History of Topics in Special Relativity/Four-current

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Overview

The w:Four-current is the four-dimensional analogue of the w:electric current density

Jα=(cρ,j1,j2,j3)=(cρ,𝐣)=ρ0Uα(a)(b)(ρ0=ρ1v2c2)

where c is the w:speed of light, Uα the four-velocity, ρ is the w:charge density, ρ0 the rest charge density , and j the conventional w:current density. Alternatively, it can be defined in terms of the inhomogeneous Maxwell equations as the negative product of the D'Alembert operator and the electromagnetic potential Aβ, or the four-divergence of the electromagnetic tensor Fαβ:

μ0Jβ=Aβ=αFαβ(c)(d)

and the generally covariant form

(e) Jμ=ν𝒟μν, [𝒟μν=1μ0gμαFαβgβνg]

The Lorentz transformation of the four-potential components was given by #Poincaré (1905/6) and #Marcolongo (1906). It was explicitly formulated in modern form by #Minkowski (1907/15) and reformulated in different notations by #Born (1909), #Bateman (1909/10), #Ignatowski (1910), #Sommerfeld (1910), #Lewis (1910), Wilson/Lewis (1912), #Von Laue (1911), #Silberstein (1911). The generally covariant form was first given by #Kottler (1912) and #Einstein (1913).

Historical notation

Poincaré (1905/6)

w:Henri Poincaré (June 1905[R 1]; July 1905, published 1906[R 2]) showed that the four quantities related to charge density ρ are connected by a Lorentz transformation:

ρ, ρξ, ρη, ρζρ=kl3ρ(1+ϵξ),ρξ=kl3ρ(ξ+ϵ),ρη=ρηl3, ρζ=ρζl3(June)ρ=kl3(ρ+ϵρξ),ρξ=kl3(ρξ+ϵρ),ρη=1l3ρη,ρζ=1l3ρζ(July)(k=11ϵ2, l=1)

and in his July paper he further stated the continuity equation and the invariance of Jacobian D:[R 3]

dρdt+dρξdx=0D1'=dρdt+dρξdx=0, D1=dρdt+dρξdx=0

Even though Poincaré didn't directly use four-vector notation in those cases, his quantities are the components of four-current (a).

Marcolongo (1906)

Following Poincaré, w:Roberto Marcolongo defined the general Lorentz transformation α,β,γ,δ of the components of the four independent variables 𝐕,ϱ and its continuity equation:[R 4]

(ξ,η,ζ)=𝐕, (ξ,η,ζ)=𝐕ϱξ=ϱ(α1ξ+β1η+γ1ζiδ1)ϱ=ϱ(α4ξ+β4η+γ4ζiδ4)ϱt+ϱξx+ϱηy+ϱζz=0(t=iu)

equivalent to the components of four-current (a), and pointed out its relation to the components 𝐉,φ of the four-potential

𝐉'x=4πϱξ=4πϱ(α1ξ+β1η+γ1ζiδ1),𝐉=4πϱ𝐕, φ=4πρ, φ=4πϱ

equivalent to the components of Maxwell's equations (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-current in vacuum with ϱ as charge density and 𝔳 as velocity:[R 5]

(ϱ1,ϱ2,ϱ3,ϱ4)=(ϱ𝔳, iϱ)

equivalent to (a), and the electric four-current in matter with 𝐢 as current and σ as charge density:[R 6]

(σ)=(σ1, σ2, σ3, σ4)=(ix,iy,iz, iσ)

In another lecture from December 1907, Minkowski defined the “space-time vector current” and its Lorentz transformation[R 7]

(ϱ𝔴x, ϱ𝔴y, ϱ𝔴z, iϱ)(ϱ1, ϱ2, ϱ3, ϱ4)ϱ'3=x3cos iψ+ϱ4sin iψ,ϱ'4=ϱ3sin iψ+ϱ4cos iψ,ϱ'1=ϱ1,ϱ'2=ϱ2ϱ𝔴'z=ϱ(𝔴zq1q2),ϱ=ϱ(q𝔴z+11q2),ϱ𝔴'x=ϱ𝔴x,ϱ𝔴'y=ϱ𝔴y,(ϱ12+ϱ22+ϱ32+ϱ42)=ϱ2(1𝔴x2𝔴y2𝔴z2)=ϱ2(1𝔴2)

equivalent to (a). In moving media and dielectrics, Minkowski more generally used the current density vector “electric current” 𝔰 which becomes 𝔰=σ𝔈 in isotropic media:[R 8]

(𝔰x, 𝔰y, 𝔰z, iϱ)(s1, s2, s3, s4)

Born (1909)

Following Minkowski, w:Max Born (1909) defined the “space-time vector of first kind” (four-vector) and its continuity equation[R 9]

(ϱwxc, ϱwyc, ϱwzc, iϱ)(ϱ1, ϱ2, ϱ3, ϱ4)ϱwxx+ϱwyy+ϱwzz+ϱt=0

equivalent to (a), and pointed out its relation to Maxwell's equations as the product of the D'Alembert operator with the electromagnetic potential Φα:

xαβ=14Φβxββ=142Φαxβ2=ϱα(β=14Φβxβ=0)

equivalent to (c). He also expressed the four-current in terms of rest charge density and four-velocity

ϱ1=ϱcxτ, ϱ2=ϱcyτ, ϱ3=ϱczτ, ϱ4=iϱtτ(ϱ=ϱ1w2c2=(ϱ12+ϱ22+ϱ32+ϱ42), dτ=dt1w2c2)ϱα=iϱxαξ4(ξ4=icτ)

equivalent to (b).

Bateman (1909/10)

A discussion of four-current 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 (ρwx,ρwy,ρwz,ρ)[R 10]

ρwx=β(ρwvρ), ρwy=ρw'y, ρwz=ρw'z, ρ=β(vρw'xρ), [β=11v2]

forming the following invariant relations together with the differential four-position and four-potential:[R 11]

1λ2[ρwxdx+ρwydy+ρwzdzρdt]ρ2λ2(1w2)dx dy dz dtρ[Axwx+Aywy+AzwzΦ]dx dy dz dt

with λ2=1 in relativity.

Ignatowski (1910)

w:Wladimir Ignatowski (1910) defined the “vector of first kind” using charge density ϱ and three-velocity 𝔳:[R 12]

(ϱ𝔳, ϱ)[ϱ1n𝔳2=ϱ1n𝔳2=ϱ0]

equivalent to four-current (a).

Sommerfeld (1910)

In influential papers on 4D vector calculus in relativity, w:Arnold Sommerfeld defined the four-current P, which he called four-density (Viererdichte):[R 13]

Px=ϱ𝔳xc, Py=ϱ𝔳yc, Pz=ϱ𝔳zc, Pl=iϱβ2=1c2(𝔳x2+𝔳y2+𝔳z2)|P|=iϱ1β2[l=ict]

equivalent to (a). In the second paper he pointed out its relation to four-potential Φ and the electromagnetic tensor (six-vector) f together with the continuity condition:[R 14]

P=𝔇𝔦𝔳Rot Φ=𝔇𝔦𝔳 fP=Φ, (Div Φ=0)Div P=0[Rot=exterior productDiv=divergence four-vector𝔇𝔦𝔳=divergence six-vector=D'Alembert operator]

equivalent to Maxwell's equations (c). The scalar product with the four-potential[R 15]

(PΦ)

he called “electro-kinetic potential” whereas the vector product with the electromagnetic tensor[R 16]

(Pf)=𝔉

he called the electrodynamic force (four-force density).

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-current is a “1-vector”:[R 17]

𝐪=ϱc𝐯+iϱ𝐤4=ϱcv1𝐤1+ϱcv2𝐤2+ϱcv3𝐤3+iϱ𝐤4

equivalent to (a) and its relation to the four-potential 𝐦 and electromagnetic tensor 𝐌:

×𝐦=𝐪𝐌=𝐪2𝐦=𝐪(H12x2+H13x3+E14x4)𝐤1=ϱcv1𝐤1(H21x1+H23x3+E24x4)𝐤2=ϱcv2𝐤2(H31x1+H32x2+E34x4)𝐤3=ϱcv3𝐤3(H41x1+H42x2+E43x4)𝐤4=ϱci𝐤4[=𝐤1x1+𝐤2x2+𝐤3x3+𝐤4x42=2x1+2x2+2x3+2x4]

equivalent to (c,d).

In 1912, Lewis and w:Edwin Bidwell Wilson used only real coordinates, writing the above expressions as[R 18]

𝐌=4π𝐪2𝐦=4π𝐪[=𝐤1x1+𝐤2x2+𝐤3x3𝐤4x42=2x1+2x2+2x32x4]

equivalent to (c,d).

Von Laue (1911)

In the first textbook on relativity in 1911, w:Max von Laue elaborated on Sommerfeld's methods and explicitly used the term “four-current” (Viererstrom) of density ϱ in relation to four-potential Φ and electromagnetic tensor 𝔐:[R 19]

P(Px=ϱ𝔮xc, Py=ϱ𝔮yc, Pz=ϱ𝔮zc, Pl=iϱ)P=𝞓iv (𝔐)P=Φ (Div Φ=0)Div (P)=0[𝔬𝔱=exterior productDiv=divergence four-vector𝞓iv=divergence six-vector=D'Alembert operator]

equivalent to (a,c,d). He went on to define four-force density F as vector-product with 𝔐, four-convection K and four-conduction Λ using four-velocity Y:[R 20]

F=[P𝔐], (PF)=(P[P𝔐])=0K=(YP)YΛ=P+(YP)Y,

Silberstein (1911)

w:Ludwik Silberstein devised an alternative 4D calculus based on w:Biquaternions which, however, never gained widespread support. He defined the “current-quaternion” (i.e. four-current) C and its relation to the “electromagnetic bivector” (i.e. field tensor) 𝐅 and “potential-quaternion” (i.e. four-potential) Φ[R 21]

C=ρ(ι+1c𝐩)=ιρdqdlC=D𝐅=ΦSDcC=0[D=l, DDc==2x2+2y2+2z2+2l2]

Kottler (1912)

w:Friedrich Kottler defined the four-current 𝐏(α) and its relation to four-velocity V(α), four-potential Φα, four-force Fα, electromagnetic field-tensor Fαβ, stress-energy tensor Sαβ:[R 22]

P(1)=ρ𝔳xc=iρ0V(1), P(2)=ρ𝔳yc=iρ0V(2), P(3)=ρ𝔳zc=iρ0V(3), P(4)=iρ=iρ0V(4)h=14Fghx(h)=𝐏(g), Φα=𝐏(α)Fα(y)=βFαβ(y)𝐏(β)(y)1𝔴2/c2[βFαβ(y)𝐏(β)(y)=βFαβ(y)γy(γ)Fβγ(y)=βy(β)Sαβ, ρ0=ρ1𝔳2/c2]

equivalent to (a,b,c,d) and subsequently was the first to give the generally covariant formulation of Maxwell's equations using metric tensor cαβ[R 23]

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

equivalent to (e).

Einstein (1913)

Independently of Kottler (1912), w:Albert Einstein defined the general covariant four-current in the context of his Entwurf theory (a precursor of general relativity):[R 24]

ϱ0dxνds=1gϱ0dxνdt

equivalent to (a), and the generally covariant formulation of Maxwell's equations

νxν(gφμν)=ϱ0dxμdtxyyz𝔈xt=ux𝔈xx+𝔈yz+𝔈xz=ϱ[ϱ0dxμdt=uμ]

equivalent to (e) in the case of gμν being the Minkowski tensor.

Historical sources

Template:Reflist

  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|bate10elec}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|born09elek}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|einst13ent}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|herg04pot}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|ignat10prin2}}
  • {{#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|lew10vec}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|lewis12non}}
  • {{#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|mink07b}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|poinc05a}}
  • {{#section:History of Topics in Special Relativity/relsource|poinc05b}}
  • {{#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}}


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