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Causality in Relativistic Multi-Particle Classical Dynamic Systems

Relativistic Classical Dynamics

  • Conference paper
Book cover Causality and Locality in Modern Physics

Part of the book series: Fundamental Theories of Physics ((FTPH,volume 97))

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Abstract

At the present time, the Fokker-Wheeler-Feynman theory of electrodynamics and its generalizations provide the only relativistic alternative to a non-relativistic Lagrangian based classical dynamics theory of multi-particle systems. This formulation has particle interchange and time reversal symmetries and the equations of motion are properly Lorentz covariant. However, these equations of motion contain a central time plus relatively advanced and retarded times for each particle. An insistence on a Newtonian interpretation of the various terms results in a non-causal interpretation of the theory for few particle systems. In order to test the validity of the above interpretation, two classes of double time delay systems are examined. First, a series of three model problems of increasing complexity are studied that have fixed retarded and advanced time delays. All of these models have exact closed form solutions, implying a causal interpretation in which the past both drives the system forward in time and defines an irreversible arrow of time. Second, the Fokker-Wheeler-Feynman theory of electrodynamics and its generalizations are re-examined and found to satisfy this alternate interpretation. It is concluded that these theories are the relativistic counterpart of the classical dynamics description of systems of point particles with fundamental interactions.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guelph-Waterloo Graduate Program in Physics, Waterloo Campus, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    R. A. Moore

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  1. R. A. Moore
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto, Canada

    Geoffrey Hunter

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, Canada

    Stanley Jeffers

  3. Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France

    Jean-Pierre Vigier

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Moore, R.A. (1998). Causality in Relativistic Multi-Particle Classical Dynamic Systems. In: Hunter, G., Jeffers, S., Vigier, JP. (eds) Causality and Locality in Modern Physics. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 97. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0990-3_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0990-3_33

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5092-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0990-3

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