A heuristic resolution of the Abraham-Minkowski controversy

Abstract

This paper reviews the history and origin of the Abraham-Minkowski controversy and points out that it is a continuation of the controversy over the speed of light in medium. Upon considering an aircraft flying at a constant speed along the great-circle route from the perspective of a geosynchronous space station, we show that the A-M controversy arises from non-local observation. The relative motion refractive index and the gravitational field refractive index are defined by the space-time metric tensor, which reveals the A-M controversy hidden in special and general relativity. As another example, we take light propagating over the surface of the sun, and show that Minkowski and Abraham forces are responsible for the gravitational deflection of light and the Shapiro time delay, respectively. Overall, we heuristically conclude that non-local observation is the cause of the A-M controversy.

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