Summary
An attempt is made to solve Maxwell equations in a Riemannian space subjected toR ik = Agik: It is shown that the equation of motion for an electromagnetic wave-packet is similar to that of a particle (photon) having rest mass (ℏ\(\sqrt \Lambda /c\)) We then deal with the equationR ik =Ag ik itself, and seek for a solution having the form of gravitational waves. It is found that, if such waves can carry quanta of energy, then the rest mass of an elementary wave packet (a graviton) is (ℏ\(\sqrt { - 2\Lambda } /c\)). It may therefore be concluded thatA cannot be negative, and if gravitons do exist, it can also not be positive. It is therefore necessarily zero, and the rest masses of photons and gravitons are also null.
Riassunto
Cerchiamo una soluzione delle equazioni di Maxwell in uno spazio Riemanmanoper il casoR ik =Λg ik . Dimostriamo che l’equazióne del moto di un pacchetto d’onde elettromagnetiche è simile a quella di una particella (fotone) con massa a riposo ℏ\(\sqrt \Lambda /c\) Trattiamo poi l’equazioneR ik =Λg ik e oerchiamo una soluzione in forma d’onde gravitazionali. Si trova che, se tali onde possono trasportare quanti di energia, la massa a, riposo di un pacchetto d’onde elementare (gravitone) è ℏ\(\sqrt { - 2\Lambda } /c\). Si può pertanto concludere cheA non può essere negativo e che, se i gravitoni esistono, non può neanche essere positivo. È pertanto necessariamente zero e le masse a riposo dei fotoni e dei gravitoni sono a loro volta nulle.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A less rigorous derivation of the same result has been given by the author in Compt.Rend.,239, 1023 (1954).
we shall follow TolmanRelativity, Thermodynamics and Cosmology (Oxford, 1934)
Cfr. Einstein:The Meaning of Relativity (Princeton, 1953), p. 87.
cfr. de Broglie:Théorie générale des particules à spin (Paris, 1954), p. 191
Cfr.Tolman:Relavity, Thermodynamics and Cosmology (Oxford, 1934), p. 474.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peres, A. Photons, gravitons and the cosmological constant. Nuovo Cim 8, 533–538 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02828766
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02828766