Abstract
The axiomatic bases of Special Relativity Theory (SRT) are thoroughly re-examined from an operational point of view, with particular emphasis on the status of Einstein synchronization in the light of the possibility of arbitrary synchronization procedures in inertial reference frames. Once correctly and explicitly phrased, the principles of SRT allow for a wide range of “theories” that differ from the standard SRT only for the difference in the chosen synchronization procedures, but are wholly equivalent to SRT in predicting empirical facts. This results in the introduction, in the full background of SRT, of a suitable synchronization gauge. A complete hierarchy of synchronization gauges is introduced and elucidated, ranging from the useful Selleri synchronization gauge (which should lead, according to Selleri, to a multiplicity of theories alternative to SRT) to the more general Mansouri–Sexl synchronization gauge and, finally, to the even more general Anderson–Vetharaniam–Stedman’s synchronization gauge. It is showed that all these gauges do not challenge the SRT, as claimed by Selleri, but simply lead to a number of formalisms which leave the geometrical structure of Minkowski spacetime unchanged. Several aspects of fundamental and applied interest related to the conventional aspect of the synchronization choice are discussed, encompassing the issue of the one-way velocity of light in inertial and rotating reference frames, the global positioning system (GPS)’s working, and the recasting of Maxwell equations in generic synchronizations. Finally, it is showed how the gauge freedom introduced in SRT can be exploited in order to give a clear explanation of the Sagnac effect for counter-propagating matter beams.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. Einstein (1989) Collected Paper of A. Einstein. The Swiss Years: Writing 1900–1909, Vol. 2 Princeton University Press Princeton
A. Einstein (1952) Axiomatization of the Theory of Relativity Crown New York
H. Reichenbach (1969) Axiomatization of the Theory of Relativity University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles
A. Grünbaum (1973) Philosophical Problems of Space and Time, 2nd enlarged edn., in Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 12 D. Reidel Dordrecht/Boston
S. Bergia (2000) G. Fis. 41 13
A. Tartaglia in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G .Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
F. Sorge, in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G .Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
B. Ellis P. Bowman (1967) Philos. Sci. 34 116
D. Malament (1977) Noûs 11 293
M. Friedman (1983) Foundations of Spacetime Theories Princeton University Press Princeton
S. Bergia M. Valleriani (1998) G. Fis 39 199
Clifford M. Will, The Confrontation between General Relativity and Experiment, Living reviews http://relativity.livingreviews.org (2001).
M. Will Clifford (1992) Phys. Rev. D 45 403
R. Anderson I. Vetharaniam G. E. Stedman (1998) Phys. Rep. 295 93
F. Selleri (1997) G. Fis. 38 67
F. Selleri (1999) G. Fis. 40 19
F. Selleri (1998) La scienza e i vortici del dubbio Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane Napoli
F. Selleri, Found. Phys. Lett. 10, 73 (1997); F. Selleri in Open questions in Relativistic Physics, F. Selleri, ed. (Apeiron, Montreal, 1998).
G. Rizzi and A. Serafini, in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G .Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
R. Mansouri R. U. Sexl (1977) Gen. Rel. Grav. 8 497–515
S. Bergia M. Guidone (1997) Found. Phys. Lett. 10 73
G. Rizzi A. Serafini (2003) G. Fis. 44 3
C. Møller (1972) The Theory of Relativity Oxford University Press New Delhi
R. Resnick (1968) Introduction to Special Relativity Wiley Sons New York
W. Rindler (1982) Introduction to Special Relativity Clarendon Press Oxford
A. Einstein, Ann. Phys 17, 891 (1905). English translation: The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, J. Stachel, ed. (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1987).
H. Reichenbach (1957) The Philosophy of Space and Time Dover New York
C. Cattaneo (1958) Nuovo Cimento 10 318
C. Cattaneo (1961) Introduzione alla teoria einsteiniana della gravitazione Veschi Roma
Ø. Grøn (1979) Found. Phys. 9 353
A. Serafini, Problemi di sincronizzazione in Relativitá Ristretta e Generale: aspetti operativie convenzionali, Degree Thesis (Universitá di Pisa, Pisa, 2001).
F. Selleri, in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G .Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
H. A. Lorentz, Das Relativitätsprinzip, eine Sammlung von Abhandlungen (Teubner, Leipzig, 1913). English translation: The Principle of Relativity, the Collection of Original Memories (Meuthen, London, 1923).
F. Selleri, in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G .Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
G. Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G .Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics}, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
G. Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero eds., Relativity in Rotating Frames, in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
N. Ashby, in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G. Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
T. Van Flandern, in Open Questions in Relativistic Physics, F. Selleri, ed. (Apeiron, Montreal, 1998).
E. Bruni, Limiti sperimentali sulla velocità della luce su percorsi di sola andata, Degree Thesis (Università di Bologna, Bologna, 1998).
N. Ashby, in Proceedings of the 1993 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (1993).
E. J. Post (1967) Rev. Mod. Phys. 39 475
S. A. Werner et al. (1979) Phys. Rev. Lett 42 1103
G. Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero eds., Relativity in Rotating Frames, in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
R. D. Klauber, in Relativity in Rotating Frames, G .Rizzi and M. L. Ruggiero, eds., in the series Fundamental Theories of Physics, A. Van der Merwe, ed. (Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2004).
F. Selleri (1996) Found. Phys. 26 641
F. Selleri (1997) Found. Phys. Lett 10 73
L. D. Landau E. M. Lifshitz (1971) The Classical Theory of Fields Pergamon Press New York
E. Minguzzi (2003) Quart. Grav 20 2443
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rizzi, G., Ruggiero, M.L. & Serafini, A. Synchronization Gauges and the Principles of Special Relativity. Found Phys 34, 1835–1887 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-004-1624-3
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-004-1624-3