General Lorenz transformation is not group

In summary: Poincare group also includes translations, and the full group is sometimes called the inhomogeneous Lorentz group. Archi, you have to understand that the word "general" does not mean "most general" here. We are talking about the "general" Lorentz transformation, which means a Lorentz transformation that includes rotations. It is a subgroup of the Poincare group, which includes translations and rotations. The "special" Lorentz transformation is a subgroup of the Lorentz group, which doesn't include rotations.
  • #1
archipatelin
26
0
Is corretct, that a general lorenz transformation don't satisfaction axioms of group structure?

Let, GL(A,B) is general Lorenz transformacion from a frame A to frame B, which B is moveing a velocity V with respect to A.
And GL(B,C) is likewise G. L. from B to C. A frame C has a valocity U with respect to B.
Further, Letter W is velocity U observe in frame A.

BUT. Transformation GL(A,C) from frame A to C, where C is moveing just velocity W (to A) is NOT identity with rolling transformacions GL(A,B) (V) "+" GL(B,C)(U)!

I know. This is centrality for new relativistic effect: Thomas precession.

But, I cannot accept, that operation composing of General Lorenez transformations don't make again General Lorenz transformation (a set is not close for this operation).

How, do you explain this?
thx
 
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  • #2
archipatelin said:
Is corretct, that a general lorenz transformation don't satisfaction axioms of group structure?

Let, GL(A,B) is general Lorenz transformacion from a frame A to frame B, which B is moveing a velocity V with respect to A.
And GL(B,C) is likewise G. L. from B to C. A frame C has a valocity U with respect to B.
Further, Letter W is velocity U observe in frame A.

BUT. Transformation GL(A,C) from frame A to C, where C is moveing just velocity W (to A) is NOT identity with rolling transformacions GL(A,B) (V) "+" GL(B,C)(U)!
Not true, GL(A,C) should give the same answer as taking the transformation GL(A,B) and then applying the transformation GL(B,C) to the result. I'm not sure if when you write "general Lorentz transformation" you want to consider arbitrary rotations, but as long as we assume the x-axes of each frame are parallel, then it's not too hard to show this with a little algebra, you just have to keep in mind that according to relativistic velocity addition, the velocity W of C relative to A should be equal to (V + U)/(1 + V*U/c^2).
 
  • #3
NO! This is correct for SPECIAL Lorenz transformation (where velocities are in direct axes X).
BUT I think GENERAL Lorenz transformation, where velicities are general vecor V=(Vx,Vy,Vz). There is this problem for me.
 
  • #4
The math would be more complicated for Lorentz transformation that includes rotations...maybe you can show your calculations so others could check them? The Lorentz group does allow for rotations, so if your calculations seem to show it's not a group you must be making an error somewhere.
 
  • #5
Concretely.
GL(A,B): frame B is moveing velocity V=(Vx,0,0) - this is in direct axys X of frame A velocity Vx.
GL(B,C): frame C is movieng velocity U=(0,0,Uz) - in direct axys Z of B (speed Uz)

Velocity W (U with respect A) such is W=(Vx,0,Uz/sqrt(1-Vx^2/c^2)).

Insert it (W) to general form lorentz transformation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_transformation" [Broken]
obtained GL(A,C). But this transformation isn't as apply GL(B,C) and than GL(A,B).
This frames are differs in a rotating.
 
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  • #6
archipatelin said:
Concretely.
GL(A,B): frame B is moveing velocity V=(Vx,0,0) - this is in direct axys X of frame A velocity Vx.
GL(B,C): frame C is movieng velocity U=(0,0,Uz) - in direct axys Z of B (speed Uz)

Velocity W (U with respect A) such is W=(Vx,0,Uz/sqrt(1-Vx^2/c^2)).
How'd you get that answer for the velocity of C relative to A?

I don't know the general formula for velocity addition with rotated frames, but if the origin of C is moving straight up along B's z'-axis, then at time t' in the B frame, the origin of C is at position x'=0, y'=0, z'=t'*Uz

And if an event happens at x', y', z', t' in B's frame, then in A's frame this should be:

x = gamma*(x' + Vx*t')
y = y'
z = z'
t = gamma*(t' + Vx*x'/c^2)

with gamma = 1/sqrt(1 - Vx^2/c^2)

So the event above on the worldline of C's origin should have the following coordinates in A's frame:

x = gamma*(Vx*t')
y = 0
z = t'*Uz
t = gamma*(t')

Since the origin of C was at x=y=z=0 at time t=0 in A's frame, the x-component of the velocity of the origin of C must be (distance along x-axis)/(time) = gamma*(Vx*t')/gamma*t' = Vx in A's frame, which agrees with what you wrote, while the z-component of the velocity must be (distance along z-axis)/(time) = t'*Uz/gamma*t' = Uz/gamma = Uz*sqrt(1 - Vx^2/c^2), which is different than what you wrote. So I say the velocity W of C in A's frame should be W=(Vx, 0, Uz*sqrt(1-Vx^2/c^2)). Do you disagree?
 
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  • #7
Yes. You have right W=(Vx,0,Uz*sqrt(1-Vx^2/c^2). But it was only typing error :)
However, this problem is still here.
 
  • #8
The "general Lorentz transform" is a group, it is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poincar%C3%A9_group" [Broken] and essentially consists of translations, rotations, and boosts.
 
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  • #9
archipatelin, you seem only to be considering boosts, which are Lorentz transformations, but which aren't the most general Lorentz transformations. A general Lorentz transformation can always be expressed as the product of a boost and (as JesseM noted) a rotation The set of all general Lorentz forms a group, but the subset of all boosts does not form a subgroup of the Lorentz group. A product of two non-colinear boosts involves a rotation that is often called a Wigner rotation. In other words,

B_1 B_2 = BR.

This does satisfy closure of the Lorentz group, since rotations are also Lorentz transformations.

Also, be careful with notation: GL is often used to denote the general linear group.
DaleSpam said:
The "general Lorentz transform" is a group, it is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poincar%C3%A9_group" [Broken] and essentially consists of translations, rotations, and boosts.

Actually, the Lorentz group, which is generated by boosts and rotations (no translations) is a proper subgroup of the Poincare group.
 
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  • #10
DaleSpam said:
The "general Lorentz transform" is a group, it is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poincar%C3%A9_group" [Broken] and essentially consists of translations, rotations, and boosts.

Yes, I know general lorentz group is Poincare group. But I think this: composition two "general" lorentz transformations (=lorentz transformation for arbitrary vector of valocity) are not "general" lorentz transformation (lorentz transformation for transformated valocity vector). But it is composition of this and specific rotations. Existing this nontrivial rotation is problem for me.
 
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  • #11
George Jones said:
Actually, the Lorentz group, which is generated by boosts and rotations (no translations) is a proper subgroup of the Poincare group.
Good point. I always jump right to the Poincare group since the laws of physics seem to be translation invariant also, but you are of course correct.
 
  • #12
archipatelin said:
Yes, I know general lorentz group is Poincare group. But I think this: composition two "general" lorentz transformations (=lorentz transformation for arbitrary vector of valocity) are not "general" lorentz transformation (lorentz transformation for transformated valocity vector). But it is composition of this and specific rotations. Existing this nontrivial rotation is problem for me.
As both JesseM and George Jones have pointed out, that is well known and is why the Lorentz group includes boosts and rotations. You are correct, the boosts do not form a group. That is well known. The boosts and rotations form a group (Lorentz group) as do the boosts, rotations, and translations (Poincare group).
 
  • #13
I agree, boost with rotation is group structure.My problem is this: I am siting on frame A and observe friend who sit on frame B. This frame (B) is moveing general vector of valocity with respect to me (A). He something measure there (on B) and I mesure this thing here (on A). Transformation between our values is "general" lorentz transformations, true?
Let now exist third observer and his frame C. He also measure this same thing.
And I say he got a measured value, but this value is consisten with his frame C and so do "general" Lorentz transformation to me frame A. But this value in my frame isn't identiy with what I measure (missing this rotation). This is my crucial problem.
 
  • #14
Yes, because the boosts do not form a group. Again, this is well known!

The key point that I think you are missing is that "friend who sit on frame B" (which I assume means that your friend is at rest in reference frame B) does not uniquely define reference frame B. In fact, your friend is at rest in an infinite number of inertial reference frames. These reference frames are related to one another via translations and rotations. This is fundamentally why the Poincare group must include translations boosts and rotations and not just boosts.
 
  • #15
You say: if frame A and B are parallel and simultaneously B and C are parallel then A and C needn't be parallel (relation of be parallel isn't transitiv)?
 
  • #16
That is correct. (Not what I said, but still correct)
 
  • #17
Not sure if it will help, but the general velocity addition law is

[tex]\vec u\oplus\vec v=\frac{1}{1+\vec u\cdot\vec v}\bigg(\vec u+\vec v+\frac{\gamma_{\vec u}}{1+\gamma_{\vec u}}\vec u\times(\vec u\times\vec v)\bigg)[/tex]

There is a way to express this that at least looks simpler. If we write a Lorentz transformation as

[tex]\Lambda(v)=\gamma\begin{pmatrix}1 & -v^T\beta \\ -v & \beta\end{pmatrix},\quad\gamma=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-v^Tv}}, \quad\beta\beta^T=\frac{I}{\gamma^2}+vv^T[/tex]

where v is a 3x1 matrix and [itex]\beta[/itex] is a 3x3 matrix, the velocity addition law can be expressed as

[tex]u\oplus v=\frac{u+\beta_u v}{1+u^Tv}[/tex]

To see that these two are the same, you would have to use the fact that a pure boost has a [itex]\beta[/itex] that satisfies

[tex]\beta x=x_\parallel+\frac 1 \gamma x_\perp[/tex]

for arbitrary 3x1 matrices x, where [itex]x_\parallel[/itex] is the projection of x onto the direction of v, and [itex]x_\perp[/itex] is the projection of x onto the plane that's perpendicular to v. We can use this to show that the [itex]\beta[/itex] of a pure boost is

[tex]\beta=\frac{I}{\gamma}+\left(1-\frac{1}{\gamma}\right)\frac{vv^T}{v^Tv}[/tex]

and then use that to prove that the two forms of the velocity addition law are equivalent.
 
  • #18
Thank you everybody for help!
I see. I thought intuitively (corse wrongly), that they frames are mutually in parallel relation. For special lorentz transformation (movement is on shared axis X), where is contracting just axis X and Y,Z are no changes, relation of parallel is true. But for general direct of valocity (general lorentz transformation) is occurs a contraction of each axis (X,Y,Z) in direct of velocity.Therefore cannot speak about parallel, and exist a appended rotating tranformation is needed.
Thus to understand the new.
 

1. What is the General Lorenz transformation?

The General Lorenz transformation is a mathematical formula used in physics to describe the relationship between space and time. It is named after the German physicist Hendrik Lorentz and was first introduced in 1904.

2. Why is the General Lorenz transformation not considered a group?

A group is a mathematical structure that follows certain rules, such as closure, associativity, identity element, and inverse element. However, the General Lorenz transformation does not satisfy all of these rules and therefore cannot be considered a group.

3. What are the implications of the General Lorenz transformation not being a group?

The fact that the General Lorenz transformation is not a group has implications in the field of physics, specifically in the theory of relativity. It means that certain calculations and transformations cannot be simplified or combined, making it more difficult to analyze and understand the relationship between space and time.

4. Are there any other transformations that are not groups?

Yes, there are other transformations that are not groups, such as the Galilean transformation, which was used before the General Lorenz transformation to describe the relationship between space and time. However, the Galilean transformation is also not a group.

5. How is the General Lorenz transformation used in physics?

The General Lorenz transformation is a fundamental tool in the theory of relativity and is used to describe the effects of space and time on moving objects. It is used in various fields of physics, including particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, to make accurate calculations and predictions.

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