Classical Relativistic Many-Body Dynamics: 103 (Fundamental Theories of Physics, 103) - Hardcover

Trump, M.A.; Schieve, W.C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 079235737X ISBN 13: 9780792357377

Publisher: Springer, 1999

Synopsis

in this work, we must therefore assume several abstract concepts that hardly need defending at this point in the history of mechanics. Most notably, these include the concept of the point particle and the concept of the inertial observer. The study of the relativistic particle system is undertaken here by means of a particular classical theory, which also exists on the quantum level, and which is especially suited to the many-body system in flat spacetime. In its fundamental postulates, the theory may be consid­ ered to be primarily the work of E.C.G. Stiickelberg in the 1940's, and of L.P. Horwitz and C. Piron in the 1970's, who may be said to have provided the generalization of Stiickelberg's theory to the many-body system. The references for these works may be found in Chapter 1. The theory itself may be legitimately called off-shell Hamiltonian dynamics, parameterized relativistic mechanics, or even classical event dynamics. The most important feature of the theory is probably the use of an invariant world time parameter, usually denoted T, which provides an evolution time for the system in such as way as to allow manifest co­ variance within a Hamiltonian formalism. In general, this parameter is neither a Lorentz-frame time, nor the proper time of the particles in the system.

About this title

Review

`...this book offers a very nice and fairly self-contained introduction to the subject of classical relativistic dynamics, which will certainly be of interest to graduate students in physics, and to all scientists whose research involves aspects of special relativity theory.'
Mathematical Reviews 2002e

Synopsis

This book examines in detail the classical theory of relativistic many-body dynamics using a world time for self-consistency, completeness, and possible critical experiment. The theory, originally by Stueckelberg, and generalised to the many-body system by Horwitz and Piron, allows solutions for the special relativistic system with long-range interaction in a manifestly covariant Lagrangian and Hamiltonian fashion. The covariant Kepler problem is considered in particular. This volume will be of interest to researchers whose work involves relativity and gravitation, electromagnetic theory, theoretical astrophysics, classical mechanics or space dynamics. It is also recommended as a text for an advanced-level graduate physics course in classical mechanics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 079235737X
• ISBN 13: 9780792357377
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 386