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

Einsteins assumption: the speed of light is independent of

the (constant ) velocity, v, of the observer. It forms the
basis for special relativity.
Speed of light = C = |r2 r1| / (t2 t1) = |r2 r1 | / (t2 t1)
= |dr/dt| = |dr/dt|

C2 = |dr|2/dt2 = |dr|2 /dt 2

Both measure the same speed!

This can be rewritten:

d(Ct)2 - |dr|2 = d(Ct)2 - |dr|2 = 0

d(Ct)2 - dx2 - dy2 - dz2 = d(Ct)2 dx2 dy2 dz2

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.

A Lorentz transformation relates position and time in the

two frames.
Sometimes it is called a
boost .

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relativ/ltrans.html#c2

How does one derive the transformation?

Only need two special cases.

Eq. 1
Transformation matrix relates
differentials
a b
f h

+b

+h

Recall the
picture
of the two
frames
measuring the
speed of the
same
light signal.

Next step: calculate right hand

side of Eq. 1 using matrix result
for cdt and dx.

=1

=0

= -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 under
the (Lorentz) transformation matrix.
2
2
2
2
It hasthat
the same
in all
frames
(=0
).
Recall
(cdt)value
(dx)
(dy)
(dz)
is an
This is a special invariant, however.
invariant.

Suppose we consider the four-vector:

px , py , pz )

(E/c,

(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 c 2

So, for a particle (in any frame)

covariant and contravariant

components*

*For more details about contravariant and covariant components see

http://web.mst.edu/~hale/courses/M402/M402_notes/M402-Chapter2/M402-Chapter2.pd

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
product

You can think of the 4-vector dot product as follows:

covariant
components

contravariant
components

Why all these minus signs?

Einsteins 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

covariant
components

contravariant
components

4-dimensional vector
component notation

x
=0,1,2,3
contravariant
components

x
=0,1,2,3
covariant
components

( x0 , x1 , x2 , x 3 )
= ( ct, x, y, z )
= (ct, r)
( x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 )
= ( ct, -x, -y, -z )
= (ct, -r)

partial derivatives
/x
=
/z)

4-dimensional
gradient operator

(/(ct) , /x , /y ,
3-dimensional
gradient operator

( /(ct) , )

partial derivatives
Note
this is not
equal to

/x
=

(/(ct) , -/x , - /y , -

/z)

They differ by a
minus sign.

( /(ct) , -)

Invariant dot products using

4-component notation
contravaria
nt
covaria
nt

x x = =0,1,2,3 x x
Einstein summation notation

(repeated index one up, one down) summation)

x x

= (ct)2 -x2 -y2 -z2

Invariant dot products using

4-component notation

= =0,1,2,3
Einstein summation notation

(repeated index summation

)

= 2/(ct)2 - 2
2

2/x2 + 2/y2 +

Any four vector dot product has the

same value
in all frames moving with constant
velocity w.r.t. each other.
Examples:

xx
p p

p x

For the graduate

students:
Consider ct = f(ct,x,y,z)
Using the chain rule:
d(ct) = [f/(ct)]d(ct) +
Summation
[f/(x)]dx
+ [f/(y)]dy over
+ implied
[f/(z)]dz

d(ct)

First row of Lorentz

transformation.

= [ (ct)/x ] dx

= L 0 dx

4x4 Lorentz
transformation.

For the graduate

students:
dx = [ x/x ] dx
= L dx
/x

= [ x/x ]

/x
=

/x

Invariance:
dx dx

= L dx L dx
= (x/x)( x/x)dx

dx
= [x/x ] 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.