Abstract
Within the context of the variational principle, there is the freedom to choose specific evolutional parameters. Different parameters can be associated with physical time, while allowing the physical laws to preserve the property of four-dimensional symmetry. In this sense, the concept of time has flexibility. Besides proper time and relativistic time, another natural choice emerges, which is called the generalized Galilean time. We study the impact of this choice here. This approach provides a deeper understanding of the theory of special relativity, and it also provides a new basis to study other space-time theories.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. P. Hsu,Found. Phys. 6, 317 (1976);8, 371 (1978);Nuovo Cimento B 74, 67 (1983);75, 185 (1983).
T. Chang,Found. Phys. 13, 1013 (1983).
C. Møller,The Theory of Relativity (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1972), Section 8.5.
H. P. Robertson and T. W. Noonan,Relativity and Cosmology (Saunders, Philadelphia, 1968), Section 3.12.
T. Chang,Physics A 70, 1 (1979).
R. Mansouri and R. V. Sexl,Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 8, 497 (1977).
J. Vargas,Found. Phys. 12, 889 (1982);14, 625 (1984).
D. G. Torr and T. Chang, “Tentative verification of Robertson's privileged ‘rest frame’ hypothesis,” Preprint (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
On leave from Shanghai University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chang, T. On the choice of evolutional parameter within a framework of four-dimensional symmetry. Found Phys 18, 651–658 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00734567
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00734567