David E. Rutherford
David E. Rutherford | |
|---|---|
| Known for | Alternative electromagnetic transformation equations |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Classical electrodynamics, relativity |
David E. Rutherford is an independent researcher known for proposing a set of alternative transformation equations intended to replace the Lorentz transformations while keeping the spacetime interval invariant. He is listed in The Worldwide List of Dissident Scientists.
Work
In his paper "New Transformation Equations and the Electric Field Four-vector," Rutherford argues that a set of transformation equations exists which can replace the Lorentz equations while still leaving the spacetime interval invariant, but that additional terms must then be added to Maxwell's equations for them to remain covariant, and that the magnitude of electric charge is no longer invariant under his transformation. These proposals depart from standard special relativity and classical electrodynamics, in which the Lorentz transformations and the invariance of charge are foundational.
Rutherford has posted a series of related papers to the viXra preprint repository, addressing topics such as an "Action-Reaction Paradox Resolution," the electromagnetic "4/3 problem," a "Biot-Savart's Companion," a proposed resolution of the cosmological horizon problem, and fitting galaxy rotation curves without dark matter. His work has been circulated on his personal site and referenced in discussions of non-standard classical electrodynamics.