Erwin Schroedinger's views on gravitational physics during his last years at the University of Vienna and some research ensuing from it
The author, who was Schroedinger's assistant during his last years in Vienna, gives an account of Schroedinger's views and activities during that time which lead him to a different approach to research on the relations between gravitation and quantum phenomena. Various features of past research are outlined in nontechnical terms. A heuristic argument is presented for the role of the zero-point energy of massive particles in counteracting gravitational collapse and the formation of horizons. Arguments are presented for the view that progress in describing extreme gravitational phenomena can be achieved by the new outlook obtained from the introduction of the analog of Maxwell's vacuum displacement term with a quasiconstant parameter, rather than from renormalization of special processes, even if this is successful. The results can be expected to be in accord with Schroedinger's conjectures. A physical interpretation for the change of sign of the differential invariant of Karlhede, Lindstroem, and Aman at the horizon is suggested. Some important historical details about Schroedinger are touched upon.
- Research Organization:
- Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5300125
- Journal Information:
- Found. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 17:11
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
GRAVITATION
SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL
COSMOLOGY
EINSTEIN-MAXWELL EQUATIONS
GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
GRAVITATIONAL RADIATION
QUANTIZATION
QUANTUM MECHANICS
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
SCHROEDINGER PICTURE
BASIC INTERACTIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
FIELD THEORIES
INTERACTIONS
MECHANICS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PERSONNEL
PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL
RADIATIONS
WAVE EQUATIONS
657003* - Theoretical & Mathematical Physics- Relativity & Gravitation
657002 - Theoretical & Mathematical Physics- Classical & Quantum Mechanics