Minimal coupling, the strong equivalence principle, and the adaptation of matter to spacetime geometry

Thesis

I provide a systematic exploration of one set of precise technical conditions under which matter fields might be said to be 'adapted' to a relativistic spacetime geometry - namely, that the equations governing those matter fields be minimally coupled, quasilinear, and symmetric hyperbolic. I discuss the implications of this for the role and status of the 'strong equivalence principle' and the geometry-dynamics debate.

Authors: March, E

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-agd8vvyd8
• Type of award: BPhil
• Level of award: Bachelors
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: energy conditions; spacetime; equivalence principle; natural bundles; geodesic principle; causality; minimal coupling
• Subjects: Differential equations, Partial; Philosophy; Jet bundles (Mathematics); Gravitation; Space and time; Field theory (Physics); General relativity (Physics); Fiber bundles (Mathematics)