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/10.1088/0143-0807/32/6/022Additional 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