Borotschnig, Hermann (2025) From Mollusk to Swarms of Observers: A Fully General, Observer-Based Operational Framework for General Relativity. [Preprint]
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Abstract
A physically realizable, philosophically grounded, and pedagogically motivated construction of reference frames in general relativity is presented—one that fully captures the coordinate freedoms inherent in general covariance. Inspired by Einstein’s original ‘reference mollusk’—a physically intuitive but limited operationalization of a deformable coordinate system—this work presents a covariant, observer-based generalization that removes structural constraints such as spatial foliations. In this framework, a swarm of arbitrarily moving local observers assigns coordinates to nearby spacetime events using four independently and arbitrarily running clocks per observer. Freely programmable and unconstrained by synchronization or alignment, these clock readings can reproduce any mathematically admissible coordinate chart. At the same time, their evolving readings serve as operational labels for events, providing a fully local and physical basis for spacetime coordinate assignment. The resulting construction yields a smooth and physically transparent generalization of reference frames from special relativity to curved spacetimes—retaining their operational character without compromising general covariance. It further provides an intuitive bridge to standard practices in cosmology and numerical relativity, where coordinate freedom appears as gauge choice. Beyond offering a concrete realization of operationalism in general relativity, this framework also serves as a pedagogically powerful model—bridging conceptual foundations with intuitive accessibility.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Keywords: | General covariance; Operationalism; Reference frames; Observer-based coordinates; Philosophy of spacetime; Measurement in relativity; Diffeomorphism invariance | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Operationalism/Instrumentalism Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory/Observation |
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| Depositing User: | Hermann Borotschnig | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 27 May 2025 12:33 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 27 May 2025 12:33 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 25464 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Operationalism/Instrumentalism Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory/Observation |
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| Date: | 26 May 2025 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25464 |
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