Summary
The relevance of the sign of mass in general relativity is examined by analysing a simple model universe in which Dirac matter distributes uniformly. Mass reversal, converting a source of positive matter into one of negative matter, gives rise to a concomitant change in sign of the gravitational coupling. The principle of equivalence is invoked in order to generalize the result to all negative-matter sources. The admissibility of a Dirac source in general relativity implies that the sign of mass is irrelevant in gravitational interactions.
Riassunto
Si esamina l’importanza del segno della massa in relatività generale analizzando un semplice modello di universo in cui la materia di Dirac si distribuisce uniformemente. L’inversione di massa, convertendo una sorgente di materia positiva in una di materia negativa, dà origine ad una variazione concomitante del segno dell’accoppiamento gravitazionale. Si invoca il principio di equivalenza per generalizzare il risultato a tutte le sorgenti di materia negativa. L’ammissibilità di una sorgente di Dirac nella relatività generale implica che il segno della massa è irrilevante nelle interazioni gravitazionali.
Реэюме
Исследуется уместность энака массы в обшей теории относительности, посредством аналиэа простой модельной Вселенной, в которой вешество Дирака распределено неоднородно. Иэменение энака массы, путем преобраэования источника положительного вешества в источник отрицательного вешества, приводит к сопутствуюшему иэменению энака гравитационной константы свяэи. Испольэуется принцип зквивалентности для того, чтобы обобшить реэультат для всех отрицательных источников вешества. Приемлемость дираковского источника в обшей теории относительности оэначает, что энак массы является неуместным в гравитационных вэаимодействиях.
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Supported in part by the United States National Science Fundation. A preliminary account of this work was given inBull. Am. Phys. Soc.,13, 662 (1968).
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Inomata, A., Peak, D. Gravitational coupling of negative matter. Nuovo Cimento B (1965-1970) 63, 132–142 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02711049
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02711049