan theory or metric-affine gravity. A clean discussion requires a reflection on the foundations of electrodynamics. If one bases electrodynamics on the conservation laws of electric charge and magnetic flux, one finds Maxwell's equations expressed in terms of the excitation H=(D,H) and the field strength F=(E,B) without any intervention of the metric or the linear connection of spacetime. In other words, there is still no coupling to gravity. Only the constitutive law H= functional(F) mediates such a coupling. We discuss the different ways of how metric, nonmetricity, torsion, and curvature can come into play here. Along the way, we touch on non-local laws (Mashhoon), non-linear ones (Born-Infeld, Heisenberg-Euler, Plebanski), linear ones, including the Abelian axion (Ni), and find a method for deriving the metric from linear electrodynamics (Toupin, Schoenberg). Finally, we discuss possible non-minimal coupling schemes.
Hehl Friedrich W.
~Obukhov Yuri N.
No associations
LandOfFree
How does the electromagnetic field couple to gravity, in particular to metric, nonmetricity, torsion, and curvature? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with How does the electromagnetic field couple to gravity, in particular to metric, nonmetricity, torsion, and curvature?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and How does the electromagnetic field couple to gravity, in particular to metric, nonmetricity, torsion, and curvature? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-670497