Past exam of the symmetry and relativity course of the University of Oxford / 2015 / 2

Regard $f$ as a scalar field evaluated on a specified worldline $x^{\lambda }(\tau )$. The ordinary multivariable chain rule givesThis is the directional derivative along the four-velocity. With $x^0=ct$, it reads $df/d\tau =\gamma ({\partial }_{t}f+\mathbf{v}\cdot \nabla f)$. The spatial term is present because the worldline moves through the field; it would be lost by identifying a total derivative along the particle with a partial derivative at a fixed spatial position. For a scalar the contracted expression has the same value in all coordinate systems. For a tensor field the analogous covariant derivative also transports its indices.

Use $u^{\lambda }{u}_{\lambda }=-c^2$ and a constant Minkowski metric. Vary the velocity-dependent square root before imposing the proper-time normalization. Equivalently, vary a reparametrization-invariant worldline action first and then choose proper time. Its canonical covector momentum isThe coordinate derivative at fixed velocity is $\partial \mathcal{L}/\partial x^a=q{u}^{\lambda }{\partial }_a{A}_{\lambda }$. The Euler-Lagrange equation and the chain rule from a therefore giveDefine the antisymmetric field tensor byThe particle equation becomesAntisymmetry ensures $u^a{F}_{a\lambda }{u}^{\lambda }=0$, so the force is orthogonal to the four-velocity and preserves $u^2=-c^2$. The worldline variation before proper-time normalization is essential: substituting $\sqrt{-u^2}=c$ into the Lagrangian before taking its velocity derivative would turn the kinetic term into a constant and incorrectly remove the inertial momentum. The normalization is a property of the proper-time solution, not permission to discard the variational dependence.

For the source's definition $s^{\alpha }=\gamma (\mathbf{s}\cdot \mathbf{v}/c,\mathbf{s})$, direct contraction with $u^{\alpha }=\gamma (c,\mathbf{v})$ givesIt remains zero under the torque-free transport law. Differentiate the contraction, using the product rule and $u^2=-c^2$:Thus an initially spatial spin in the instantaneous rest frame remains orthogonal to the velocity. This is the orthogonal-spin specialization of Fermi-Walker transport. The sign is tied to the negative timelike norm; using the opposite metric sign without changing the transport formula would spoil the cancellation.

Take the dot here to mean $d/d\tau$, as in the source. Differentiate $u^{\alpha }=\gamma (c,\mathbf{v})$ and the given spin components. Their contraction simplifies because the terms involving $\dot{\gamma }$ cancel:The spatial part of the transport equation consequently readsUse $\dot{\gamma }/\gamma ={\gamma }^2\mathbf{v}\cdot \dot{\mathbf{v}}/c^2$ and divide by $\gamma$. The result isNo assumption of acceleration perpendicular to the velocity was made. In particular the second term cannot be dropped for a particle speeding up along a straight line. This $\mathbf{s}$ is the three-vector in the source's particular spin four-vector parametrization; its Euclidean magnitude need not be the invariant proper-spin magnitude.

Let the fixed direction of motion be the unit vector $\mathbf{n}$ and decompose $\mathbf{s}=s_{\parallel }\mathbf{n}+{\mathbf{s}}_{\perp }$. In ii the two parallel contributions cancel, whereas the transverse equation isFor the stated speed law, $1-v^2/c^2=e^{-2\Gamma \tau }$, hence $\gamma =e^{\Gamma \tau }$. Since the particle is initially at rest, $\gamma (0)=1$, andThe corresponding spin four-vector has components $s^0=\gamma \beta s_{\parallel }(0)$, $s_{\parallel }^{\mathrm{spatial}}=\gamma s_{\parallel }(0)$, and ${\mathbf{s}}_{\perp }^{\mathrm{spatial}}={\mathbf{s}}_{\perp }(0)$. Its squared norm is therefore $s_{\parallel }(0{)}^2+|{\mathbf{s}}_{\perp }(0){|}^2$, independent of time. The transverse decay of the source's laboratory three-vector is a boost-normalization effect, not a loss of proper angular momentum or a torque.

For a real increasing speed take $\Gamma >0$ and $\tau \ge 0$. The prescribed profile has a singular initial acceleration: $v\sim c\sqrt{2\Gamma \tau }$ near zero. The differential transport calculation applies for $\tau >0$ and the solution has the continuous initial limit displayed above. This trajectory should not be silently described as motion at constant proper acceleration.

First note that the supplied spin equation preserves $s\cdot u=0$: its electromagnetic bracket has contraction $u_a{F}^{a\lambda }{s}_{\lambda }+(u^2/c^2)F^{\mu \nu }{u}_{\mu }{s}_{\nu }=0$, and the remaining transport term cancels $s\cdot \dot{u}$ as in i.

For an explicitly electromagnetic acceleration, set ${\dot{u}}^a=(q/m)F^{a\lambda }{u}_{\lambda }$ and define $C=F^{\mu \nu }{u}_{\mu }{s}_{\nu }$. Antisymmetry gives $s\cdot \dot{u}=-(q/m)C$, so the spin equation can be writtenContract with $2s_a$:The first term vanishes because a symmetric product of the two spin covectors contracts an antisymmetric tensor; the second vanishes by spin–velocity orthogonality. In the instantaneous rest frame $s^0=0$, so $s^a{s}_a$ is precisely the squared proper spatial-spin magnitude. It remains constant for arbitrary $g$ under this transport, though its direction can precess. In this equation $g$ is the dimensionless g-factor; the dimensional gyromagnetic ratio includes $gq/(2m)$.