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Gravitation and electromagnetism

Journal Article · · Found. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00711492· OSTI ID:7109418

We obtain a general relativistic unification of gravitation and electromagnetism by simply (1) restricting the metric so that it admits an orthonormal tetrad representation in which the spacelike vectors are curl-free, and (2) identifying the timelike vector as the potential for an electromagnetic field whose only sources are singularites. It follows that: (A) The energy density is everywhere nonnegative, (B) the space is flat if and only if the electromagnetic field vanishes, (C) the vector potential (through which all curvature enters) admits no invariant algebraic decomposition, and satisfies the covariant Lorentz condition identically, (D) the theory is free of ''prior geometry,'' (E) the electromagnetic self-energy of a spherically symmetric point charge equals MC/sup 2/, (F) particles deviate from geodesic motion according to the Lorentz force law with radiative reaction, and (G) particles with all electromagnetic multipole structures are included.

Research Organization:
North Georgia College, Dahlonega, Georgia
OSTI ID:
7109418
Journal Information:
Found. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Found. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 7:5; ISSN FNDPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English