History of Topics in Special Relativity/Four-potential: Difference between revisions

From testwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>MathXplore
 
(No difference)

Latest revision as of 07:57, 19 May 2023

{{../4-Vectors (header)}}

Overview

The w:Electromagnetic four-potential Aα combines both an w:electric scalar potential and a w:magnetic vector potential into a single four-vector satisfying the w:Lorenz gauge condition:

Aα=(ϕ/c,𝐀), [μAμ=0](a)(L)

Its product with the w:D'Alembert operator can be related to the four-current Jβ or the four-divergence of the w:electromagnetic tensor Fαβ representing w:Maxwell equations:

Aβ=μ0Jβ=αFαβ(b)(c)

and by forming the w:exterior derivative (four-curl) it produces the electromagnetic tensor:

(d)Fμν=μAννAμ

The four-potential has the solution:

(e)Aα=14π2Jαx2+y2+z2t2dxdydzdt

The electric part of (b) was given by Riemann in 1858, while the complete equation (b) together with the Lorenz gauge condition of the four-potential was given by L. Lorenz in 1867, all of which was popularized by H. A. Lorentz in 1892. Solution (e) of the four-potential was given by #Herglotz (1904), while the Lorentz transformation of all components of (a) was given by #Poincaré (1905/6) and #Marcolongo (1906). The modern treatment of the four-potential was given by #Minkowski (1907/15) and was elaborated by #Born (1909), #Bateman (1909/10), #Sommerfeld (1910), #Lewis (1910), Wilson/Lewis (1912), #Von Laue (1911/13), #Silberstein (1911), and embedded in a generally covariant treatment of electromagnetism by #Kottler (1912) and #Einstein (1916).

Historical notation

Kirchhoff, Riemann, Lorenz, Lorentz (1857-1892)

w:Gustav Kirchhoff (1857) defined the w:continuity equation dudx+dvdy+dwdz=12dϵdt for electric density and the "Kirchhoff gauge condition” dUdx+dVdy+dWdz=12dΩdt for potentials in which ”u,v,w” depend on U,V,W.[R 1] This is similar to the Lorentz gauge condition (L) with a sign change, yet Kirchhoff was still thinking in terms of Weber's electrodynamics involving actions at a distance.

In a lecture given in 1858, published 1867, w:Bernhard Riemann defined the retarded electric potential ”U” satisfying[R 2]

d2Udt2αα(d2Udx2+d2Udy2+d2Udz2)+αα4πϱ=0

This corresponds to the electrical part of the inhomogeneous electromagnetic wave equation (b1), but Riemann didn't discuss the corresponding magnetic part (b2) in his model.

w:Ludvig Lorenz (1867) gave the first gave a complete formulation of the electromagnetic potential. Elaborating on Kirchhoff's work, Lorenz redefined u, v, w by replacing U, V, W with the retarded magnetic potentials α,β,γ and Ω by the retarded electric potential Ω, independently derived Maxwell's equations, and formulated the following conditions[R 3]

dudx+dvdy+dwdz=12dϵdt(1)dΩdt=2(dαdx+dβdy+dγdz) or dαdx+dβdy+dγdz=12dΩdt(2)(Δ2d2a2dt2)dxdydzrϕ(tra,x,y,z)=4πϕ(t,x,y,z)(3)(Δ2=d2dx2+d2dy2+d2dz2)

Equations (1) is the continuity condition for the electromagnetic four-current, (2) the Lorenz gauge condition of the four-potential (L), while (3) is used to define the inhomogeneous electromagnetic wave equation.

These methods were popularized by w:Hendrik Lorentz (1892) who incorporated them into his theory of electrons and immobile aether, in which fields and electrons were strictly separated[R 4]

χ=14πV21rF(trV,x,y,z)dτV2Δχ2χt2=F(t,x,y,z)(Δ=2dx2+2dy2+2dz2)V2Δω2ωt2=ρ0V2Δχ12χ1t2=ρ0xV2Δχ22χ2t2=ρ0yV2Δχ32χ3t2=ρ0z

Herglotz (1904)

w:Gustav Herglotz – similar to w:Arthur W. Conway in 1903[R 5] – showed that the wave equation in terms of potential φ[R 6]

2φt2c2(2φx2+2φy2+2φz2)=0

has the solution in terms of the complex variable τ

φ=c4π2is(tτ)dτRtτ2c2τ2[R2=(xx)2+(yy)2+(zz)2]

from which he obtained the retarded potential Φ in terms of charge density ϱ and four coordinates (x,y,z,tτ) as follows

Φ=c4π2idτϱ(x,y,z,tτ)R2c2τ2dv

Using these results, Herglotz went on to determine the force exerted by an electron on another one by defining the potential P(T,α), which he interpreted as the "ordinary four-dimensional mutual potential of two three-dimensional spherical disks located in four-dimensional space", in which α is the radius and T the distance of their centers.

#Sommerfeld (1910) called Herglotz's equations "the most natural representation of electrodynamic potential in the sense of relativity theory", which is notable because this solution was given by Herglotz already in 1904 before the spacetime representations of Poincaré and Minkowski. Sommerfeld also remarked that Minkowski privately told him that the four-dimensional symmetry of electrodynamics is latently contained and mathematically applied in Herglotz's paper.[R 7]

Poincaré (1905/6)

w:Henri Poincaré in July 1905, published 1906, showed that the four quantities related to the electromagnetic potential (defined in relation to the components of the four-current using the D'Alembert operator) in different frames are related to each other by Lorentz transformations[R 8]

ψ=ρ,F=ρξ,ψ=kl(ψ+ϵF), F=kl(F+ϵψ), G=1lG, H=1lH[k=11ϵ2, l=1, =d2dx2d2dt2]

satisfying the Lorenz gauge condition[R 9]

dψdt+dFdx=0

Even though Poincaré didn't directly use four-vector notation in this case, his quantities are the components of the four-potential in arbitrary inertial frames.

Marcolongo (1906)

w:Roberto Marcolongo, citing Poincaré, defined the general Lorentz transformation α,β,γ,δ of the components of the four-potential 𝐉,φ:[R 10]

(Jx,Jy,Jz)=𝐉, (Jx,Jy,Jz)=𝐉Jx=α1𝐉x+β1𝐉y+γ1𝐉ziδ1φφ=iα4𝐉x+iβ4𝐉y+iγ4𝐉z+δ4φ

equivalent to the components of (a) and the relation to the components of the four-current

(Jx,Jy,Jz)=𝐉, (Jx,Jy,Jz)=𝐉𝐉'x=4πϱξ=4πϱ(α1ξ+β1η+γ1ζiδ1),𝐉=4πϱ𝐕, φ=4πρ, φ=4πϱ𝐉'x=(α1𝐉x+β1𝐉y+γ1𝐉ziδ1φ),

equivalent to the components of (b).

Minkowski (1907/15)

w:Hermann Minkowski from the outset employed vector and matrix representation of four-vectors and six-vectors (i.e. antisymmetric second rank tensors) and their product. In a lecture held in November 1907, published 1915, Minkowski defined the four-potential with ψ1, ψ2, ψ3 as the components of the vector potential, and Φ as scalar potential:[R 11]

ψ(ψ1, ψ2, ψ3,ψ4) ψ4=iΦ[R 12]

equivalent to (a), pointed out the relation to the four-current using the D'Alembert operator

ψj=ϱj (j=1,2,3,4),

equivalent to (b), as well as the relation to the electromagnetic tensor (which he called "Traktor”) by setting the exterior derivative (four-curl):

ψjk=ψkxjψjxk

equivalent to (d).

Born (1909)

w:Max Born (1909) defined the four-potential and the Lorenz gauge condition[R 13]

(Φx, Φy, Φz, iΦ)(Φ1, Φ2, Φ3, Φ4)ϱwxx+ϱwyy+ϱwzz+ϱt=0

equivalent to (a), and pointed out that its product with the D'Alembert operator corresponds to the four-current ϱα

xαβ=14Φβxββ=142Φαxβ2=ϱα(β=14Φβxβ=0)

equivalent to (b), and its exterior derivative (four-curl) forming the electromagnetic tensor

fαβ=ΦβxαΦαxβ

equivalent to (d).

Bateman (1909/10)

A discussion of four-potential in terms of integral forms (even though in the broader context of w:spherical wave transformations), was given by w:Harry Bateman in a paper read 1909 and published 1910, who defined the Lorentz transformations of its components:[R 14]

Ax=β(A'xvΦ), Φ=β(vA'xΦ), Ay=A'y, Az=A'z, [β=11v2]

forming the following invarant relations using differential four-position and four-current:[R 15]

Axdx+Aydy+AzdzΦdtρ[Axwx+Aywy+AzwzΦ]dx dy dz dt

Sommerfeld (1910)

In influential papers on 4D vector calculus in relativity, w:Arnold Sommerfeld simplified Minkowski's spacetime formalism and defined the four-potential Φ in relation to the four-current P and the electromagnetic tensor (six-vector) f together with the Lorenz gauge condition:[R 16]

Φ(Φx=𝔄x, Φy=𝔄y, Φz=𝔄z, Φl=iφ)Rot Φ=f𝔇𝔦𝔳Rot Φ=𝔇𝔦𝔳 f=PΦ=PDiv Φ=0[Rot=exterior productDiv=divergence four-vector𝔇𝔦𝔳=divergence six-vector=D'Alembert operatorl=ict]

equivalent to (a,b,c,d), with the Herglotz solution[R 17]

4π2Φ=PR2dΣ, [R2=(xx0)2+(yy0)2+(zz0)2+(ll0)2]

equivalent to (e). He also formulated the "electro-kinetic potential” as the scalar product with the four-current[R 18]

(PΦ)

Lewis (1910), Wilson/Lewis (1912)

w:Gilbert Newton Lewis (1910) devised an alternative 4D vector calculus based on w:Dyadics which, however, never gained widespread support. The four-potential is a “1-vector”[R 19]

𝐦=𝐚+iϕ𝐤4=a1𝐤1+a2𝐤2+a3𝐤3+iϕ𝐤4

equivalent to (a), and its relation to the four-current 𝐪 and electromagnetic tensor 𝐌:

×𝐦=𝐪××𝐦=0×𝐦=𝐌=𝐄+𝐇𝐦=02𝐦=𝐪[=𝐤1x1+𝐤2x2+𝐤3x3+𝐤4x42=2x1+2x2+2x3+2x4]

equivalent to (b,c,d).

In 1912, Lewis and w:Edwin Bidwell Wilson used only real coordinates, writing the above operators as[R 20]

2𝐦=4π𝐪𝐌=×𝐦×𝐌=××𝐦=0𝐌=𝐦(×𝐦)=(𝐦)()𝐦𝐦=0[=𝐤1x1+𝐤2x2+𝐤3x3𝐤4x42=2x1+2x2+2x32x4]

equivalent to (b,c,d).

Von Laue (1911/13)

In the first textbook on relativity in 1911, w:Max von Laue elaborated on Sommerfeld's methods and explicitly introduced the term four-potential (Viererpotential) Φ in terms of vector potential 𝔄 and scalar potential φ, showing its showed its relation to the four-current P and the electromagnetic tensor (six-vector) 𝔐 together with the Lorenz gauge condition[R 21]

(𝔄,φ)Φ𝔬𝔱Φ=𝔐𝔇𝔦𝔳Rot Φ=𝞓iv (𝔐)=PΦ=PDiv Φ=0[𝔬𝔱=exterior productDiv=divergence four-vector𝞓iv=divergence six-vector=D'Alembert operator]

equivalent to (a,b,c,d).

In the second edition (preface dated 1912, published 1913), von Laue also formulated the Herglotz solution:[R 22]

Φ=14π2PR2dΣ

equivalent to (e).

Silberstein (1911)

w:Ludwik Silberstein devised an alternative 4D calculus based on w:Biquaternions which, however, never gained widespread support. He defined the “potential-quaternion” (i.e. four-potential) Φ in relation to the “current-quaternion” (i.e. four-current) C and the “electromagnetic bivector” (i.e. field tensor) 𝐅[R 23]

Φ=iϕ+𝐀DcΦ=𝐅Φ=C, (SDcΦ=0)[D=l, Dc=conjugateDDDc==2x2+2y2+2z2+2l2]

equivalent to (a,b,c,d).

Kottler (1912)

w:Friedrich Kottler defined the four potential Φα and its relation to four-current 𝐏(β), electromagnetic field-tensor Fαβ, and the Herglotz solution[R 24]

Φ1=𝔄x,Φ2=𝔄y,Φ3=𝔄z,Φ4=iφFαβ=x(α)Φβx(β)ΦαΦα=𝐏(α)4π2Φα(y)=dx(1)dx(2)dx(3)dx(4)𝐏(α)(x)R2[R(α)=x(α)y(α)]

equivalent to (a,b,c,d,e) and subsequently was the first to give the generally covariant formulation of the inhomogeneous Maxwell's equations using metric tensor cαβ[R 25]

Fαβ=Φβx(α)Φαx(β)=Φβ/αΦα/β.c(1α)β,γc(βγ)Φα/βγ=𝐏(α) etc.[β,γc(βγ)Φβ/γ=0]

Einstein (1916)

In 1916, after finishing his general relativity, w:Albert Einstein also used the electromagnetic potential φν as a covariant four-vector, relating it to the covariant six-vector of the electromagnetic field (i.e. electromagnetic field tensor):[R 26]

φνFϱσ=φϱxσφσxϱ

equivalent to (a,d).

Historical sources

Template:Reflist

  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|bate10elec}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|born09elek}}
  • Template:Citation
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|einst16grund}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|herg04pot}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|kir57elek}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|kott12mink}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|laue11prin}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|laue13prin}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|lew10vec}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|lewis12non}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|lor67pot}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|lor92elek}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|marc06elek}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|mink07a}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|poinc05b}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|riem67pot}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|silber11quat}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|som10alg}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|som10ana}}


Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "R", but no corresponding <references group="R"/> tag was found