Unified theory of gravitation and electromagnetism, based on the conformal group SO 4, 2
Abstract
A 'minimal' change in the four-dimensional theory of relativity is performed by extending the theory to six-dimensional conformal space (flat or curved) with a given metric tensor for which all components of the 6-vector are considered as independent physical degrees of freedom. All the basic equations of both special and general relativity in flat or curved six-dimensional conformal space are found to have the same form as the corresponding equations in four-dimensional space. A special feature of the extended theory (referred to as 'conformal relativity') is the introduction of a scalar degree of freedom (k), which may differ from unity and may vary along the world line of a particle. It is shown that the conformal theory of relativity reduces to the usual four-dimensional theory if k = 1 and that geodesics in curved six-dimensional conformal space correspond to the motion of electrically charged test particles in a gravitational field, an electromagnetic field, or both. It is noted that the Einstein equations generalized to six-dimensional conformal space constitute the field equations for the metric tensor; these equations describe both gravitational and electromagnetic fields simultaneously.
- Publication:
-
Nuovo Cimento B Serie
- Pub Date:
- October 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF02740893
- Bibcode:
- 1977NCimB..41..397P
- Keywords:
-
- Conformal Mapping;
- Electromagnetic Fields;
- Field Theory (Physics);
- Gravitation Theory;
- Relativity;
- Astrophysics;
- Einstein Equations;
- Energy Conservation;
- Equations Of Motion;
- Light Speed;
- Momentum Theory;
- Scale (Ratio);
- Stretching;
- Astrophysics