Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-181).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 13, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-90).

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We undertake a study of the classical regime in which Planck's constant and Newton's gravitational constant are negligible, but not their ratio, the Planck mass, in hopes that this could possibly lead to testable quantum gravity (QG) effects in a classical regime. In this quest for QG phenomenology we consider modifications of the standard dispersion relation of a free particle known as deformed special relativity (DSR). We try to geometrize DSR to find the geometric origin of the spacetime and momentum space. In particular, we adopt the framework of Hamilton geometry which is set up on phase space, as the cotangent bundle of configuration space in order to derive a purely phase space formulation of DSR. This is necessary when one wants to understand potential links of DSR with modifications of quantum mechanics such as Generalised Uncertainty Principles. It is subsequently observed that space-time and momentum space emerge naturally as curved and intertwined spaces. In conclusion we mention examples and applications of this framework as well as potential future developments.

What is an event? What sort of object are they? How is a given event distinguished from other events and other objects? This thesis on science oriented metaphysics will take Davidson's account of events as its starting point to answer the above questions. It will develop this conception of events into one that is consistent with the special theory of relativity by updating its notions of change, cause and property. The new concept of a proper property, a generalization of the notion of an invariant, is introduced to solve some of these metascientific problems. Other features of the work include an analysis of the Lorentz force equation as it applies to one family of cases of causation, showing that a use of cause and effect to help individuate events cannot be complete until relativistic features are built into it. I propose that the conception of a proper property will also solve this worry over the nature of causation as it affects the issues of events above. In particular, it will attempt to solve a charge of circularity which has been leveled at Davidson's account. This property analysis also has the feature that it makes the account of events which started with Davidsonian inspiration (i.e. causes and effects are intimately connected to events) more like Kim's. Kim's account of events is modified on the grounds it does not do justice to our intuitions about changes and events.

What is an event? What sort of object are they? How is a given event distinguished from other events and other objects? This thesis on science oriented metaphysics will take Davidson's account of events as its starting point to answer the above questions. It will develop this conception of events into one that is consistent with the special theory of relativity by updating its notions of change, cause and property. The new concept of a proper property, a generalization of the notion of an invariant, is introduced to solve some of these metascientific problems. Other features of the work include an analysis of the Lorentz force equation as it applies to one family of cases of causation, showing that a use of cause and effect to help individuate events cannot be complete until relativistic features are built into it. I propose that the conception of a proper property will also solve this worry over the nature of causation as it affects the issues of events above. In particular, it will attempt to solve a charge of circularity which has been leveled at Davidson's account. This property analysis also has the feature that it makes the account of events which started with Davidsonian inspiration (i.e. causes and effects are intimately connected to events) more like Kim's. Kim's account of events is modified on the grounds it does not do justice to our intuitions about changes and events. / Arts, Faculty of / Philosophy, Department of / Graduate

Orientador: Ricardo Pereira Tassinari / Banca: Osvaldo Frota Pessoa Júnior / Banca: Marcelo Carbone Carneiro / Resumo: Esta Pesquisa se insere na área de Epistemologia Genética. O objetivo geral desta Pesquisa é discutir as estruturas necessárias ao conhecimento da Teoria da Relatividade Restrita de Albert Einstein segundo o Modelo do Sistema de Esquema de Ações e Operações sobre Símbolos e Signos (MoSEAOSS), um modelo baseado na Epistemologia Genética de Jean Piaget. Com vista a esse objetivo, são objetivos específicos desta Pesquisa: discutir os fenômenos da dilatação dos tempos e da contração dos comprimentos consequentes dos postulados da Teoria da Relatividade Restrita, assim como o Paradoxo dos Gêmeos, e, com base neles, analisar a noção de espaço-tempo que deles resultam; apresentar o MoSEAOSS, assim como os principais conceitos nele envolvidos, em especial, os conceitos de transfiguração e de transignação; aplicar o MoSEAOSS à Teoria da Relatividade Restrita e mostrar que a noção de espaço-tempo pode ser explicada por meio de operações que o sujeito realiza sobre símbolos e signos. / Abstract: This research is in the area of Genetic Epistemology. The overall goal of this research is to discuss the necessary structures for knowing Albert Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity according to the Model of the System of Schemes of Actions and Operations on Symbols and Signs (MoSEAOSS), a model based on Jean Piaget's Genetic Epistemology. The specific objectives of this research are: to discuss the phenomena of Time Dilation and Length Contraction that follow the postulates of Special Theory of Relativity, as well as the Twin Paradox, and, based on them, to analyze the notion of space-time that results from them; to introduce the MoSEAOSS, as well as the key concepts involved in it, especially, the concepts of transfiguration and transignation; to apply the MoSEAOSS to Special Theory of Relativity and to show that the notion of space-time can be explained by means of operations that the subject performs on symbols and signs. / Mestre

This thesis creates an small expert system that is based on Einstein's special relativity. The basic knowledge of special relativity and the bases for building an expert system are described. The concepts of special relativity are put into a knowledge base by changing the formulas into rules and facts. The Prolog language was used to develop the expert system. New information can be input that does not contradict the rules and facts already in the database. The system also uses computer graphics to demonstrate the physical concepts of relativity. By using this expert system, one can teach the basic knowledge of special relativity and solve some problems related to frames of reference moving with high speed. / Department of Computer Science

Orientadores: Patrício Aníbal Letelier Sotomayor, Marcus Aloízio Martinez de Aguiar / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T22:28:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pinto_RafaelSoares_M.pdf: 2173613 bytes, checksum: 878c544ecf4ce79eb9b5b0be033ad255 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Nesta dissertação analisamos bilhares usando a teoria da relatividade especial, tanto classicamente quanto quanticamente. Inicialmente revisamos a teoria de bilhares clássicos, com ênfase em como se dá sua evolução no tempo. Então estudamos a existência (ou não) de aceleração de Fermi em bilhares forçados: bilhares onde a parede se move e, quando a partícula colide, ela pode ganhar ou perder energia. Estudamos alguns exemplos de bilhares, regulares e caóticos, na dinâmica relativística procurando quais condições são necessárias para que exista aceleração de Fermi relativística Concentramos-nos então no estudo de bilhares quânticos. Após uma revisão dos conceitos básicos, estudamos o método da integral de contorno para o cálculo do espectro do bilhar e analisamos suas propriedades estatísticas, tanto para o caso não relativístico (a equação de Schroedinger) quanto para o caso relativístico, o bilhar de Dirac, introduzido por Berry e Mondragon / Abstract: In this dissertation we analyze billiards using the theory of special relativity, both in the classical and quantum versions. First we review classical billiards, with emphasis in its time evolution. Then we study the existence (or lack of) Fermi acceleration in driven billiards, billiards where the walls are moving and, when the particle collides, it can gain or lose energy. We studied some examples, regular and chaotic ones, in the relativistic dynamics, and analyzed the necessary conditions for the existence of relativistic Fermi acceleration. We focus then on quantum billiards. After a brief review of basic concepts, we study the boundary integral method for numerical evaluation of the billiard spectra and analyze its statistical properties, for the non-relativistic case (the Schroedinger equation) and the relativistic, the Dirac billiards introduced by Berry and Mondragon / Mestrado / Física Geral / Mestre em Física

Orientador: Patricio Anibal Letelier Sotomayor / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T20:14:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernandes_RafaelMonteiro_M.pdf: 6930880 bytes, checksum: bc2d3294a7be01c0e28037221d2d4b4d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: Não informado / Abstract: Not informed. / Mestrado / Física das Particulas Elementares e Campos / Mestre em Física