Forest Relativity Notes

Lorentz Transformations

[math]x^{\mu^{\prime}} = \sum_{\nu=0}^3 \Lambda_{\nu}^{\mu} x^{\nu}[/math]

where

[math] x^0 \equiv ct[/math]

[math]x^1 \equiv x[/math]

[math]x^2\equiv y[/math]

[math]x^3\equiv z[/math]

[math]\Lambda = \left [ \begin{matrix} \gamma & -\gamma \beta & 0 & 0 \\ -\gamma \beta & \gamma &0 &0 \\ 0 &0 &1 &0 \\ 0 &0 &0 &1\end{matrix} \right ][/math]

example

[math]x^{0^{\prime}} = \sum_{\nu=0}^2 \Lambda_{\nu}^0 x^{\nu} = \Lambda_0^0 x^0 + \Lambda_1^0 x^1 \Lambda_2^0 x^2 + \Lambda_3^0 x^2[/math]

[math]= \gamma x^0 - \gamma \beta x^1 + 0 x^2 + 0 x^3 = \gamma ct - \gamma \beta x = \gamma(ct -\beta x)[/math]