Local Coordinates for Non-Uniformly Accelerated Observer

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the local coordinates (\tau, x) for a non-uniformly accelerated observer and their relationship to inertial coordinates (T, X). The equations provided for T(\tau) and X(\tau) involve integrals that incorporate the proper acceleration function g(\tau) and the hyperbolic functions cosh and sinh. The trajectory of the observer in inertial coordinates is also derived, showing how to express the trajectory using T_{*}(\tau) and X_{*}(\tau). The conversation raises questions about the connection between these local coordinates and the Fermi-Walker tetrad, as well as the implications of the metric used in the analysis.

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  • Understanding of general relativity concepts, particularly accelerated frames.
  • Familiarity with hyperbolic functions, specifically cosh and sinh.
  • Knowledge of proper acceleration and its mathematical representation.
  • Basic grasp of four-vector calculus and its applications in physics.
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  • Study the Fermi-Walker transport and its implications for non-uniformly accelerated observers.
  • Explore the mathematical derivation of local coordinates in general relativity.
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LAHLH
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Hi,

I'm reading a paper about acceleration and the author states the local coordinates of the observer [tex](\tau,x)[/tex] (for a non-uniformly accelerated observer) are specified (in relation to the inertial coordates (T,X)):

[tex]T(\tau)=\int^{\tau}\,\mathrm{d}\alpha\,[1+g(\alpha)x]\cosh{(\chi(\alpha))}[/tex]
[tex]X(\tau)=\int^{\tau}\,\mathrm{d}\alpha\,[1+g(\alpha)x]\sinh{(\chi(\alpha))}[/tex]

the author references another paper that then references another book by Moller (1969) but when I got that book I couldn't find the relevant section that explains these coordinates. So the above is how the inertial coordinates (T,X) are related to the local coordinates [tex](\tau,x)[/tex].

If one is just interested in the trajectory of this accelerated (non-uniformly) observer in the inertial coords (T,X) then I can see that the trajectory is:

[tex]T_{*}(\tau)=\int^{\tau}\,\mathrm{d}\alpha\,\cosh{(\chi(\alpha))}[/tex]
[tex]X_{*}(\tau)=\int^{\tau}\,\mathrm{d}\alpha\,\sinh{(\chi(\alpha))}[/tex]

where [tex]d\chi(\tau)/d\tau=g(\tau)[/tex] and [tex]g(\tau)[/tex] is the time varying proper acceleration in all of the above.

So I can see where the trajectory of this observer in the inertial coords comes from (one just has to differentiate and take the four vector product of the four acceleration to see it has the correct norm etc. But I'm trying to get my head around these local coordinates, do they correspond to the Fermi-Walker tetrad somehow?
 
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Actually it seems possible to invert these to write:

[tex]x=\frac{1}{g(\tau)}\left[\sqrt{\left(\frac{dT}{d\tau}\right)^2-\left(\frac{dX}{d\tau}\right)^2}-1\right][/tex]

I'm not sure what metric the author is using but assuming [tex]U^2=-1[/tex] along the accelerated trajectory then [tex]\sqrt{\left(\frac{dT}{d\tau}\right)^2-\left(\frac{dX}{d\tau}\right)^2}=1[/tex] then x=0 for the accelerated trajectory? so x is a good coordinate for a comoving reference frame with the observer?

------------

I also seem to find inverting to try and get [tex]\tau[/tex]:

[tex]\chi(\tau)=\text{arctanh}(\frac{dX}{dT})[/tex]

so given that [tex]d\chi/d\tau=g(\tau)[/tex]:

[tex]g(\tau)=\frac{1}{1-\left(\frac{dX}{dT}\right)^2} =\gamma^2\text{??}[/tex]
 
Last edited:

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