Covariant Formulations of Non-relativistic Electrodynamics with Absolute Space

[9310561] Rynasiewicz最近在空间和时间哲学方面的工作越来越多地集中在无坐标表述的物理理论的比较上。对于各种非相对论性理论以及通常的一系列相对论性理论，已经给出了这样的表述。尽管如此，对于非相对论性电动力学是否存在一个一致的无坐标公式，其中绝对空间起着连贯和不可或缺的作用，有人表示了一定的怀疑。缺乏这样的表述是一个重大的空白，因为从历史上看，电动力学促成了向相对论物理学的过渡。Rynasiewicz博士在这项研究中的目标是通过在牛顿时空中提供麦克斯韦-洛伦兹理论的无坐标公式来填补这一空白。在此过程中，他将为研究人员提供一个新的有利位置，以解决物理学历史和哲学中的一些问题。其中之一是严格评估爱因斯坦与他的前辈和同时代人在运动物体的光学和电动力学方面的理论策略的异同。另一个是关于空间和时间本质的绝对关系争论在物理学史上的重要意义。这些结果引起了哲学家、历史学家和物理学家的兴趣。* * *

9310561 Rynasiewicz Recent work in the philosophy of space and time has increasingly focused on the comparison of physical theories in coordinate-free formulations. Such formulations have been given for a variety of non-relativistic theories as well as for the usual array of relativistic theories. Nonetheless, certain doubts have been expressed that there is a consistent coordinate-free formulation of non-relativistic electrodynamics in which absolute space plays a coherent and indispensable role. The absence of such a formulation is a significant lacuna since, historically, electrodynamics precipitated the transition to relativity physics. Dr. Rynasiewicz' goal in this research is to fill this lacuna by providing a coordinate-free formulation of the Maxwell-Lorentz theory in Newtonian spacetime. In doing this, he will provide researchers with a new vantage point from which to address a number of issues in the history and philosophy of physics. One of these is a rigorous assessment of the similarities and differences between the theoretical strategies of Einstein and his predecessors and contemporaries with respect to the optics and electrodynamics of moving bodies. Another is the significance of the absolute- relational controversy concerning the nature of space and time in this critical episode in the history of physics. These results are of interest to philosophers, historians and physicists alike. ***