What are the properties required for spacetime to be a Lorentzian manifold?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of spacetime as a Lorentzian manifold. The properties required for this model are unclear and there are various other models proposed by different physicists. The Lorentzian model is the most popular and has been found to work in certain situations. However, it is important to distinguish the mathematical model from the physical concept of space and time. Further reading on the topic is recommended.
  • #1
mersecske
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I know that spacetime is a Lorentzian manifold,
but what kind of properties has to be required exactly?
for example orientable, connected, Haussdorff, ...
 
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  • #2
It is not even sure that it is a Lorentzian manifold. Different physicists try different models. Lorentzian, Finsler, dgenerate metrics, metrics changing signatures, pure affine, multi-dimensional. You need to distinguish space and time of physics from their mathematical models.
The Lorentzian model is most popular and seems to work for weak field approximations and when you do not take into account quantum effects.
It is up to you which assumptions you choose - depending on applications that you may have in your mind.
 
  • #3
mersecske said:
I know that spacetime is a Lorentzian manifold,

I would rephrase this to

Spacetime can be modeled by a Lorentzian manifold

A Lorentzian manifold is an abstraction that lives in our minds ( or in my case visits now and again), it can't be awarded the same ontological status as charge and mass, say.
 
  • #4
Ok, but let's see the conventional Lorentzian manifold.
What are the conventional properties?
 
  • #5
mersecske said:
Ok, but let's see the conventional Lorentzian manifold.
What are the conventional properties?

You may like to assume that it admits a http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sven-S._Porst&action=edit&redlink=1" .
 
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  • #6

1. What is spacetime?

Spacetime is a conceptual framework that combines the three dimensions of space with the dimension of time to describe the physical universe. It is a fundamental concept in the field of physics and is used to explain the motion of objects in the universe.

2. How is spacetime related to gravity?

According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is not a force between masses, but rather a curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of massive objects. This means that the mass of an object not only affects space but also time, which is why it is referred to as spacetime.

3. How does spacetime affect the behavior of light?

Spacetime is responsible for the bending of light in the presence of massive objects. This is known as gravitational lensing and is a result of the curvature of spacetime caused by the mass of the object. The greater the mass, the more the spacetime is curved, and the more significant the bending of light will be.

4. Is spacetime the same everywhere in the universe?

According to the theory of general relativity, the curvature of spacetime is not the same everywhere in the universe. It is affected by the distribution of matter and energy in the universe, meaning that the strength of gravity and the curvature of spacetime can vary in different regions of the universe.

5. How is spacetime related to the concept of time dilation?

Time dilation is a phenomenon that occurs when the rate of time passage varies in different regions of the universe. This is due to the effects of gravity on spacetime, as well as the relative speeds of objects. As an object moves closer to a massive body, time slows down for that object, resulting in time dilation. Spacetime is crucial in understanding and predicting this phenomenon.

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