Charge, geometry, and effective mass

Abstract

Charge, like mass in Newtonian mechanics, is an irreducible element of electromagnetic theory that must be introduced ab initio. Its origin is not properly a part of the theory. Fields are then defined in terms of forces on either masses--in the case of Newtonian mechanics, or charges in the case of electromagnetism. General Relativity changed our way of thinking about the gravitational field by replacing the concept of a force field with the curvature of space-time. Mass, however, remained an irreducible element. It is shown here that the Reissner-Nordstrom solution to the Einstein field equations tells us that charge, like mass, has a unique space-time signature.

To appear in Foundations of Physics. 15 pages, 1 figure. Minor changes and additions

References in corpus (2)

• The Dynamics of General Relativity
• Kretschmann Scalar for a Kerr-Newman Black Hole

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Regularised Kalb-Ramond Magnetic Monopole with Finite Energy
• Simpler than vacuum: Antiscalar alternatives to black holes
• Fundamental scalar fields and the dark side of the universe
• Nonstatic Reissner-Nordström metric in the perturbative $f(R)$ theory: Embedding in the background of the FLRW cosmology, uniqueness of solutions, the TOV equation
• Quantum Mechanics and Motion: A Modern Perspective
• Charge, geometry, and effective mass in the Kerr-Newman solution to the Einstein field equations