Shanahan, Daniel (2014) A Case for Lorentzian Relativity. Foundations of Physics, 44. pp. 349-367. ISSN 0015-9018

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Abstract

The Lorentz transformation (the LT) is explained by changes occurring in the wave characteristics of matter as it changes inertial frame. This explanation is akin to that favoured by Lorentz, but informed by later insights, due primarily to de Broglie, regarding the underlying unity of matter and radiation. To show the nature of these changes, a massive particle is modelled as a standing wave in three dimensions. As the particle moves, the standing wave becomes a travelling wave having two factors. One is a carrier wave displaying the dilated frequency and contracted ellipsoidal form described by the LT, while the other (identified as the de Broglie wave) is a modulation defining the dephasing of the carrier wave (and thus the failure of simultaneity) in the direction of travel. The superluminality of the de Broglie wave is thus explained, as are several other mysterious features of the optical behaviour of matter, including the physical meaning of the Schrödinger Eqn. and the relevance to scattering processes of the de Broglie wave number. Consideration is given to what this Lorentzian approach to relativity might mean for the possible existence of a preferred frame and the origin of the observed Minkowski metric.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Shanahan, Daniel danjune@bigpond.net.au
Keywords:	Special relativity ⋅ Lorentz Invariance ⋅ de Broglie wave ⋅ Matter wave ⋅ Schrödinger equation
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances General Issues > Thought Experiments
Depositing User:	Mr Daniel Shanahan
Date Deposited:	06 May 2014 13:01
Last Modified:	06 May 2014 13:01
Item ID:	10648
Journal or Publication Title:	Foundations of Physics
Publisher:	Springer
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10701-013-9765-x
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1007/s10701-013-9765-x
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances General Issues > Thought Experiments
Date:	2014
Page Range:	pp. 349-367
Volume:	44
ISSN:	0015-9018
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10648

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• A Case for Lorentzian Relativity. (deposited 20 Jan 2014 14:36)
  • A Case for Lorentzian Relativity. (deposited 06 May 2014 13:01) [Currently Displayed]

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