Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
2)2008:149 -170
C. Y. Lo
Applied and Pure Research Institute, 7 Taggart Drive, Unit E, Nashua,
NH 03060 USA
ABSTRACT
Key words: Einstein’s equivalence principle, covariance principle, Euclidean-like structure, prin
ciple of causality, plane-wave. 04.20.-q, 04.20.Cv
“Science sets itself apart from other paths to truth by recognizing that even its
greatest practitioners sometimes err.” -- S. Weinberg, Physics Today, November
2005.
1. INTRODUCTION
A common mistake among theorists (Lo 2000b) including Einstein (Ein-
stein et al 1938), Feynman (1996), Landau & Lifshitz (1962), etc., was assuming
the existence of dynamic solutions for the Einstein equation of 1915. This issue of
dynamic solutions was raised by Gullstrand (1921) in his report to the Nobel
Committee. Due to conceptual errors such as ambiguity of coordinates as
pointed out by Whitehead (1922), Fock (1964), and Zhou (1983), many cannot
reconcile the non-existence of dynamic solutions with the three accurate predic-
tions. It was not until 1995 that based on the principle of causality, the nonexis-
tence of dynamic solutions is proven (Lo 1995, 1999a) and related issues are ad-
dressed subsequently (Lo 2000b). This becomes possible (Lo 2003b) because it is
proven that a physical space must have a frame of reference that has a Euclidean-
150
C. Y. Lo
like structure. 1) Meanwhile, unphysical solutions were accepted (Kramer et al.
1980) because Einstein’s equivalence principle was not well understood (see Ap-
pendix A).
To explain the Hulse-Taylor binary pulsars experiment, it is necessary to
modify the Einstein equation with an added source term, the gravitation energy-
stress tensor (with an antigravity coupling), to accommodate the waves (Lo 1995,
1999a) and to have a valid linearized equation. Since the gravitational wave,
whose sources are energy-stress tensors, carries energy-momentum, a gravita-
tional wave should carry a source along. Then, it becomes clear (Lo 2000b) that
the non-existence of gravitational waves is due to a violation of the principle of
causality (see Section 2).
Historically, Einstein & Rosen (1937) could be considered as the first to
discover the non-existence of wave solutions, but editors of the Physical Review
found that the singularities they discovered are removable (Kennefick 2004). This
led to a self-deceptive satisfaction that subsequently hindered progress in phys-
ics. Also Christodoulou & Klainerman (1993) claimed to have constructed dy-
namic solutions for the Einstein equation because they made some basic errors in
mathematics (Lo 2000a). Moreover, the editors of the Physical Review and other
journals failed to identify the violation of physical principles such as the princi-
ple of causality (Lo 2000b, 2003a, 2007c).
Surprisingly some still clinch on the cylindrical solution of Einstein-
Rosen type. The reason seems to be that this provides a seemingly close mathe-
matical analogy with the case of electromagnetism. For instance, ‘t Hooft pro-
vided an example (Lo 2006b) to illustrate his claim of the validity of the Einstein
equation for the dynamic case. His goal is to justify the linearization of the Ein-
stein equation although this has been proven invalid for the dynamic case (Lo
1995, 2000b).
In this paper, it will be shown that the cylindrical solution of Einstein-
Rosen type is invalid because both Einstein’s equivalence principle and the prin-
ciple of causality are violated. To illustrate these, the example of ‘t Hooft is ana-
lyzed together the solution of Weber and Wheeler (1957). The violation of these
principles will be identified and discussed with the details of the examples. It is
hoped that thereafter theorists would study the problem of gravitation anew
with adequate physical considerations included.
where φ, β, θ are functions of u (= τ – ξ ). It satisfies the equation (i.e., their eq. [2.8]),
On the other hand, the metric for no gravity should be the flat metric or its
equivalence as in the case of “cylindrical waves” of Einstein & Rosen (1937).
Thus, to justify metric (1), one must show that, for the given frame, (3) could be
equivalent to the flat metric. Moreover, metric (1) violates the principle of causal-
ity since there is no parameter of physical causes to be adjusted such that metric
(1) becomes equivalent to the flat metric.
Consider another metric accepted as valid by Penrose (1964) as follows:
ds2 = du dv + H du2 – dxi dxi, where H = hij(u)xixj, (4)
and
hii(u) ≥ 0, hij = hji , where u = ct - z, and v = ct + z . (5)
Here t is the time coordinate; and x, y, z are the space coordinates; and hij(u) is
an energy-stress tensor related to the cause of this gravity, an electromagnetic
plane-wave.
Metric (4) is a Lorentz manifold. However, independent of hij(u), H can
always be arbitrarily large. This is incompatible with Einstein's notion of weak
gravity and the correspondence principle. Moreover, in general H = hij(u)(xi –
ai)(xj – aj) and the parameters are chosen as (a1, a2) = (0, 0). Thus, the principle of
causality is violated since parameters ai (i = 1, 2) are unrelated to any physical
cause.
Weber & Wheeler (1957) claimed, “We concluded that many of the oth-
erwise apparently paradoxical properties of this cylindrical wave can be under-
stood by taking into account the analogy between gravitational waves and elec-
tromagnetic waves, and the special demands of the equivalence principle, which
rules out a special role for any particular frame of reference.” 4) Their claims
could be valid if γ(r, T) had a physical solution. However, their own solution im-
plies otherwise.
Weber and Wheeler (1957) obtained a solution as follows:
Ψ = AJ0 (ωρ) cos ωt +BN0 (ωρ) sinωt, (9a)
where A and B are constants. The second function γ in the special case B = A, re-
duces to
1
γ = 2 A2ωρ{J0(ωρ)J0’(ωρ) + N0(ωρ)N0’(ωρ) + ωρ[(J0(ωρ))2 + (J0’(ωρ))2
According to (9b), exp(2γ) gets very large as T gets large negatively. (Note that T
and ωρ should have been respectively t and ωρ/c.) Moreover, since exp(2γ) ap-
proaches zero as T gets large positively, the condition for weak gravity (1 >> |γμν|)
would fail.
Moreover, metric (6) cannot satisfy coordinate relativistic causality. We-
ber and Wheeler agreed with Fierz's analysis that γ is strictly positive where Ψ(ρ,
T) ≈ 0 for large ρ (1957). On the other hand, for a cylindrical coordinate system,
Einstein’s equivalence principle implies time dilation and space contractions, and
this would mean
– gρρ ≥ 1 ≥ gtt , – gϕϕ/ρ2 ≥ 1 , and – gzz ≥ 1 . (10a)
These would imply coordinate relativistic causality (Lo 2002). Thus, from metric
(6) one has exp (2γ) ≤ 1 and exp (2γ) ≤ exp(2Ψ). It thus follows that γ ≤ 0. Hence,
the condition γ > 0 cannot be met. In fact, it follows (10a) directly that
(2γ – 2Ψ) ≥ 0 ≥ (2γ – 2Ψ), –2Ψ ≥ 0 , and 2Ψ ≥ 0. (10b)
Thus Ψ = γ = 0. This shows that there is no physical wave solution for Gμν = 0.
This above analysis shows not only there is no wave solution, but also no
physical solution of any kind. Unlike the case of plane waves, a cylindrically
symmetric metric must have a source because it is not a local idealization of
waves from distant sources. It will be shown in the next section that it is impos-
sible to have appropriate sources.
r = ∑(x − y ) .
γ K 1 i 2
μν(xi, t) = – 2π ∫ r Tμν[yi, (t – r)]d y,
3 2 i
where (11b)
i =1
From (11b), a source would give γμν as of the first order. From (11a), it is clear
that the linearized harmonic gauge ∂ c γ cd = 0 would imply the conservation law,
∂ cT(m)cd = 0. In turn, as pointed out by Wald (1984), this would mean that the test
bodies move on geodesics of the flat metric ημν. On the other hand, the covariant
conservation law,
∇cT(m)cd = 0, (12)
implies only that ∂ c γ cd is of the second order. Thus, theoretical consistency re-
quires that the linearized harmonic gauge is not exact. In other words, for gen-
eral relativity, a tensor T(m)cd that satisfies ∂ cT(m)cd = 0 is invalid.
Consider the metric of Einstein & Rosen (1937). For the case of weak grav-
ity, we have the lowest order:
2
γ tt(ρ, t) = –2Ψ , γ zz(ρ, t) = – 4Ψ(ρ, t)+2[γ(ρ, t)+ Ψ2], γ xy(ρ, t) = –2γ(ρ, t) xy/ρ2,
γ xx (ρ, t) = 2γ(ρ, t) y2/ρ2+2Ψ2, and γ yy (ρ, t) = 2γ(ρ, t) x2/ρ2+2Ψ2. (13)
Thus,
∂ cγ ct = – 4Ψ(r, t )Ψt(r, t), ∂ c γ cz = 0, (14a)
∂c γ cx = 2γ(ρ, t)[x/ρ2] – 4Ψ(r, t )Ψx(r, t), (14b)
and
∂c γ cy = 2γ(ρ, t)[y/ρ2] – 4Ψ(r, t )Ψy(r, t). (14c)
Thus, the linearized harmonic gauge would be satisfied if γ(ρ, t) is bounded and
where A and α (> 0) are free parameters. For simplicity, take them to be one. |ψ| is
everywhere bounded. He claimed that, at large values for t and r, the stationary
points of the cosine dominate, so that there are peaks at r = |t|. And this is a
packet coming from r = ∞ at t = –∞ bouncing against the origin at t ≅ 0 (always
obeying the correct boundary condition there), and moving to r = ∞ again at t
→ ∞. The metric satisfies equations:
1
Ψrr + Ψr − Ψtt = 0 , γ r = r (Ψr2 + Ψt2 ) , γ t = 2rΨr Ψt . (16)
r
At |t| >> r, the function ψ drops off exponentially, and at r >> |t| as a power:
π
Ψ→2 (17)
r −t2
2
‘t Hooft claims that his metric solution is bounded, and has a weak limit.
However, it should be noted that Ψ(r, t) is not a wave packet as he claimed.
Let us calculate Ψr and Ψt as follows:
−α ( r cos ϕ ) 2π 2
Consider the case t = 0, and we have Ψ (r , 0) = ∫0 dϕ e
2π 2 2π 2
Ψt = −2 ∫ dϕ e −( r cos ϕ ) r cos ϕ = 0 , but Ψr = 2 ∫0 dϕ e
− ( r cos ϕ )
r cos 2 ϕ ≠ 0. (19a)
0
2π 2
Consider another case r = 0, and we have Ψ (0, t ) = ∫0d ϕ e
− (t )
2π 2 2π 2
Ψt = ∫ dϕ e − (t ) (−2)(t ) ≠ 0, but Ψr = ∫ dϕ e −(t ) (−2)(t )(− cos ϕ ) = 0. (19b)
0 0
Thus, |Ψr(r, t)| ≠ |Ψt (r, t)|, and their ratio changes with (r, t). Thus, Ψ (r, t) is not a
plane wave packet, and γ(r, t) might have a bounded solution. However, since
γ r ± γ t = r (Ψr ± Ψt ) 2 , (20)
the function γ(r, t) has the same kind of problem (see also next section).
One might argue that since (15) satisfies a Maxwell-type equation in vac-
uum, its wave should have the same phase speed. However, such an argument is
valid only for a physical wave packet. Since (15) does not satisfy Einstein’s
equivalence principle, other kinds of violation are expected as shown in the solu-
tion (4) of Weber and Wheeler (1957).
‘t Hooft claimed, “The other function γ(r, t) is found by integrating one of
the two other equations (they of course yield the same value).” γ drops off expo-
nentially at | t | >> r and for r >> | t | it goes asymptotically to:
− 2πr 2
γ→ + Cst . (21)
(r 2 − t 2 )
Note the t ↔ –t symmetry throughout. This estimation of ‘t Hooft (2007) is based
on asymptotic expansion as follows:
⎛2 1 + 2t 2 3(3 + 12t 2 + 4t 4 ) 1 ⎞
Ψ (r, t) = A π ⎜⎜ r + 2r 3 + 16r 5
+ O( 7 ) ⎟⎟ (22)
⎝ r ⎠
for r >> t. This gives for the function the asymptotic expansion:
2 3 + 8t 2 9 + 48t 2 + 24t 4 1
γ (r, t) = πA (C −
2
2
− 4
− 6
+ O( )) (23)
r 2r 4r r8
−t 2 ⎡ 2 2 1 ⎤ 4
γ (r, t) = A2 π e ⎢1 + r (t − 2 )⎥ + O(r ) . (24)
⎣ ⎦
Then, using the same implicit assumption as above, for r →0 one has
2 2 2 2 −2 t 2
γ (r, t) = 8π A t r e + O (r 4 ) . (25)
As ‘t Hooft requested, details are included in Appendix B. Note also that just as
in the solution (9) of Weber and Wheeler (1957), there are problems related to γ
according to eq. (20). Nevertheless, these mathematical details are no longer im-
portant since it has been proven that this type of metric is not physically valid.
The plane-wave of the Maxwell equation is a local idealization with no
sources. However, for a cylindrical solution, it is different. Understandably, ‘t
Hooft concluded that (16) should have the following extended form,
1
Ψtt − Ψrr − Ψr = J (r , t ) where J(r, t) = δ(t) Φ2(r) + δ’(t)Φ1(r) , (27a)
r
which requires
Note that Φ2(r) = 0 in the given example. However, having a delta function of t,
the source in (27) is invalid, because this solution cannot be attributed to the mo-
tion of accelerated masses. Thus, the principle of causality is violated. Note that
the causality of ‘t Hooft is based on a Maxwell-type equation, which is also satis-
fied by metric (9).
Thus, a major issue would be whether (15) is a wave packet because it was
hoped that one could argue that the sources were at infinity. However, (15) is not
a wave packet that requires all its components to have the same wave speed.
Moreover, there is no source related to r = ∞, and (15) is invalid (see also next
section). In conclusion, the principle of causality is violated since there is no ap-
propriate source for packet (15).
Note that the coefficients A(ω) could be arbitrary. However, the propagation di-
rection and speed are maintained since
Thus, such a wave packet is a valid idealization. An example of the wave packet
is
2
u ( x, t ) = Ae − (t − x ) (30)
It is understood that the validity of (30) is within the neighborhood of a narrow
ray propagating in the x-direction.
Now, consider that x = r cos ϕ in a coordinate system (r, ϕ, z). Then, ‘t
Hooft (2007) claimed that his solution,
2π 2
Ψ ( r , t ) = A∫ dϕ e −α (t − r cos ϕ ) (31)
0
is obtained by superimposing plane wave packets of the form exp [−α(x − t)2] ro-
tating them along the z axis over angle ϕ, so as to obtain a cylindrical solution.
Note that since the integrand exp[−α(t − r cosϕ)2] = exp[−α(t − x)2], there is no rota-
tion along the z axis. The function exp[−α (t − x)2] is propagating from x = – ∞ to x
= ∞ as time t increases.
However, (28) is integrated over a parameter ω unrelated to the x-axis;
whereas the “superimposition” (31) is integrated over ϕ(x, y). Since, (31) is a
combination that involves the coordinate ϕ (x, y), it is not a superimposition of
plane waves propagating along the x-axis. Furthermore, the integration over all
angles ϕ is a problem that would violate the requirement of the idealization be-
cause it requires that the plane wave is valid over the whole x-y plane. Thus,
function (31) is not valid as an idealization in physics.
Alternatively, (31) could be interpreted as the sum of infinitely many
“wave packets”, each of which is in the narrow ray at angle ϕ with a different
amplitude at a point (r, t) and with a different phase speed,
r 1
=
t cos ϕ . (32)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This paper is dedicated to Heng for unfailing encouragements over years.
The author is grateful for stimulating discussions with S. L. Cao, David P. Chan,
A. J. Coleman, S. -J. Chang, Richard C. Y. Hui, Liu Liao, and A. Napier on plane-
waves and the analysis of Weber and Wheeler on the cylindrical symmetry met-
ric of Einstein and Rosen. Special thanks are to G. ‘t Hooft and John Dyson, Uni-
versity of Leeds UK, for extensive discussions on the solution of ‘t Hooft; and A.
Napier for editing the whole manuscript. This work is supported in part by In-
notec Design, Inc., U.S.A.
In these theorems, the local space of a particle is locally constant, but not neces-
sarily Minkowski. However, after some algebra, a local Minkowski metric exists
at any given point and that along any time-like geodesic curve Γ, since a moving
local constant metric exists. The only condition is that the space-time metric has a
proper Minkowski signature.
What Einstein added to these theorems is that physically such a locally
constant metric must be Minkowski. Such a condition is needed for special rela-
tivity as a special case (Einstein et al. 1923). In a uniformly accelerated frame, the
local space in a free fall is a Minkowski space according to special relativity. It
should be noted, however, that validity of the Einstein-Minkowski condition
used in Einstein’s calculations (Einstein 1954; Einstein et al. 1923) is assumed
only.
Accordingly, Pauli’s version is essentially a simplified but corrupted
version of these theorems. Pauli’s (1958) version is as follows:
“For every infinitely small world region (i.e. a world region which is
so small that the space- and time-variation of gravity can be neglected
in it) there always exists a coordinate system K0 (X1, X2, X3, X4) in
which gravitation has no influence either in the motion of particles or
any physical process.”
Thus, Pauli regards the equivalence principle as merely the mathematical exis-
tence of locally constant spaces, which may not be locally Minkowski. In addition,
Pauli invalidly extended the removal of uniform gravity to the removal of grav-
ity in general. However, in spite of Einstein’s objection (Norton 1989), his equiva-
lence principle was commonly but mistakenly regarded the same as Pauli’s ver-
sion.
Einstein’s equivalence principle is also often misinterpreted. For instance,
this happens in the highly praised book of Will (1981), which also misinterpreted
(Lo 1995, 2000b) the binary pulsars experiment of Hulse & Taylor. Will (1986, p.
20) claimed “’Equivalence’ came from the idea that life in a free falling laboratory
was equivalent to life without gravity. It also came from the converse idea that a
laboratory in distant empty space that was being accelerated by a rocket was
equivalent to one at rest in a gravitational field.” Moreover, the British Encyclo-
pedia also stated Einstein’s Equivalence Principle incorrectly and ignored the
Einstein-Minkowski condition.
Apparently, Pauli (1958), and Will (1981, 1986), overlooked (or disagreed
with) Einstein’s (Einstein et al., p.144) remark, “For it is clear that, e.g., the gravi-
tational field generated by a material point in its environment certainly cannot be
‘transformed away’ by any choice of the system of coordinates…” Now, it should
be clear that Pauli and his followers knew little about functional analysis in
mathematics.
1
Ψ (r , t ) = 2πAe −αt (1 + α r 2 (α t 2 − )) + O(r 4 )
2
(B4)
2
and γ (r, t) is therefore
γ t (r , t ) = 2rΨr Ψt (B6)
To estimate the constant C, and find a bound for γ (r, t), we calculate it at t = 0,
where
1 1
Ψ (r ) = 4 A∫ dx e −α r
2
x2
0 ; (B7)
1− x 2
1 x2
Ψr (r ) = −8 Aαr ∫ dx e −α r
2
x2
Ψt(r)= 0, <0 (B8)
0
1− x 2
By partial integration:
1
− Ψr (r ) = 8 Aα r ∫ dx 1 − x 2 (1 − 2αr 2 x 2 )e −α r
2
x2
0
. (B9)
−π / 2
. (B12)
r = r0 = ( K1 / K 2 )1 / 3 . (B16)
This gives the bound
πA 2 C = ⎛⎜ ∫ + ∫
r0 ∞ ⎞γ (r )dr < 1 K 2 r 4 + 1 K 2 / r 2 = 3 K 2 / 3 K 4 / 3 = 3 A 2 π 16 / 3
⎟ 0 0 0 0 2 ;
⎝ 0 r0 ⎠ 4 2 2 4 16
3 13 / 3
C< π = 26.7496 (B17)
16
Thus, we found an absolute bound on the constant C, which bounds the mo-
notonously increasing function γ (r):
0 ≤ γ < π CA 2 (B18)
We note that this is just one small subset of the infinite class of solutions to the
Einstein equation, in particular the ones with cylindrical symmetry.
Note a): For A infinitesimal, we have a solution of the linearized Einstein equa-
tions.
ENDNOTES
1) In a Euclidean-like structure of a frame, the Pythagorean Theorem is satisfied.
2) In support of Einstein’s covariance principle, it is often argued that the out-
come of a calculation cannot depend on a choice of coordinates. However, a
necessary implicit assumption in such an argument is that the physical inter-
pretation of the coordinates does not change. The existence of the Euclidean-
like structure in the frame of reference of a physical space (Lo 2003b) implies
that the physical meaning of coordinates is necessarily gauge-dependent, and
so are measurements. Therefore, the notion of gauge invariant “genuinely
measurable quantities” is merely an illusion in mathematics. And the deflec-
tion of light to second order is an example to Einstein’s covariance principle
being invalid (Lo 2008a).
3) Few theorists in gravitation read beyond a few specialized journals to under-
stand non-linear equations. Many are still unaware of the non-existence of
dynamic solutions (Lo 1995, 2000b). Moreover, many insist on misinterpret-
ing the formula E = mc2 to be unconditionally valid (Lo 1997, 2007d; Lo &
Wong 2007), and ignore the challenge of the Royal Society (Bondi et al. 1959),
who are earlier than Lo (1999a) and Zhou (1983) pointing out that there are
inconsistencies in Einstein’s general relativity. Those theorists, including C. M.
Will and also Eric J. Weinberg, editor of the Physical Review D, are out-dated,
about half a century. The root of the problems is essentially that they failed to
understand Einstein’s equivalence principle (Lo 2008a).
4) Here, Weber & Wheeler (1957) have mistaken Einstein’s “Covariance princi-
ple” as Einstein’s equivalence principle.
5) A common problem among some applied mathematicians is that they often
take a conditionally valid mathematical expression as physically absolute and
thus out of contact with the physical reality. This is a form of confusion on
mathematics and physics. If Professor ‘t Hooft had paid more attention to the
physics of plane-waves, he could have saved himself from making such an
error. Moreover, if he studies more pure mathematics, he will be able to see
that there is no dynamic solution and that Pauli’s version of equivalence prin-
ciple is due to his errors in functional analysis, as illustrated by the example
given by Einstein (Einstein et al. 1923; p. 144).
6) It was believed (Einstein et al. 1938; Feynman 1996) that the two-body prob-
lem could be solved in Einstein’s equation. However, as suspected by Gull-
strand (1921) and conjectured by Hogarth (1953), the opposite is correct (Lo
1995, 2000b).
7) Zhou (1983) pointed out, “The concept that coordinates don’t matter in the
interpretation of Einstein’s theory … necessarily leads to mathematical results
which can hardly have a physical interpretation and are therefore a mystifica-
tion of the theory.” However, from Zhou’s experiment of local light speeds
(Zhou 1987), it is clear that the term “coordinates” in the above statement
should be understood as “meanings of coordinates” or “gauges”. This confu-
sion could be avoided if such physical meanings have been clarified in terms
of measurements (Lo 2003b).
8) Zhou (1987) proposed to measure the local light speeds. However, theorists
such as Ohanian & Ruffini (1994), who do not understand Einstein’s equiva-
lence principle, claimed that the measured light speeds are invariably c. The
fact is that very small differences between light speeds of perpendicular di-
rections have already been detected by the Michelson-Morley (1887) experi-
ment (Miller 1933).
9) These two Princeton Professors failed to justify their assumed initial condi-
tions for a dynamic case. It turns out that their assumption is not justifiable
(Lo 1999a, 2000a).
10) However, as Burton Richter (2006) put it, “I have a very hard time accepting
the fact that some of our distinguished theorists do not understand the differ-
ence between observation and explanation, but it seems to be so.” It was very
difficult to accept that some of our distinguished theoreticians cannot really
tell the difference between mathematics and physics, but it is found to be so.
REFERENCES
1. Bondi,H., Pirani,F. A. E. and Robinson,I.1959.Proc. R. Soc. London A .51:519.
2. Cheng,Tai-Pei .005, Relativity, Gravitation, and Cosmology – a basic intro-
duction (Oxford University Press).
3. Christodoulou,D. & Klainerman,S. 1993. The Global Nonlinear Stability of
the Minkowski Space (Princeton University Press). Princeton Mathematical
series no. 41.
4. Eddington,A. S. 1975, The Mathematical Theory of Relativity (Chelsea,
New York).
5. Einstein A. 1954, The Meaning of Relativity (Princeton Univ. Press).
6. Einstein,A., Infeld L., & Hoffmann,B. 1938. Annals of Math. 39 (1): 65-100.
7. Einstein,A., Lorentz,H. A., Minkowski,H.& Weyl,H. 1923, The Principle of
Relativity (Dover, New York).
8. Einstein,A. & Rosen,N. 1937. J. Franklin Inst. 223: 43 (1937).
9. Feynman,R. P. 1996. The Feynman Lectures on Gravitation (Addison-
Wesley, New York).
10. Fock,V. A.1964, The Theory of Space Time and Gravitation, translated by N.
Kemmer (Pergamon Press).
11. G. ‘t Hooft 2007, claimed that his cylindrical symmetry solution is a wave
packet (private communication, August and September 2007).
12. Gullstrand,A. 1921. Ark. Mat. Astr. Fys. 16, No. 8.
13. Herrera,L., Santos,N. O. & Skea,J. E. F.2003.Gen. Rel. Grav. 35, No.11, 2057
(2003).
14. Hogarth,J. E. 1953. Ph. D. Thesis, Dept. of Math., Royal Holloway College,
University of London, p. 6.
15. Kennefick,D. 2004. “Einstein versus the Physical Review,” Phys. Today (Sep-
tember).
16. Kramer,D., Stephani,H., Herlt,E., & MacCallum,M.1980, Exact Solutions of
Einstein's Field Equations, ed. E. Schmutzer (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cam-
bridge).
17. Landau,L. D. & Lifshitz,E. M. 1962. Classical Theory of Fields (Addison-
Wesley, Reading Mass.).
18. Le,Bas Louise, Publishing Editor, the Royal Society, A Board Member’s
Comments (July 24, 2007).
19. Liu,H. Y. & Zhou,P.-Y. 1985, Scientia Sincia (Series A) 1985, XXVIII (6) 628-
637.
20. Lo,C. Y. 1995, Astrophys. J. 455: 421-428 (Dec. 20).
21. Lo,C. Y. 1997, Astrophys. J. 477:700-704.
22. Lo,C. Y. 1999a, Phys. Essays, 12 (2) : 226-241 (June).
23. Lo,C. Y. 1999b, Phys. Essays 12 (3): 508-526 (September).
24. Lo,C. Y. 2000a. Phys. Essays, 13 (1): 109-120 (March).
25. Lo,C. Y. 2000b, Phys. Essays, 13 (4): 527-539 (December).
26. Lo,C. Y. 2002, Phys. Essays, 15 (3): 303-321 (September).
27. Lo,C. Y. 2003a, Phys. Essays, 16 (1): 84-100 (March).
28. Lo,C. Y. 2003b, Chinese J. of Phys., 41 (4): 332-342 (August).
29. Lo,C. Y. 2005, Phys. Essays, 18 (4): 539 (December).
30. Lo,C. Y. 2006a, Astrophys. Space Sci., 306: 205-215.
31. Lo,C. Y. 2006b, Special Relativity, Misinterpretation of E = Mc2, and Ein-
stein’s Theory of General Relativity, in Proc. IX International Scientific Con-
ference on ‘Space, Time, Gravitation,’ Saint-Petersburg, August 7-11, 2006b.
32. Lo,C. Y. 2007a, Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences, 26D (1): 29 - 42.
33. Lo,C. Y. 2007b, Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences, 26D (2): 73-88.
34. Lo,C. Y. 2007c, Phys. Essays, 20 (3), (Sept.).
35. Lo,C. Y. 2007d, Chin. Phys. (Beijing), 16 (3): 635-639 (March).
36. Lo,C. Y. 2008a, Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences, 27D (1): 1-15.
37. Lo,C. Y. 2008b, The Mass-Charge Repulsive Force and Space-Probes Pioneer
Anomaly, in preparation.
38. Lo,C. Y., Chan D. P., & Hui R. C. Y. 2002, Phys. Essays 15 (1): 77-86 (March).
39. Lo,C. Y. & Wong C. 2006. Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences, 25D (2): 109-
117.
40. Michelson,A. A. & Morley E. W. 1887. Am. J. Sci. 34 : 333-345.
41. Miller,D. C. 1933.Reviews of Modern Physics 5: 203-241 (July).
42. Misner,C. W., Thorne K. S., & Wheeler J. A. 1973. Gravitation (Freeman,
New York).
43. Norton,J. 1989. “What was Einstein’s Principle of Equivalence?” in Einstein’s
Studies Vol. 1: Einstein and the History of General Relativity, eds. D. How-
ard & J. Stachel (Birkhäuser).
I am writing to you because I want to make sure that Professor G. ‘t Hooft would surely
receive my paper, “THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSALITY AND THE CYLINDRI-
CALLY SYMMETRIC METRIC OF EINSTEIN AND ROSEN”, which will be
published in Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences.Vol.27D (No.2) 2008:149 -170.
This paper is my response to his detailed comments (which is faithfully included in the
paper as Professor ‘t Hooft requests) on my earlier paper about the cylindrical symmetric
metric of Einstein and Rosen. Since this paper is not in print yet, he is invited to give fur-
ther clarification of his viewpoints if he feels desirable to give such additions.
Moreover, Professor ‘t Hooft has claimed in the INTERNET that I do not respond to
comments of disagreement. This is simply not true and probably Professor ‘t Hooft was
misinformed. Moreover, I want to let him know personally that this is a groundless misin-
formation. About a month ago I have sent a copy of this paper to him to his email address.
However, he has not acknowledged its reception yet. Moreover, it is also known that his
email address does filter out unimportant emails. This is why I want to be sure he re-
ceives this paper by going through you. Thank you.
The paper is related to an important issue in general relativity that Professor ‘t Hooft and
I disagree. It is on whether Einstein's field equation has a solution for gravitational waves.
Professor ‘t Hooft believes that such wave solutions exist whereas I have proven that no
such wave solutions exist.
Initially, I also believed that such wave solutions exist since the linearized equation of
Einstein has such wave solutions. However, in 1993 I have found that the linearization of
Einstein equation, though valid for the static case, is not valid for the dynamic cases,
from which the gravitational waves would be generated. Then, I start to investigate
whether wave solutions exist for the non-linear Einstein equation, although I believe the
physical existence of gravitational waves.
At first I find that there is no plane-wave solution and then I find that as suspected by
Gullstrand in the report to the Nobel Committee [1], there is no physical solution for a
two-body problem. This paper was published in Astrophysical Journal in 1995 [2]. In re-
sponse to related questions, a supporting paper was published in Physics Essays in 2000
[3]. More recently, a conclusive paper on plane- waves is published in Astrophysical and
Space Science [4].
References
1. Gullstrand,A. 1921. Ark. Mat. Astr. Fys. 16, No. 8.
2. Lo,C. Y. 1995, Astrophys. J. 455: 421-428 (Dec. 20).
3. Lo,C. Y. 2000b, Phys. Essays, 13 (4): 527-539 (December).
4. Lo,C. Y. 2006a, Astrophys. Space Sci., 306: 205-215.