Summary
The standard approach to the representation of matter in the general theory of relativity is often justified by appeal to the generalrelativistic interpretation of Mach’s principle. The position of the latter is briefly reviewed and seen to be precarious. It is suggested that what is required in general relativity is a sourceless set of field equations for the components of the metric tensor, with Einstein’s equations now regarded as a definition of the matter tensor.
Riassunto
Spesso si giustifica il normale approccio alla rappresentazione della materia nella teoria delia relatività generale richiamandosi all’interpretazione del principio di Mach in relatività generale. Si riconsidera la posizione di quest’ultimo e si vede che essa è precaria. Si suggerisce che ciò che si richiede nella relatività generale è un’insieme di equazioni di campo senza sorgenti per le componenti del tensore metrico, mentre si considerano adesso le equazioni di Einstein corne definizioni del tensore della materia.
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At the time of writing with the Department of Theoretical Physics University of St. Andrews, Fife. Tragically dead in a car accident on August 17, 1972.
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Wynne, V.A., Derrick, G.H. The representation of matter in the general theory of relativity. Nuov Cim B 17, 122–128 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02906434
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02906434