Lorentz Transformations

What is Lorentz Transformation?

Lorentz transformation is the relationship between two different coordinate frames that move at a constant velocity and are relative to each other. The name of the transformation comes from Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz.

There are two frames of reference, which are:

1. Inertial Frames – Motion with a constant velocity
2. Non-Inertial Frames – Rotational motion with constant angular velocity, acceleration in curved paths

Lorentz transformation is only related to change in the inertial frames, usually in the context of special relativity. This transformation is a type of linear transformation in which mapping occurs between 2 modules that include vector spaces. In linear transformation, the operations of scalar multiplication and additions are preserved. This transformation has a number of instinctive features, such as the observer that is moving at different velocities may measure elapsed times, different distances, and ordering of events but the condition that needs to be followed is that the speed of light should be the same in all the inertial frames.

Lorentz transformation can also include rotation of space, a rotation that is free of this transformation is called Lorentz Boost. The space-time interval which occurs between any two events is preserved by this transformation.

Lorentz Transformation Formula

Following are the mathematical form of Lorentz transformation:

\(\begin{array}{l}t’=\gamma (t-\frac{vx}{c^{2}})x’=\gamma (x-vt)y’=yz’=z\end{array} \)

Where,

• (t,x,y,z) and (t’,x’,y’,z’) are the coordinates of an event in two frames.
• v is the velocity confined to x-direction
• c is the speed of light.

Lorentz Transformation Equations

In the reference frame ‘F’ which is stationary, the coordinates defined are x, y, z, and t. In another reference frame F’ moves at a velocity v which are relative to F and the observer defines coordinates in this moving reference frame as x’ , y’ , z’ , t’. In both the reference frames the coordinate axis is parallel and they remain mutually perpendicular. The relative motion is along the xx’ axes. At t = t’ = 0, the origins in both reference frames are same (x,y,z) = (x’,y’,z’) = (0,0,0)

If the events x, y, z, t are recorded in reference frames F then in F’ these coordinates have the following value:

\(\begin{array}{l}x^{‘}=\frac{x-vt}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}}\end{array} \)

\(\begin{array}{l}t^{‘}=\frac{t-\frac{vx}{c^{2}}}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}}\end{array} \)

\(\begin{array}{l}y’=y\end{array} \)

\(\begin{array}{l}z’=z\end{array} \)

\(\begin{array}{l}\gamma =\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}}\end{array} \)

Here lowercase gamma is the Lorentz factor

Then the above equation becomes as follows and is known is Lorentz transformation:

\(\begin{array}{l}x’=\gamma (x-vt)\end{array} \)

\(\begin{array}{l}t’=\gamma (t-\frac{vx}{c^{2}})\end{array} \)

y’ = y

z’ = z

The above equations are collectively known as Galilean transformation.

Related Articles:

Lorentz Transformation Derivation

Dirac Equation

Lorentz Transformation Example

Q1. Calculate the time interval of the signal using Lorentz transformation when a spacecraft S’ is crossed by another spacecraft S at a speed of c/2 on their way to Alpha Centauri. When spacecraft S crosses S’, the captain of S’ sends a signal that lasts for 1.2s. The fine time interval of the single. 

Ans: Given:

\(\begin{array}{l}\vartriangle t^{‘}= t_{2}^{‘}-t_{1}^{‘} = 1.2s\end{array} \)

\(\begin{array}{l}\vartriangle x^{‘}=x_{2}^{‘}-x_{1}^{‘} = 0\end{array} \)

The time signal starts and ends at (x’, t₁^‘)

Using the first Lorentz transformation equation we get,

Δt = t₂ – t₁

Δx = x₂ – x₁

\(\begin{array}{l}\Delta t=\frac{\Delta t’+\frac{v\Delta x’}{c^{2}}}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}}\end{array} \)

As the time interval of S’ is fixed, we can consider Δx’ = 0 and the time interval δt becomes:

\(\begin{array}{l}\Delta t=\frac{\Delta t’}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^{2}}{c^{2}}}}\end{array} \)

Substituting Δt’ = 1.2s we get

\(\begin{array}{l}\Delta t=\frac{1.2s}{\sqrt{1-(\frac{1}{2})^{2}}}\end{array} \)

Δt = 1.6s

Physical Implications

The invariance of the speed of light is one of the critical requirements for Lorentz Transformation, this fact is also used in the derivation of this equation.

There are 3 unintuitive but correct predictions of Lorentz transformations which are:

1. Length Contraction
2. Time Dilation
3. Relativity of Simultaneity

Watch the video to learn more about magnetic lines and its properties

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1

How does the Lorentz transformation work?

The relationship between two distinct coordinate frames that are moving relative to one another at a steady velocity is known as a Lorentz transformation.

Q2

What is the purpose of Lorentz transformation?

A series of equations known as the Lorentz transformations link the space and time coordinates of two systems moving relative to one another at a constant velocity.

Q3

What causes the Lorentz transformation to be linear?

The Lorentz transformation, like the Galilean transformation, is linear because the relative velocity of the reference frames is constant as a vector; otherwise, inertial forces occur.

Q4

What are the effects of the Lorentz transformation?

One of the most noticeable effects of the Lorentz transformation is that simultaneity as a universal term must be abandoned. Simultaneity is also relative.

Q5

What is the meaning of the name Lorentz?

The prestigious and historic German surname Lorentz is derived from the given name “Lorens,” which is a German and Scandinavian version of the Latin given name “Lawrence,” meaning “man from Laurentium.” The name Lorentz, which means “son of Lorens,” was probably originally used by a person with the same name.