Published November 2011 | Version v1
Journal article

How to be causal: time, spacetime and spectra

Creators

  • 1. Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ (United Kingdom)

Description

I explain a simple definition of causality in widespread use, and indicate how it links to the Kramers-Kronig relations. The specification of causality in terms of temporal differential equations then shows us the way to write down dynamical models so that their causal nature in the sense used here should be obvious to all. To extend existing treatments of causality that work only in the frequency domain, I derive a reformulation of the long-standing Kramers-Kronig relations applicable not only to just temporal causality, but also to spacetime 'light-cone' causality based on signals carried by waves. I also apply this causal reasoning to Maxwell's equations, which is an instructive example since their causal properties are sometimes debated.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/32/6/022

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/0143-0807/32/6/022;
PII
S0143-0807(11)96545-3;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
European Journal of Physics
Journal Volume
32
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 1687-1700
ISSN
0143-0807
CODEN
EJPHD4

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
43128235
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
CAUSALITY; KRAMERS-KRONIG CORRELATION; LIGHT CONE; MAXWELL EQUATIONS; SPECIFICATIONS; SPECTRA
Descriptors DEC
CORRELATIONS; DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS; EQUATIONS; PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS; SPACE-TIME