observation and confirmation of the laws of the Special Theory of Relativity. In this
‘miniature version’ of SRT, the question about the ether finds its physical explanation in the relationship between the ideal space lattice and its localised structural
imperfections. Incidentally, this model may be seen as an additional point of
argumentation in favour of a lattice structure of our physical vacuum:
The continuum approximation of a crystalline lattice becomes recognisable as a
model for relativistic spacetime.
That is, we will undertake two things within the context of Special Relativity:
1. We will introduce a new axiomatic system for the Special Theory of Relativity
that will be completely equivalent to EINSTEIN’S axiomatic system and will still
consist of simple and understandable statements.
2. We will develop this new axiomatic approach using a crystalline lattice which
will claim the largest part of our explanations. In this model, we will immediately see how it can happen that moving rods suffer a length contraction and
moving clocks go behind. Following this path, we will in fact discover an
actually existing mechanical model, a ‘miniature’ for the Special Theory of
Relativity.
1 Here, we will discover the rational core of the philosophical statement made by E. MACH quoted at the beginning, cf. THIELE [1].
Unlike EINSTEIN’S procedure, our approach involves a definition of simultaneity
which is independent from the other part of our SRT axiomatics. As a spin-off, the
repeated debates on some questions of H. REICHENBACH’S philosophy of space and
time could be brought to an end. In Chap. 12, we derive the transformation formulas of REICHENBACH’S non-covariant absolute simultaneity and we discuss, in the
framework of SRT, REICHENBACH’S LORENTZ contraction versus EINSTEIN contraction
argumentation. Our method for evaluating philosophical questions concerning SRT
should be noticed. It is only necessary to have a look at the real existing mechanical
model of SRT for immediately ‘seeing’ the answer.
The first part of our discussion, Chaps. 1–8, serves as a preparation for our
investigation of SRT inside of a space lattice. Chapter 3 gives a short summary
of the physical statements made by SRT. However, the knowledge of these statements is not required for further reading. In Chaps. 4–6, we will deal in detail with
the NEWTONian motion of masses and will investigate the mechanical oscillations
and waves more closely. The expert may skim through these passages.
The central part of our explanations, Chaps. 9–21, will be on the kinematics of
SRT, with its own specific effects. In Chaps. 22 and 23, we concern ourselves with
the questions of dynamics in the SRT, with mass and energy. The core of SRT, the
universal constancy of the critical signal velocity, is developed from our axiomatic
approach in Chap. 12. The paradox and oddities resulting from the existence of
critical velocities that we comprehend using the background of a space lattice can
be traced throughout the whole of this book. In Chap. 11, we come across an
unknown clock paradox, and in Chap. 17, the famous twin paradox will be
1
The question of dimensionality of our model is discussed in Chap. 16, p. 141.
Preface
vii
‘miniature version’ of SRT, the question about the ether finds its physical explanation in the relationship between the ideal space lattice and its localised structural
imperfections. Incidentally, this model may be seen as an additional point of
argumentation in favour of a lattice structure of our physical vacuum:
The continuum approximation of a crystalline lattice becomes recognisable as a
model for relativistic spacetime.
That is, we will undertake two things within the context of Special Relativity:
1. We will introduce a new axiomatic system for the Special Theory of Relativity
that will be completely equivalent to EINSTEIN’S axiomatic system and will still
consist of simple and understandable statements.
2. We will develop this new axiomatic approach using a crystalline lattice which
will claim the largest part of our explanations. In this model, we will immediately see how it can happen that moving rods suffer a length contraction and
moving clocks go behind. Following this path, we will in fact discover an
actually existing mechanical model, a ‘miniature’ for the Special Theory of
Relativity.
1 Here, we will discover the rational core of the philosophical statement made by E. MACH quoted at the beginning, cf. THIELE [1].
Unlike EINSTEIN’S procedure, our approach involves a definition of simultaneity
which is independent from the other part of our SRT axiomatics. As a spin-off, the
repeated debates on some questions of H. REICHENBACH’S philosophy of space and
time could be brought to an end. In Chap. 12, we derive the transformation formulas of REICHENBACH’S non-covariant absolute simultaneity and we discuss, in the
framework of SRT, REICHENBACH’S LORENTZ contraction versus EINSTEIN contraction
argumentation. Our method for evaluating philosophical questions concerning SRT
should be noticed. It is only necessary to have a look at the real existing mechanical
model of SRT for immediately ‘seeing’ the answer.
The first part of our discussion, Chaps. 1–8, serves as a preparation for our
investigation of SRT inside of a space lattice. Chapter 3 gives a short summary
of the physical statements made by SRT. However, the knowledge of these statements is not required for further reading. In Chaps. 4–6, we will deal in detail with
the NEWTONian motion of masses and will investigate the mechanical oscillations
and waves more closely. The expert may skim through these passages.
The central part of our explanations, Chaps. 9–21, will be on the kinematics of
SRT, with its own specific effects. In Chaps. 22 and 23, we concern ourselves with
the questions of dynamics in the SRT, with mass and energy. The core of SRT, the
universal constancy of the critical signal velocity, is developed from our axiomatic
approach in Chap. 12. The paradox and oddities resulting from the existence of
critical velocities that we comprehend using the background of a space lattice can
be traced throughout the whole of this book. In Chap. 11, we come across an
unknown clock paradox, and in Chap. 17, the famous twin paradox will be
1
The question of dimensionality of our model is discussed in Chap. 16, p. 141.
Preface
vii