Gravitoelectromagnetism

Last updated

Diagram regarding the confirmation of gravitomagnetism by Gravity Probe B Gravity Probe B Confirms the Existence of Gravitomagnetism-en.jpg
Diagram regarding the confirmation of gravitomagnetism by Gravity Probe B

Gravitoelectromagnetism, abbreviated GEM, refers to a set of formal analogies between the equations for electromagnetism and relativistic gravitation; specifically: between Maxwell's field equations and an approximation, valid under certain conditions, to the Einstein field equations for general relativity. Gravitomagnetism is a widely used term referring specifically to the kinetic effects of gravity, in analogy to the magnetic effects of moving electric charge. [1] The most common version of GEM is valid only far from isolated sources, and for slowly moving test particles.

Contents

The analogy and equations differing only by some small factors were first published in 1893, before general relativity, by Oliver Heaviside as a separate theory expanding Newton's law. [2] [ better source needed ]

Background

This approximate reformulation of gravitation as described by general relativity in the weak field limit makes an apparent field appear in a frame of reference different from that of a freely moving inertial body. This apparent field may be described by two components that act respectively like the electric and magnetic fields of electromagnetism, and by analogy these are called the gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic fields, since these arise in the same way around a mass that a moving electric charge is the source of electric and magnetic fields. The main consequence of the gravitomagnetic field, or velocity-dependent acceleration, is that a moving object near a massive, non-axisymmetric, rotating object will experience acceleration not predicted by a purely Newtonian (gravitoelectric) gravity field. More subtle predictions, such as induced rotation of a falling object and precession of a spinning object are among the last basic predictions of general relativity to be directly tested.

Indirect validations of gravitomagnetic effects have been derived from analyses of relativistic jets. Roger Penrose had proposed a mechanism that relies on frame-dragging-related effects for extracting energy and momentum from rotating black holes. [3] Reva Kay Williams, University of Florida, developed a rigorous proof that validated Penrose's mechanism. [4] Her model showed how the Lense–Thirring effect could account for the observed high energies and luminosities of quasars and active galactic nuclei; the collimated jets about their polar axis; and the asymmetrical jets (relative to the orbital plane). [5] [6] All of those observed properties could be explained in terms of gravitomagnetic effects. [7] Williams' application of Penrose's mechanism can be applied to black holes of any size. [8] Relativistic jets can serve as the largest and brightest form of validations for gravitomagnetism.

A group at Stanford University is currently[ when? ] analyzing data from the first direct test of GEM, the Gravity Probe B satellite experiment, to see whether they are consistent with gravitomagnetism. [9] The Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation also plans to observe gravitomagnetism effects.[ citation needed ]

Equations

According to general relativity, the gravitational field produced by a rotating object (or any rotating mass–energy) can, in a particular limiting case, be described by equations that have the same form as in classical electromagnetism. Starting from the basic equation of general relativity, the Einstein field equation, and assuming a weak gravitational field or reasonably flat spacetime, the gravitational analogs to Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism, called the "GEM equations", can be derived. GEM equations compared to Maxwell's equations are: [11] [12]

GEM equationsMaxwell's equations

where:


Potentials

Faraday's law of induction (third line of the table) and the Gaussian law for the gravitomagnetic field (second line of the table) can be solved by the definition of a gravitation potential and the vector potential according to:

and:

Inserting this four potentials into the Gaussian law for the gravitaion field (first line of the table) and Ampère's circuital law (fourth line of the table) and applying the Lorenz gauge the following inhomogeneous wave-equations are obtained:

For a stationary situation () the Poisson equation of the classical gravitation theory is obtained. In a vacuum () a wave equation is obtained under non-stationary conditions. GEM therefore predicts the existence of gravitational waves. In this way GEM can be regarded as a generalization of Newton's gravitation theory.

The wave equation for the gravitomagnetic potential can also be solved for a rotating spherical body (which is actually a stationary case) leading to gravitomagnetic moments.

Lorentz force

For a test particle whose mass m is "small", in a stationary system, the net (Lorentz) force acting on it due to a GEM field is described by the following GEM analog to the Lorentz force equation:

GEM equationEM equation

where:

Poynting vector

The GEM Poynting vector compared to the electromagnetic Poynting vector is given by: [13]

GEM equationEM equation

Scaling of fields

The literature does not adopt a consistent scaling for the gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic fields, making comparison tricky. For example, to obtain agreement with Mashhoon's writings, all instances of Bg in the GEM equations must be multiplied by −1/2c and Eg by −1. These factors variously modify the analogues of the equations for the Lorentz force. There is no scaling choice that allows all the GEM and EM equations to be perfectly analogous. The discrepancy in the factors arises because the source of the gravitational field is the second order stress–energy tensor, as opposed to the source of the electromagnetic field being the first order four-current tensor. This difference becomes clearer when one compares non-invariance of relativistic mass to electric charge invariance. This can be traced back to the spin-2 character of the gravitational field, in contrast to the electromagnetism being a spin-1 field. [14] (See Relativistic wave equations for more on "spin-1" and "spin-2" fields).

Higher-order effects

Some higher-order gravitomagnetic effects can reproduce effects reminiscent of the interactions of more conventional polarized charges. For instance, if two wheels are spun on a common axis, the mutual gravitational attraction between the two wheels will be greater if they spin in opposite directions than in the same direction[ citation needed ]. This can be expressed as an attractive or repulsive gravitomagnetic component.

Gravitomagnetic arguments also predict that a flexible or fluid toroidal mass undergoing minor axis rotational acceleration (accelerating "smoke ring" rotation) will tend to pull matter through the throat (a case of rotational frame dragging, acting through the throat). In theory, this configuration might be used for accelerating objects (through the throat) without such objects experiencing any g-forces. [15]

Consider a toroidal mass with two degrees of rotation (both major axis and minor-axis spin, both turning inside out and revolving). This represents a "special case" in which gravitomagnetic effects generate a chiral corkscrew-like gravitational field around the object. The reaction forces to dragging at the inner and outer equators would normally be expected to be equal and opposite in magnitude and direction respectively in the simpler case involving only minor-axis spin. When both rotations are applied simultaneously, these two sets of reaction forces can be said to occur at different depths in a radial Coriolis field that extends across the rotating torus, making it more difficult to establish that cancellation is complete.[ citation needed ]

Modelling this complex behaviour as a curved spacetime problem has yet to be done and is believed to be very difficult.[ citation needed ]

Gravitomagnetic fields of astronomical objects

A rotating spherical body with a homogeneous density distribution produces a stationary gravitomagnetic potential which is described by:

Due to the body's angular velocity the velocity inside the body can be described as . Therefore

has to be solved to obtain the gravitomagnetic potential . The analytical solution outside of the body is (see for example [16] ):

where:

The formula for the gravitomagnetic field Bg can now be obtained by:

It is exactly half of the Lense–Thirring precession rate. At the equatorial plane, r and L are perpendicular, so their dot product vanishes, and this formula reduces to:


Gravitational waves have equal gravitomagnetic and gravitoelectric components. [17]

Earth

Therefore, the magnitude of Earth's gravitomagnetic field at its equator is:

where is Earth's gravity. The field direction coincides with the angular moment direction, i.e. north.

From this calculation it follows that Earth's equatorial gravitomagnetic field is about 1.012×10−14 Hz, [18] or 3.1×10−7  g/c . Such a field is extremely weak and requires extremely sensitive measurements to be detected. One experiment to measure such field was the Gravity Probe B mission.

Pulsar

If the preceding formula is used with the pulsar PSR J1748-2446ad (which rotates 716 times per second), assuming a radius of 16 km, and two solar masses, then

equals about 166 Hz. This would be easy to notice. However, the pulsar is spinning at a quarter of the speed of light at the equator, and its radius is only three times more than its Schwarzschild radius. When such fast motion and such strong gravitational fields exist in a system, the simplified approach of separating gravitomagnetic and gravitoelectric forces can be applied only as a very rough approximation.

Lack of invariance

While Maxwell's equations are invariant under Lorentz transformations, the GEM equations are not. The fact that ρg and jg do not form a four-vector (instead they are merely a part of the stress–energy tensor) is the basis of this difference.[ citation needed ]

Although GEM may hold approximately in two different reference frames connected by a Lorentz boost, there is no way to calculate the GEM variables of one such frame from the GEM variables of the other, unlike the situation with the variables of electromagnetism. Indeed, their predictions (about what motion is free fall) will probably conflict with each other.

Note that the GEM equations are invariant under translations and spatial rotations, just not under boosts and more general curvilinear transformations. Maxwell's equations can be formulated in a way that makes them invariant under all of these coordinate transformations.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General relativity</span> Theory of gravitation as curved spacetime

General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics. General relativity generalizes special relativity and refines Newton's law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time or four-dimensional spacetime. In particular, the curvature of spacetime is directly related to the energy and momentum of whatever matter and radiation are present. The relation is specified by the Einstein field equations, a system of second order partial differential equations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quantum gravity</span> Description of gravity using discrete values

Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics. It deals with environments in which neither gravitational nor quantum effects can be ignored, such as in the vicinity of black holes or similar compact astrophysical objects, such as neutron stars as well as in the early stages of the universe moments after the Big Bang.

In particle physics, the hypothetical dilaton particle is a particle of a scalar field that appears in theories with extra dimensions when the volume of the compactified dimensions varies. It appears as a radion in Kaluza–Klein theory's compactifications of extra dimensions. In Brans–Dicke theory of gravity, Newton's constant is not presumed to be constant but instead 1/G is replaced by a scalar field and the associated particle is the dilaton.

In theoretical physics, the Einstein–Cartan theory, also known as the Einstein–Cartan–Sciama–Kibble theory, is a classical theory of gravitation one of several alternatives to general relativity. The theory was first proposed by Élie Cartan in 1922.

In physics, the Brans–Dicke theory of gravitation is a competitor to Einstein's general theory of relativity. It is an example of a scalar–tensor theory, a gravitational theory in which the gravitational interaction is mediated by a scalar field as well as the tensor field of general relativity. The gravitational constant is not presumed to be constant but instead is replaced by a scalar field which can vary from place to place and with time.

The Shapiro time delay effect, or gravitational time delay effect, is one of the four classic Solar System tests of general relativity. Radar signals passing near a massive object take slightly longer to travel to a target and longer to return than they would if the mass of the object were not present. The time delay is caused by time dilation, which increases the time it takes light to travel a given distance from the perspective of an outside observer. In a 1964 article entitled Fourth Test of General Relativity, Irwin Shapiro wrote:

Because, according to the general theory, the speed of a light wave depends on the strength of the gravitational potential along its path, these time delays should thereby be increased by almost 2×10−4 sec when the radar pulses pass near the sun. Such a change, equivalent to 60 km in distance, could now be measured over the required path length to within about 5 to 10% with presently obtainable equipment.

A classical field theory is a physical theory that predicts how one or more fields in physics interact with matter through field equations, without considering effects of quantization; theories that incorporate quantum mechanics are called quantum field theories. In most contexts, 'classical field theory' is specifically intended to describe electromagnetism and gravitation, two of the fundamental forces of nature.

The Schrödinger–Newton equation, sometimes referred to as the Newton–Schrödinger or Schrödinger–Poisson equation, is a nonlinear modification of the Schrödinger equation with a Newtonian gravitational potential, where the gravitational potential emerges from the treatment of the wave function as a mass density, including a term that represents interaction of a particle with its own gravitational field. The inclusion of a self-interaction term represents a fundamental alteration of quantum mechanics. It can be written either as a single integro-differential equation or as a coupled system of a Schrödinger and a Poisson equation. In the latter case it is also referred to in the plural form.

Scalar theories of gravitation are field theories of gravitation in which the gravitational field is described using a scalar field, which is required to satisfy some field equation.

In theoretical physics, particularly fringe physics, polarizable vacuum (PV) and its associated theory refers to proposals by Harold Puthoff, Robert H. Dicke, and others to develop an analogue of general relativity to describe gravity and its relationship to electromagnetism.

The two-body problem in general relativity is the determination of the motion and gravitational field of two bodies as described by the field equations of general relativity. Solving the Kepler problem is essential to calculate the bending of light by gravity and the motion of a planet orbiting its sun. Solutions are also used to describe the motion of binary stars around each other, and estimate their gradual loss of energy through gravitational radiation.

In general relativity, Lense–Thirring precession or the Lense–Thirring effect is a relativistic correction to the precession of a gyroscope near a large rotating mass such as the Earth. It is a gravitomagnetic frame-dragging effect. It is a prediction of general relativity consisting of secular precessions of the longitude of the ascending node and the argument of pericenter of a test particle freely orbiting a central spinning mass endowed with angular momentum .

In classical theories of gravitation, the changes in a gravitational field propagate. A change in the distribution of energy and momentum of matter results in subsequent alteration, at a distance, of the gravitational field which it produces. In the relativistic sense, the "speed of gravity" refers to the speed of a gravitational wave, which, as predicted by general relativity and confirmed by observation of the GW170817 neutron star merger, is equal to the speed of light (c).

In physics, the gravitomagnetic clock effect is a deviation from Kepler's third law that, according to the weak-field and slow-motion approximation of general relativity, will be suffered by a particle in orbit around a (slowly) spinning body, such as a typical planet or star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Entropic gravity</span> Theory in modern physics that describes gravity as an entropic force

Entropic gravity, also known as emergent gravity, is a theory in modern physics that describes gravity as an entropic force—a force with macro-scale homogeneity but which is subject to quantum-level disorder—and not a fundamental interaction. The theory, based on string theory, black hole physics, and quantum information theory, describes gravity as an emergent phenomenon that springs from the quantum entanglement of small bits of spacetime information. As such, entropic gravity is said to abide by the second law of thermodynamics under which the entropy of a physical system tends to increase over time.

Frame-dragging is an effect on spacetime, predicted by Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, that is due to non-static stationary distributions of mass–energy. A stationary field is one that is in a steady state, but the masses causing that field may be non-static ⁠— rotating, for instance. More generally, the subject that deals with the effects caused by mass–energy currents is known as gravitoelectromagnetism, which is analogous to the magnetism of classical electromagnetism.

In particle physics and physical cosmology, Planck units are a system of units of measurement defined exclusively in terms of four universal physical constants: c, G, ħ, and kB. Expressing one of these physical constants in terms of Planck units yields a numerical value of 1. They are a system of natural units, defined using fundamental properties of nature rather than properties of a chosen prototype object. Originally proposed in 1899 by German physicist Max Planck, they are relevant in research on unified theories such as quantum gravity.

In general relativity, the Hamilton–Jacobi–Einstein equation (HJEE) or Einstein–Hamilton–Jacobi equation (EHJE) is an equation in the Hamiltonian formulation of geometrodynamics in superspace, cast in the "geometrodynamics era" around the 1960s, by Asher Peres in 1962 and others. It is an attempt to reformulate general relativity in such a way that it resembles quantum theory within a semiclassical approximation, much like the correspondence between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics.

In physics, specifically general relativity, the Mathisson–Papapetrou–Dixon equations describe the motion of a massive spinning body moving in a gravitational field. Other equations with similar names and mathematical forms are the Mathisson–Papapetrou equations and Papapetrou–Dixon equations. All three sets of equations describe the same physics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dual graviton</span> Hypothetical particle found in supergravity

In theoretical physics, the dual graviton is a hypothetical elementary particle that is a dual of the graviton under electric-magnetic duality, as an S-duality, predicted by some formulations of supergravity in eleven dimensions.

References

  1. David Delphenich (2015). "Pre-metric electromagnetism as a path to unification". Unified Field Mechanics: Natural Science Beyond the Veil of Spacetime, Morgan State University, USA, 16–19 November 2014: 215–220. arXiv: 1512.05183 . doi:10.1142/9789814719063_0023. ISBN   978-981-4719-05-6. S2CID   118596433.
  2. O. Heaviside (1893). Electromagnetic Theory: A Gravitational and Electromagnetic Analogy. Vol. 1. The Electrician. pp. 455–464.
  3. R. Penrose (1969). "Gravitational collapse: The role of general relativity". Rivista del Nuovo Cimento. Numero Speciale 1: 252–276. Bibcode:1969NCimR...1..252P.
  4. R.K. Williams (1995). "Extracting x rays, Ύ rays, and relativistic ee+ pairs from supermassive Kerr black holes using the Penrose mechanism". Physical Review. 51 (10): 5387–5427. Bibcode:1995PhRvD..51.5387W. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.51.5387. PMID   10018300.
  5. R.K. Williams (2004). "Collimated escaping vortical polar ee+ jets intrinsically produced by rotating black holes and Penrose processes". The Astrophysical Journal. 611 (2): 952–963. arXiv: astro-ph/0404135 . Bibcode:2004ApJ...611..952W. doi:10.1086/422304. S2CID   1350543.
  6. Danehkar, A. (2020). "Gravitational fields of the magnetic-type". International Journal of Modern Physics D . 29 (14): 2043001. arXiv: 2006.13287 . Bibcode:2020IJMPD..2943001D. doi: 10.1142/S0218271820430014 .
  7. R.K. Williams (2005). "Gravitomagnetic field and Penrose scattering processes". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Vol. 1045. pp. 232–245.
  8. R.K. Williams (2001). "Collimated energy–momentum extraction from rotating black holes in quasars and microquasars using the Penrose mechanism". AIP Conference Proceedings. Vol. 586. pp. 448–453. arXiv: astro-ph/0111161 . Bibcode:2001AIPC..586..448W. doi:10.1063/1.1419591.
  9. Gravitomagnetism in Quantum Mechanics, 2014 https://www.slac.stanford.edu/pubs/slacpubs/14750/slac-pub-14775.pdf
  10. Gravitation and Inertia, I. Ciufolini and J.A. Wheeler, Princeton Physics Series, 1995, ISBN   0-691-03323-4
  11. B. Mashhoon; F. Gronwald; H.I.M. Lichtenegger (2001). "Gravitomagnetism and the Clock Effect". Gyros, Clocks, Interferometers...: Testing Relativistic Graviy in Space. Lecture Notes in Physics. Vol. 562. pp. 83–108. arXiv: gr-qc/9912027 . Bibcode:2001LNP...562...83M. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.340.8408 . doi:10.1007/3-540-40988-2_5. ISBN   978-3-540-41236-6. S2CID   32411999.{{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  12. S.J. Clark; R.W. Tucker (2000). "Gauge symmetry and gravito-electromagnetism". Classical and Quantum Gravity. 17 (19): 4125–4157. arXiv: gr-qc/0003115 . Bibcode:2000CQGra..17.4125C. doi:10.1088/0264-9381/17/19/311. S2CID   15724290.
  13. B. Mashhoon (2008). "Gravitoelectromagnetism: A Brief Review". arXiv: gr-qc/0311030 .
  14. B. Mashhoon (2000). "Gravitoelectromagnetism". Reference Frames and Gravitomagnetism – Proceedings of the XXIII Spanish Relativity Meeting. pp. 121–132. arXiv: gr-qc/0011014 . Bibcode:2001rfg..conf..121M. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.339.476 . doi:10.1142/9789812810021_0009. ISBN   978-981-02-4631-0. S2CID   263798773.{{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  15. R.L. Forward (1963). "Guidelines to Antigravity". American Journal of Physics. 31 (3): 166–170. Bibcode:1963AmJPh..31..166F. doi:10.1119/1.1969340.
  16. A. Malcherek (2023). Elektromagnetismus und Gravitation (2. ed.). Springer-Vieweg. ISBN   978-3-658-42701-6.
  17. Pfister, Herbert, 1936-; King, Markus (24 February 2015). Inertia and gravitation : the fundamental nature and structure of space–time. Cham: Springer. p. 147. ISBN   978-3-319-15036-9. OCLC   904397831.
  18. "2*pi*radius of Earth*earth gravity/(5*c^2*day) – Google Search". google.com.

Further reading

Books

Papers