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Minkowski spacetime does not apply to a homogeneously accelerating medium
Author(s) -
Brian Coleman
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
results in physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 56
ISSN - 2211-3797
DOI - 10.1016/j.rinp.2016.01.001
Subject(s) - minkowski space , inertial frame of reference , acceleration , spacetime , classical mechanics , physics , rocket (weapon) , theoretical physics , mathematical physics , aerospace engineering , quantum mechanics , engineering
Home and comoving inertial frame parameters of an individual point of an idealized medium of launch length L uniformly co-accelerating between identical fixed-thrust rockets, are well known. This is not the case with the varying inter-rocket radar periods and related implications regarding a changing ‘noninertial own-length’ Λ which differs from a front rocket’s retrospective separation L from the simultaneously relatively moving rear rocket. On the other hand, the nonhomogeneous acceleration case involving every comoving frame’s unchanging perception of a contrived ‘rigor mortis’ medium (so-called ‘rigid motion’ traditionally associated with ‘Rindler coordinates’) whereby Λ=L=L, constitutes the sole extended accelerating medium scenario where the entrenched Minkowski metric is actually applicable. Paraphrasing Wolfgang Pauli, not only is Minkowski spacetime not correct [in the general sense], it is not even wrong [in the restricted sense]

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