Is the Lorentz signature of the metric of spacetime electromagnetic in origin? (Q1827531)

The authors state a premetric version of classical electrodynamics in terms of the excitation \(H = (\mathcal H,\mathcal D)\) and the field strength \(F = (E, B)\). The field equations, the Lorentz force, and the conservation law for energy-momentum are formulated in a metric-free form. The spacetime relation is assumed to be local, linear, and symmetric. The field equations and the Lorentz force are shown to be compatible with a certain energy-momentum current \(\Sigma_\alpha\). In order to provide a physical interpretation of the 4-dimensional quantities, the authors construct their \((1+3)\)-decompositions with a number of free sign factors. A specific symmetry of the energy-momentum current \(\Sigma_\alpha\), namely electric/magnetic reciprocity, is observed. In \((1+3)\)-decomposition it translates into an exchange between electric and magnetic fields. If electric/magnetic reciprocity is applied to the spacetime relation, it yields a metric of Lorentzian type. For all possible signatures of the 4-dimensional metric, the expressions for the electric and magnetic energy densities are obtained. The metric of a Lorentzian type turns out to be related to a positive electromagnetic energy density. This result does not depend on the values of the sign factors. The \((1+3)\)-decompositions of the field equations are analyzed. It is derived which sign factors are conventional and which do depend on the signature. The electric charge has two possible signs for all signatures. For all signatures, the features of the interactions between charges (Dufay's law) and between currents (Lenz's rule) are derived. It is shown that the Lorentzian signature of the metric of spacetime originates in properties of the electromagnetic spacetime relation \(H = H(F)\). If the spacetime relation is local, linear, and symmetric, the requirement of electric/magnetic reciprocity induces the lightcone (with Lorentzian signature) and a positive definite electromagnetic energy together with Dufay's law and Lenz's rule.