% vim: tw=50 % 10/03/2022 10AM \noindent We see that \[ X \cdot X = ct^2 - x^2 - y^2 - z^2 \] is the invariant interval $\Delta s^2$ between the origin and point $P$. 4-vectors with $X \cdot X > 0$ are called timelike, $X \cdot X < 0$ are called spacelike and $X \cdot X = 0$ are called null. \myskip We redefine a Lorentz transformation as a $4 \times 4$ matrix $\Lambda$, rotating the coords in frame $S$ to those in $S'$ such that \[ \ub{X'}_{\text{4-vector in $S$'}} = \ub{\Lambda}_{4 \times 4 \text{ matrix}} \ub{X}_{\text{4-vector in $S$}} \] Lorentz transformations are now defined to be any matrix which leaves the inner product invariant, \[ X' \cdot X' = X \cdot X \qquad \forall\,\, X \] i.e. \[ \Lambda^\top \eta \Lambda = \eta \tag{\ddag} \] There are 2 classes of solution to this equation: \begin{itemize} \item If $R$ is a $3 \times 3$ matrix obeying $R^\top R = I_{3 \times 3}$ i.e. $R$ is a rotation matrix (+ reflection). (one can parametrise $R$ by three angles of rotation - one around each axis). \[ \Lambda = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & & & \\ 0 & & R & \\ 0 & & & \end{pmatrix} \] \item A boost in the $x$-direction: \[ \Lambda = \begin{pmatrix} \gamma & -\frac{\gamma v}{c} & 0 & 0 \\ -\frac{\gamma v}{c} & \gamma & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \end{pmatrix} \] (Two further ones in $y$- and $z$-directions). \end{itemize} The set of all matrices solving (\ddag) form the \emph{Lorentz group} (a group under matrix multiplication) denoted $O(1, 3)$. \myskip Taking $\det(\ddag)$, $+(\det \Lambda)^2 = +1$ hence $\det \Lambda = \pm 1$. \\ The subgroup with $\det \Lambda = +1$ is called the \emph{proper Lorentz group}. Additionally requiring $\lambda_0^0 > 0$ leads to another subgroup, the \emph{proper orthochronous Lorentz group}, denoted $SO(1, 3)^\uparrow$ or $SO(1, 3)^+$. (the $S$ means special, and means that $\det \Lambda = +1$) \subsubsection*{Rapidity} Focus on upper $2 \times 2$ block of $\Lambda$, boost in $x$-direction. \[ \Lambda [v] = \begin{pmatrix} \gamma & -\frac{\gamma v}{c} \\ -\frac{\gamma v}{c} \gamma \end{pmatrix} \] Combining two successive boosts in the $x$-direction, \[ \Lambda [v_1] \Lambda [v_2] = \begin{pmatrix} \gamma_1 & -\frac{\gamma_1 v_1}{c} \\ -\frac{\gamma_1 v_1}{c} & \gamma_1 \end{pmatrix} \begin{pmatrix} \gamma_2 & -\frac{\gamma_2 v_2}{c} \\ -\frac{\gamma_2 v_2}{c} & \gamma_2 \end{pmatrix} = \cdots = \Lambda \left[ \frac{v_1 + v_2}{1 + \frac{v_1 v_2}{c}} \right] \] i.e. compatible with our velocity addition formula from last lecture. \myskip There's a much nicer way of doing this. \\ Recall that, for 2D rotations, \[ R(\theta) = \begin{pmatrix} \cos\theta & \sin\theta \\ -\sin\theta & \cos\theta \end{pmatrix} \implies R(\theta_1)R(\theta_2) = R(\theta_1 + \theta_2) \] - do an analogous thing for Lorentz boosts. \myskip For Lorentz boosts, we define the \emph{rapidity}, $\phi$, defined by $\gamma = \cosh \phi$, so \[ \sinh \phi = \sqrt{\cosh^2 \phi - 1} = \sqrt{\gamma^2 - 1} = \frac{\gamma v}{c} \] \[ \implies \Lambda [\phi] = \begin{pmatrix} \cosh \phi & -\sinh \phi \\ -\sinh \phi & \cosh \phi \end{pmatrix} \] so that rapidities just add, like angles of rotation: \[ \Lambda [\phi_1] \Lambda [\phi_2] = \Lambda [\phi_1 + \phi_2] \] - shows the relationships between rotations and boosts. \begin{remark*} $c \approx 3.00 \times 10^8 \mathsf{ms^{-1}}$. In fact $c = 299792458 \mathsf{ms^{-1}}$ exactly because this is how the metre is defined: \[ 1 \mathsf{m} = \text{distance travelled by light in $\frac{1}{299792458}$ seconds.} \] Could have defined $c$ to be 1 (light second) $\mathsf{s^{-1}}$. (later on in tripos, you'll redefine units such that $c = 1$) \end{remark*} \subsubsection*{4-velocity} \[ \Delta s^2 = c^2 \Delta t'^2 \] \begin{center} \includegraphics[width=0.6\linewidth] {images/a04679eec59811ec.png} \end{center} We define \emph{propertime $\tau$} as \[ \Delta \tau = \frac{\Delta s}{c} \] the time experienced by the particle, but $\Delta \tau = \frac{\Delta s}{c}$ holds in all inertial frames, since $\Delta s$ is invariant under Lorentz transformations.