Classical Electrodynamics and Theory of Relativity

In this paper we give a review of the most general approach to description of reference frames, the monad formalism. This approach is explicitly general covariant at each step, permitting to use abstract representation of tensor quantities; it is applicable also to special relativity when non-inertial effects are considered in its context; moreover, it involves no hypotheses whatsoever thus being a completely natural one. For the sake of the reader's convenience, a synopsis o...

A review of selected topics in mathematical general relativity

This book is a textbook for the basic course of differential geometry. It is recommended as an introductory material for this subject.

In this paper we present the formulation of relativistic electrodynamics (independent of the reference frame and of the chosen system of coordinates in it) that uses the Faraday bivector field F. This formulation with F field is a self-contained, complete and consistent formulation that dispenses with either electric and magnetic fields or the electromagnetic potentials. All physical quantities are defined without reference frames or, when some basis is introduced, every quan...

The space-time of modern physics is tailored on light. We rigorously construct the basic entities needed by kinematics: geometry of the physical space and time, using as tool electromagnetic waves, and particularly light-rays. After such a mathematically orthodox construction, the special theory of relativity will result naturally. One will clearly understand and easily accept all those puzzling consequences that makes presently the special theory of relativity hard to digest...

A modern elementary introduction to special relativity for advanced school children or first-year university students, in Russian. I try to demonstrate that relativity does not contradict common sense; on the contrary, it follows from common sense logically. I discuss Minkowski space-time geometry in some detail. Geometrical approach, with few simple formulas but many pictures, makes results of the theory intuitively obvious.

It is shown that Electromagnetism creates geometry different from Riemannian geometry. General geometry including Riemannian geometry as a special case is constructed. It is proven that the most simplest special case of General Geometry is geometry underlying Electromagnetism. Action for electromagnetic field and Maxwell equations are derived from curvature function of geometry underlying Electromagnetism. And it is shown that equation of motion for a particle interacting wit...

Einstein's general relativity is the best available theory of gravity. In recent years, spectacular proofs of Einstein's theory have been conducted, which have aroused interest that goes far beyond the narrow circle of specialists. The aim of this work is to offer an elementary introduction to general relativity. In this first part, we introduce the geometric concepts that constitute the basis of Einstein's theory. In the second part we will use these concepts to explore the ...

The fallacies associated with the gauge concept in electromagnetism are illustrated. A clearer and more valid formulation of the basics of classical electromagnetism is provided by recognizing existing physical constraints as well as the physical reality of the vector potential.

The transformation rules for the basic electrodynamical quantities are routinely derived from the hypothesis that the relativity principle (RP) applies for Maxwell's electrodynamics. These derivations leave open several questions: (1) Is the RP a true law of nature for electrodynamical phenomena? (2) Are, at least, the transformation rules of the fundamental electrodynamical quantities, derived from the RP, true? (3) Is the RP consistent with the laws of electrodynamics in on...