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Simultaneity, Convention, and Gauge Freedom

Rynasiewicz, Robert (2012) Simultaneity, Convention, and Gauge Freedom. [Preprint]

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    Abstract

    As is well known from Einstein (1905) the choice of a criterion for distant simultaneity is equivalent to stipulating one-way speeds for the transit of light. It is shown that any choice of non-standard synchrony is equivalent to a Lorentz local time boost. From this and considerations from the hole argument, it follows that there is a non-trivial sense in which distant simultaneity is conventional, at least to the extent that the “gauge freedom” arising in the hole argument is non-trivial.

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    Item Type: Preprint
    Keywords: simultaneity, convention, special relativity, gauge freedom, hole argument
    Subjects: General Issues > Conventionalism
    Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
    Depositing User: Robert Rynasiewicz
    Date Deposited: 08 Mar 2012 16:06
    Last Modified: 08 Mar 2012 16:06
    Item ID: 9047
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9047

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