Nonlinear relativity and the quantum ether

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Int. J. Fusion Energy; (United States)

OSTI ID:6363813

Winterberg, F

The orthodox approach to relativistic quantum field theory axiomatically postulates Lorentz invariance, followed by the axioms of quantum mechanics. Departing from this approach we have designed a heuristic procedure by which the Lorentz transformations follow from the interactions characterized by the quantum mechanical commutation rules, rather than being postulated a priori. The most general operator representation of the quantum mechanical commutation rules that involve a length constant, have in the past been rejected on the ground that they violate Lorentz invariance. We therefore have applied our heuristic principle to derive the corresponding transformation equations that take into account the length constant appearing in this most general representation. We find a nonlinear generalization of the Lorentz transformations, departing from special relativity at very high energies and establishing the observable existence of a substratum (ether). The principle that the velocity of light is the same in all reference system still holds, but the theory gives a finite zero point vacuum energy. Furthermore, a non-Lorentz invariant behavior of cross sections at very high energy is predicted. In the limiting case where the length constant is set equal to zero, the zero point energy diverges and special relativity is recovered. The theory satisfies the philosophical principle by Leibniz, that the space-time structure should be determined from the interactions instead of being postulated a priori.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Nevada System, Reno
• OSTI ID: 6363813
• Journal Information: Int. J. Fusion Energy; (United States), Vol. 3:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
LORENTZ INVARIANCE
RELATIVITY THEORY
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
COMMUTATION RELATIONS
LORENTZ TRANSFORMATIONS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
SPACE-TIME
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
MECHANICS
TRANSFORMATIONS
645400* - High Energy Physics- Field Theory
657003 - Theoretical & Mathematical Physics- Relativity & Gravitation