How Does Kaluza-Klein Theory Impact Our Understanding of the Universe?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on Kaluza-Klein (KK) theory and its implications for understanding the universe through a five-dimensional framework. Participants reference P.G. Bergmann's "Intro to Relativity" and discuss the mathematical formulation of geodesics on a 5-dimensional manifold M x U(1). Key equations include the motion of charged particles in electromagnetic fields, specifically m (D^2q/Dt^2)^i = e F^i_j (dq/dt)^j, and the constraints imposed by the constant metric h_{55}=1. The conversation highlights the challenges of reconciling classical predictions with quantum theory, particularly regarding the behavior of particles in higher dimensions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Kaluza-Klein theory and its five-dimensional framework
  • Familiarity with differential geometry and geodesics on manifolds
  • Knowledge of electromagnetic theory and the Lorentz force
  • Basic principles of quantum mechanics and energy quantization
NEXT STEPS
  • Study P.G. Bergmann's "Intro to Relativity" for foundational concepts in Kaluza-Klein theory
  • Learn about the mathematical formulation of geodesics on manifolds, focusing on 5-dimensional spaces
  • Explore the implications of Noether's theorem in the context of Kaluza-Klein theory
  • Investigate the relationship between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics, particularly in higher-dimensional theories
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, mathematicians, and students interested in theoretical physics, particularly those exploring the intersections of classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and higher-dimensional theories like Kaluza-Klein.

Ken S. Tucker
[SOLVED] Re: Kaluza-Klein help needed

To John et al...
I agree with everyone else who posted.
For a few comments, I'll ref to P.G. Bergmann's
"Intro to...Relativity", he details KK's 5D stuff.

John Baez wrote:
> For a course on a classical mechanics I decided to have my
> students work out the geodesics on a 5-dimensional manifold
> M x U(1) with the metric h given by[/color]

:-)

> h_{ij} = g_{ij}
> h_{i5} = A_i
> h_{55} = 1[/color]

See ref, Eq.(17.61). John's statement looks accurate summed
over 4D.

> where i,j = 1,2,3,4, g is a metric on M and A is a 1-form
> on M describing the electromagnetic vector potential.
>
> I was hoping to get the equation for the motion of
> a charged particle in a electromagnetic field, namely
>
> m (D^2q/Dt^2)^i = e F^i_j (dq/dt)^j[/color]

Yes, see Eq.(12.57).
The last term on the LHS, can also be zero and
yield information, that corresponds to John's
RHS above. If john's LHS above vanishes then it
is a constraint on motion.

> where:
>
> dq/dt is the derivative of the path q(t),
>
> D^2q/Dt^2 is its covariant 2nd derivative,
>
> F_{ij} = d_i A_j - d_j A_i is the electromagnetic field,[/color]

> m is the particle's mass[/color]

Stop, same ref, see (6.14..19). A particles mass has
3 possible components, covariant energy-momentum "p_0",
invariant "p", and contravariant "p^0".
(Mixing g-fields with EM-fields, IMO does requires
care to define the meaning of mass).
Presuming John mean's a conserved "p" as defined
by (6.19), let's good ahead.

> e is its charge.
>
> And indeed, I get this assuming that the particle moves
> around the circle U(1) at velocity e/m:
>
> (dq/dt)^5 = e/m[/color]

Above John pointed out h_{55}=1, that's a constant!
How can variables exist in the direction of the 5th
dimension if it's metric is constant?
There cannot be a basis for acceleration in the
direction of 5th dimension, i.e.

(dq/dt)^5 = 0 , (Tucker suggests)

IMO, that's a constraint in 5D. Look at it physically,
if you have charges going off into the 5th dimension
won't that rather make the other 4 lonely?

> HOWEVER, I don't find that the velocity of the particle around
> the circle is constant!
>
> (dq/dt)^5 seems to have nonzero derivative, which is annoying:
> the particle's effective charge-to-mass ratio changes with time![/color]

I think if John employs the quantum theory, (meaning energy changes
discontinuously, applied to the "m", then the classical
type predictions, made on the basis of Maxwell, of particles,
like electrons spiralling into the nucleus will not happen.

It looks like dm =0 but is not a constant.

> Am I making a mistake or what?[/color]

Well, by experiment we have found, "power" is
not continuously radiated, hence a spirally orbiting
electron descending into a nucleus obeys the vector
dot product,

q*E.V = 0

(q=charge, E=E-field, V-Velocity),

IOW's it can't spiral. Otherwise a spiral type orbit
would have

q*E.V =/=0,

as the charge sinks into the nucleus, continuously
radianting power, that is classically predicted but
physically not apparent and gave birth to Quantum T.

In the case of the Lorentz force John introduce above,
the component,

f_0 = q*F_i0 U^i == q*E.V =0.

I think that means there is no force in the direction of
time.

> It's all the more annoying because the spacetime M x U(1) has
> rotational symmetry in the U(1) coordinate, so by Noether's theorem,
> the momentum in the 5 direction is conserved.
>
> However, the velocity in the 5 direction appears not to be
> conserved, basically because we obtain the velocity from the
> momentum by raising an index:
>
> (dq/dt)^5 = h^{5a} (dq/dt)_5
>
> and h^{5a} is time-dependent.
>
> I wish I were making some mistake here - am I?[/color]

Don't know, but IMHO, one should give due consideration
to the quantization of energy exchange. AE's GR gives
a good foundation for that following his GR1916 Eq.(65a),
where he suggests the Lorentz force vanishes. I provided
one sample "f_0=0" above, but many disagree.
If you ref to Dover's PoR GR1916, pg 156, and read past
Eq.(66) you'll see, "if kappa_sigma vanishes", (that's
Lorentz force in Eq(65)), and find that's how EM-forces
are included into the T_uv side of G_uv=T_uv, and I think
ok with quantum theory.

Regards
Ken S. Tucker
 
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Using the wrong g(5) would only introduce 'error' like A_a A^a = (V/m)^2 =.01%. So why the 'error' like 10^10% by getting Plank mass instead of electron mass?

I think the 'error' was more due to using 'wrong' simple L(5) rather than wrong g(5). To get the Plank mass out to the 'KK-miracle' need a geometric L with R curvatrure etc. => Brans-Dicke gravity etc. as you would expect from a grand geom theory.

But keep it simple - go for the simple L(5) & g(5) and we get
1. x^..M = - Gamma5^M_BC x^.B x^.C
= - Gamma4^m_bc x^.b x^.c + F^m_c x^.c
via another sort of '5d miracle'.
But this one introduces a factor of charge/mass (of electron) and not Plank mass (what I referred to as the 10^10% 'error'.

2. for simple QM using corresponding g(5)^BC
L(5density) = 0.5 (d_B psi)* g(5)^BC (d_C psi)
= 0.5 (D_b psi)* g(4)^bc (D_c psi) + 0.5 mm (psi* psi) = KG equation.
again we get the charge/matter for electron, not Plank mass.

3. By the way, within the omitted definitions & calculations, A_5 ==1 is used to simplify
x^.B g(5)_BC x^.C = x^.b g(4)_bc x^.c + x^.B A_B A_C x^.C
But always A = A(4) ensures g(5)^BC g(5)_CD = KronDelta^B_D
leads to:
x^.B A_C = 1 => x^.5 = (1 - A_c x^.c) approx= 1
So x^5 approx= tau >>>>>>>>>>>> the x^5 associated with Plank mass.

4. Back in 1978 Franchi and in 1984 Kubo developed 5d QFT using s = x^5
id_s <=> m of electron etc.


5. My background: I am new to PF, spotted this question months ago, saved it in bookmarks till I had time to follow it up. I don't know if there is any more correspondence or whether this is going down a black hole. I have been struggling with path integral representation, QFT etc. So have been dabbeling in QM, CM, 5d as a pre-retirement hobby. Apologies for omitting the working, but it is such hard work producing the symbols - especially if this is not going anywhere.
Does this clarify anything, or am I on the wrong track? Thanks.
 

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