Is There a Flaw in Understanding Proper Time and Time Dilation?

[Wannabe Physicist]

Homework Statement

Imagine that space (not spacetime) is actually a finite box, or in more sophisticated
terms, a three-torus, of size $L$. By this we mean that there is a coordinate system $x^\mu = (t,x,y,z)$ such that every point with coordinates $(t,x,y,z)$ is identified with every point
with coordinates $(t,x+L,y,z)$, $(t,x,y+L,z)$, and $(t,x,y,z+L)$. Note that the time coordinate is the same. Now consider two observers; observer A is at rest in this coordinate system (constant spatial coordinates), while observer B moves in the x-direction with constant
velocity $v$. A and B begin at the same event, and while A remains still, B moves once
around the universe and comes back to intersect the world line of A without having to
accelerate (since the universe is periodic). What are the relative proper times
experienced in this interval by A and B? Is this consistent with your understanding of
Lorentz invariance?

Relevant Equations

$(\Delta \tau^2) = (\Delta t)^2-(\Delta x)^2-(\Delta y)^2-(\Delta z)^2$

Let us denote the events in spacetime before the trip has started by subscript 1 and those after the trip is over by subscript 2. So before the trip has begun, the coordinates in spacetime for A and B are

$A = (t_{A_1},x,y,z)$ and $B = (t_{B_1},x,y,z) = (t_{A_1},x,y,z)$.

After the trip is over,

$A = (t_{A_2},x,y,z)$ and $B = (t_{B_2},x+L,y,z)$.

Note that $\Delta t_A = t_{A_2}-t_{A_1} = \frac{L}{v}$ and $\Delta t_B = t_{B_2}-t_{B_1}$. Now, by the time dilation formula, $\Delta t_B = (\Delta t_A)/\gamma$

Thus if $\Delta \tau_A$ and $\Delta \tau_B$ are proper time intervals of A and V respectively
$$(\Delta \tau_A)^2 = (\Delta t_A)^2 - 0 - 0 -0 \implies \Delta \tau_A = \Delta t_A$$
$$(\Delta \tau_B)^2 = (\Delta t_B)^2 - L^2 - 0 -0 = \frac{(\Delta t_A)^2}{\gamma^2} - L^2 = \frac{(\Delta \tau_A)^2}{\gamma^2} - L^2 $$

I feel that this must be right. I, with my naive eyes, am not able to see any flaw in my argument. But this blog post: https://petraaxolotl.wordpress.com/chapter-1-special-relativity-and-flat-spacetime/ seems to be telling a different story.

It says $$(\Delta \tau_B)^2 = (\Delta t_B)^2-(\Delta x)^2 = (\Delta \tau_B)^2(1-v^2) = (\Delta \tau_A)^2(1-v^2) = \frac{(\Delta \tau_A)^2}{\gamma^2}$$

Am I making any mistake?

 

[anuttarasammyak]

I am skeptical in applying SR which is for observers in IFR to the torus 3D-space+time world which does not seem IFR to me globally.

 

[Wannabe Physicist]

I understand your point. But I am trying to teach myself GR and this exercise is in the first chapter of Carroll. He hasn't introduced curvature and stuff yet. Actually, I got the answer. It is $\Delta \tau_B = \displaystyle\frac{L}{\gamma v}$. The mistake is in writing the coordinates and is very silly. A's and B's coordinates are in reference to A's and B's frames respectively. But in B's frame, the observer is obviously at rest. So we should have $B = (t_{B_2}, x,y,z)$

 

[anuttarasammyak]

Along the problem statement, say starting with zero time adjustment, when they meet again their own proper time are
\tau_A=\tau_B=\frac{L}{v}
and they see others time are by time dilation
t_A=t_B=\frac{L}{\gamma v}
We face contradiction because they have to be
\tau_A=t_A
\tau_B=t_B
One way to avoid the contradiction is to make L infinite or grow with rate of more than c to prohibit them meeting again.

 

[PAllen]

There is no contradiction, nor even any need to use Lorentz transform. The whole problem can be calculated in in the initial coordinates given. The treatment of SR with nonstandard topology is a well known exercise (it is not considered normal SR though). OP is definitely right as to the answer in post #3.

Due to the periodicity of the spacetime, (L/v,0) and (L/v,L) are the same event (I give time coordinate first). However, the straight (geodesic) path from (0,0) to the first along the (1,0) direction is different from the straight path from (0,0) to the second label along the (1,v) direction. As a result, you simply have two intervals to compare : (L/v,0) and (L/v,L). That's all there is to it, and you get the answer in post #3.

 

[anuttarasammyak]

There is no contradiction, nor even any need to use Lorentz transform. The whole problem can be calculated in in the initial coordinates given. The treatment of SR with nonstandard topology is a well known exercise (it is not considered normal SR though). OP is definitely right as to the answer in post #3.

I found contradiction in post #4 which was a kind of twin paradox. I think it is due to my additional assumption that both A frame of reference and B frame of reference are IFRs.