An introduction to the Kaluza-Klein formulation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31349/RevMexFisE.17.27

Keywords:

Kaluza--Klein theory, geodesics, symmetries, Klein--Gordon equation

Abstract

We give an elementary introduction to the Kaluza-Klein formulation, in which the gravitational and the electromagnetic fields are represented in the geometry of a five-dimensional space. We show that, in the framework of general relativity, the interaction of a point particle, or of a charged spin-zero field, with a gravitational and an electromagnetic field can be obtained through the metric of a five-dimensional space. We also show that the symmetries of the metric of this five-dimensional space lead to constants of motion for the point particles, or to operators that commute with the Klein--Gordon operator. A common misunderstanding related to the unification of gravitation and electromagnetism given by the Kaluza--Klein formulation is discussed.

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Published

2020-01-28

How to Cite

[1]
G. F. Torres del Castillo, “An introduction to the Kaluza-Klein formulation”, Rev. Mex. Fis. E, vol. 17, no. 1 Jan-Jun, pp. 27–32, Jan. 2020.