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Augusto Espinoza

Publications and source records attributed to Augusto Espinoza.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

The pedagogical value of the four-dimensional picture III: Solutions to Maxwell's equations

We outline a regular way for solving Maxwell's equations. We take, as the starting point, the notion of vector potentials. The rationale for introducing this notion in electrodynamics is that the set of Maxwell's equations is seemingly overdetermined. We demonstrate the existence of two fundamental solutions to Maxwell's equations whose linear combinations comprise the whole variety of classical electromagnetic field configurations.

physics.class-ph

The origin of the energy-momentum conservation law

The interplay between the action-reaction principle and the energy-momentum conservation law is revealed by the examples of the Maxwell-Lorentz and Yang-Mills-Wong theories, and general relativity. These two statements are shown to be equivalent in the sense that both hold or fail together. Their mutual agreement is demonstrated most clearly in the self-interaction problem by taking account of the rearrangement of degrees of freedom appearing in the action of the Maxwell-Lorentz and Yang-Mills-Wong theories. The failure of energy-momentum conservation in general relativity is attributed to the fact that this theory allows solutions having nontrivial topologies. The total energy and momentum of a system with nontrivial topological content is found to be ambiguous, coordintization-dependent quantities. For example, the energy of a Schwarzschild black hole may take any positive value greater than, or equal to, the mass of the body whose collapse is responsible for arising this black hole. We draw the analogy to the paradoxial Banach-Tarski theorem; the measure becomes a poorly defined concept if initial three-dimensional bounded sets are rearranged in topologically nontrivial ways through the action of free non-Abelian isometry groups.

hep-th

No-go theorem for the classical Maxwell-Lorentz electrodynamics in odd-dimensional worlds

If the conventional Maxwell--Lorentz formulation of classical electrodynamics is adopted in a flat spacetime of arbitrary odd dimension, then the retarded vector potential $A^μ$ generated by a point charge turns out to be pure gauge, $A^μ=\partial^μχ$. By Gauss' law, the charge shows up as zero. The classical electromagnetic coupling is thus missing from odd-dimensional worlds. If the action is augmented by the addition of the Chern--Simons term, then the classical interaction picture in the three-dimensional world becomes nontrivial.

hep-th

Inertial frames of reference, space and time measurements, and physical principles of special relativity revisited

We give a critical analysis of the conceptual foundations of special relativity. We formulate a simple operational criterion for distinguishing between noninertial and inertial frames which is introduced prior to geometry. We associate the concept of maximal velocity with the existence of an upper bound for a set of rates of movers which travel in the same direction. We define the standard scale for reading the time flow. We refine the treatment of both Einstein's postulates, the principle of relativity and constancy of the velocity of light. The proposed ``reconstruction'' of the geometry of Minkowski space will hopefully be useful for the ongoing examination of possible Lorentz violations.

gr-qc

Helmholtz theorem and the v-gauge in the problem of superluminal and instantaneous signals in classical electrodynamics

In this work we substantiate the applying of the Helmholtz vector decomposition theorem (H-theorem) to vector fields in classical electrodynamics. Using the H-theorem, within the framework of the two-parameter Lorentz-like gauge (so called v-gauge), we show that two kinds of magnetic vector potentials exist: one of them (solenoidal) can act exclusively with the velocity of light c and the other one (irrotational) with an arbitrary finite velocity $v$ (including a velocity more than c . We show also that the irrotational component of the electric field has a physical meaning and can propagate exclusively instantaneously.

physics.gen-ph

Unusual formations of the free electromagnetic field in vacuum

It is shown that there are exact solutions of the free Maxwell equations (FME) in vacuum allowing an existence of stable spherical formations of the free magnetic field and ring-like formations of the free electric field. It is detected that a form of these spheres and rings does not change with time in vacuum. It is shown that these convergent solutions are the result of an interference of some divergent solutions of FME. One can surmise that these electromagnetic formations correspond to Kapitsa's hypothesis about interference origin and a structure of fireball.

physics.gen-ph

Experimental test of the compatibility of the definitions of the electromagnetic energy density and the Poynting vector

It is shown that the generally accepted definition of the Poynting vector and the energy flux vector defined by means of the energy density of the electromagnetic field (Umov vector) lead to the prediction of the different results touching electromagnetic energy flux. The experiment shows that within the framework of the mentioned generally accepted definitions the Poynting vector adequately describes the electromagnetic energy flux unlike the Umov vector. Therefore one can conclude that a generally accepted definitions of the electromagnetic energy density and the Poynting vector, in general, are not always compatible.

physics.gen-ph

La aventura de la fisica

Con la intencion de realizar una pequena aportacion en la celebracion del ano 2005, proclamado como Ano Internacional de la Fisica, el cuerpo academico de Particulas, Campos y Astrofisica de la Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas presenta un pequeno esbozo de los trabajos realizados por Einstein en 1905, asi como un conjunto de ensayos sobre electrodinamica clasica, el grupo de Lorentz, neutrinos y relatividad general, todos estos relacionados con los temas de investigacion que realizamos. ----- The Astrophysics, Particles and Fields Unit of the Zacatecas University presents a brief essay of the Einstein historical works (1905) and a set of essays on modern development in the classical electrodynamics, the Lorentz group, neutrinos and the general relativity. The aim is to contribute to the special issue of the UAEM Journal, which is dedicated to the International Year of Physics. The corresponding topics of the article are related to the research work of the authors.

physics.ed-ph