Heidelberg 2007 – scientific programme

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AKPhil: Arbeitskreis Philosophie der Physik

AKPhil 9: Histroy and Philosophy of Physics 2

AKPhil 9.1: Talk

Friday, March 9, 2007, 11:00–11:30, KIP SR 3.401

From the origin of forces to the origin of mass. Euler’s algorithm for the definition of inert mass - reconsidered — •Heinz Lübbig¹ and Dieter Suisky² — ¹Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt Berlin — ²Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

In this contribution the concept of mass will be analyzed. Historically, (i) Newton considered the heavy mass being as a universal property the origin of forces which manifest themselves in the interaction of bodies. Independently of the mass of bodies, the interaction is described by the same universal parameter, the gravitation constant. (ii) Following Newton in the method, Euler introduced an algorithm to define different inert masses which manifest themselves also in the interaction of bodies. Independently of the mass, Euler assigned the same impenetrability to the bodies which is considered as the origin of forces. However, neither Newton nor Euler explained the origin of mass. Recently, an algorithm for the origin of mass had been proposed where different masses of elementary particles result from the interaction executed by massless particles. Using QCD, Wilczek determined theoretically the numerical values of the proton and neutron masses in terms of the equivalent energy carried by moving gluons, i.e. massless subnuclear particles. The mediatory function of the gauge invariance-principle is indicated. In addition, as a gluon-analog the role of the (massless) photon in photon-assisted macroscopic quantum dynamics (of Bosons: Josephson effect, and Fermions: rational Quantum-Hall effect) is demonstrated which is as a consequence of the contingent flux quantum/charge-duality.