Relativistic Invariance (Lorentz invariance) The laws of physics are invariant under a transformation between two coordinate frames moving at constant velocity w.r.t. each other. (The world is not invariant, but the laws of physics are!)
Feb 23, 2016
Relativistic Invariance(Lorentz invariance)
The laws of physics are invariant under a transformation between two
coordinate frames moving at constant velocity w.r.t. each other.
(The world is not invariant, but the laws of physics are!)
Review: Special Relativity
Speed of light = C = |r2 – r1| / (t2 –t1) = |r2’ – r1
’ | / (t2’ –t1
‘) = |dr/dt| = |dr’/dt’|
Einstein’s assumption: the speed of light is independent of the (constant ) velocity, v, of the observer. It forms the basis for special relativity.
This can be rewritten: d(Ct)2 - |dr|2 = d(Ct’)2 - |dr’|2 = 0
d(Ct)2 - dx2 - dy2 - dz2 = d(Ct’)2 – dx’2 – dy’2 – dz’2
d(Ct)2 - dx2 - dy2 - dz2 is an invariant! It has the same value in all frames ( = 0 ).
|dr| is the distance light moves in dt w.r.t the fixed frame.
C2 = |dr|2/dt2 = |dr’|2 /dt’ 2 Both measure the same speed!
• http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/ltrans.html#c2
A Lorentz transformation relates position and time in the two frames. Sometimes it is called a “boost” .
How does one “derive” the transformation?Only need two special cases.
Recall the pictureof the two framesmeasuring thespeed of the samelight signal.
Next step: calculate right hand side of Eq. 1 using matrix result for cdt’ and dx’.
Eq. 1
Transformation matrix relates differentials
a bf h
a + bf + h
= 0= 1 = -1
c[- + v/c] dt =0 = v/c
But, we are not going to need the transformation matrix!
We only need to form quantities which are invariant underthe (Lorentz) transformation matrix.
Recall that (cdt)2 – (dx)2– (dy)2 – (dz)2 is an invariant.
It has the same value in all frames ( = 0 ). This is a special invariant, however.
Suppose we consider the four-vector: (E/c, px , py , pz )
(E/c)2 – (px)2– (py)2 – (pz)2 is also invariant. In the center of mass of a particle this is equal to
(mc2 /c)2 – (0)2– (0)2 – (0)2 = m2 c2
So, for a particle (in any frame)
(E/c)2 – (px)2– (py)2 – (pz)2 = m2 c2
covariant and contravariant components*
*For more details about contravariant and covariant components seehttp://web.mst.edu/~hale/courses/M402/M402_notes/M402-Chapter2/M402-Chapter2.pdf
The metric tensor, g, relates covariant and contravariant components
covariant components
contravariant components
Using indices instead of x, y, z
covariant components
contravariant components
4-dimensional dot productYou can think of the 4-vector dot product as follows:
covariant components
contravariant components
Why all these minus signs?
• Einstein’s assumption (all frames measure the same speed of light) gives :
d(Ct)2 - dx2 - dy2 – dz2 = 0 From this one obtains the speed of light. It must be positive! C = [dx2 + dy2 + dz2]1/2 /dt
Four dimensional gradient operator
contravariant components
covariant components
= g
4-dimensional vectorcomponent notation
• xµ ( x0, x1 , x2, x3 ) µ=0,1,2,3
= ( ct, x, y, z ) = (ct, r)
• xµ ( x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 ) µ=0,1,2,3 = ( ct, -x, -y, -z ) = (ct, -r)
contravariant components
covariant components
partial derivatives
/xµ µ
= (/(ct) , /x , /y , /z) = ( /(ct) , )
3-dimensional gradient operator
4-dimensionalgradient operator
partial derivatives
/xµ µ
= (/(ct) , -/x , - /y , - /z) = ( /(ct) , -)
Note this is not
equal to
They differ by a
minus sign.
Invariant dot products using4-component notation
xµ xµ = µ=0,1,2,3 xµ xµ
(repeated index one up, one down) summation)
xµ xµ = (ct)2 -x2 -y2 -z2
Einstein summation notation
covariant
contravariant
Invariant dot products using4-component notation
µµ = µ=0,1,2,3 µµ (repeated index summation )
= 2/(ct)2 - 2
2 = 2/x2 + 2/y2 + 2/z2
Einstein summation notation
Any four vector dot product has the same valuein all frames moving with constant
velocity w.r.t. each other.
Examples:
xµxµ pµxµ pµpµ µµ
pµµ µAµ
For the graduate students: Consider ct = f(ct,x,y,z) Using the chain rule:
d(ct) = [f/(ct)]d(ct) + [f/(x)]dx + [f/(y)]dy + [f/(z)]dz
d(ct) = [ (ct)/x ] dx
= L 0 dx
dx = [ x/x ] dx = L
dx
First row of Lorentz
transformation.
Summation
over implied
4x4 Lorentz
transformation.
For the graduate students: dx = [ x/x ] dx
= L dx
/x = [ x/x ] /x
= L /x
Invariance: dx dx = L
dx L
dx
= (x/x)( x/x)dx dx
= [x/x ] dx dx
= dx dx
= dx dx
Lorentz Invariance
• Lorentz invariance of the laws of physics is satisfied if the laws are cast in terms of four-vector dot products!• Four vector dot products are said to be “Lorentz scalars”.• In the relativistic field theories, we must use “Lorentz scalars” to express the interactions.