Lorentz Transform on Covariant Vector (Lahiri QFT 1.5)

BucketOfFish
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Homework Statement



Given that ##x_\mu x^\mu = y_\mu y^\mu## under a Lorentz transform (##x^\mu \rightarrow y^\mu##, ##x_\mu \rightarrow y_\mu##), and that ##x^\mu \rightarrow y^\mu = \Lambda^\mu{}_\nu x^\nu##, show that ##x_\mu \rightarrow y_\mu = \Lambda_\mu{}^\nu x_\nu##.

Homework Equations



$$g_{\rho\sigma} = g_{\mu\nu}\Lambda^\mu{}_\rho\Lambda^\nu{}_\sigma$$

The Attempt at a Solution



So this isn't actually a homework problem, it's just an exercise in Lahiri and Pal that I was looking at. Seems like this thing would be really simple, but I can't work it out for some reason.

I get, for example, to the point where ##x_\mu x^\mu = g_{\mu\nu}x^\mu x^\nu = g_{\rho\sigma}\Lambda^\rho{}_\mu\Lambda^\sigma{}_\nu x^\mu x^\nu = y_\mu y^\mu##. Then, switching labels and using the definition of ##y^\mu##, we get that ##y_\mu = g_{\rho\mu}\Lambda^\mu{}_\nu x^\nu##. But I go in circles from there.

Part of my confusion is that I don't really know what the relation is between ##\Lambda_\mu{}^\nu## and ##\Lambda^\mu{}_\nu##. Seems like I'm missing something really obvious. Can anyone help?
 
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BucketOfFish said:

Homework Statement



Given that ##x_\mu x^\mu = y_\mu y^\mu## under a Lorentz transform (##x^\mu \rightarrow y^\mu##, ##x_\mu \rightarrow y_\mu##), and that ##x^\mu \rightarrow y^\mu = \Lambda^\mu{}_\nu x^\nu##, show that ##x_\mu \rightarrow y_\mu = \Lambda_\mu{}^\nu x_\nu##.

Homework Equations



$$g_{\rho\sigma} = g_{\mu\nu}\Lambda^\mu{}_\rho\Lambda^\nu{}_\sigma$$

The Attempt at a Solution



So this isn't actually a homework problem, it's just an exercise in Lahiri and Pal that I was looking at. Seems like this thing would be really simple, but I can't work it out for some reason.

I get, for example, to the point where ##x_\mu x^\mu = g_{\mu\nu}x^\mu x^\nu = g_{\rho\sigma}\Lambda^\rho{}_\mu\Lambda^\sigma{}_\nu x^\mu x^\nu = y_\mu y^\mu##. Then, switching labels and using the definition of ##y^\mu##, we get that ##y_\mu = g_{\rho\mu}\Lambda^\mu{}_\nu x^\nu##. But I go in circles from there.

Part of my confusion is that I don't really know what the relation is between ##\Lambda_\mu{}^\nu## and ##\Lambda^\mu{}_\nu##. Seems like I'm missing something really obvious. Can anyone help?

[edit]
I see that you were actually sort of close, except that you made a slight mistake.

[itex]y_\mu = g_{\rho\mu}\Lambda^\mu{}_\nu x^\nu[/itex]

should be
[itex]y_\rho = g_{\rho\mu}\Lambda^\mu{}_\nu x^\nu[/itex]

At this point, you can operate on both sides by [itex]\Lambda^\rho{}_\lambda[/itex].
 
Last edited:
BucketOfFish said:
Part of my confusion is that I don't really know what the relation is between ##\Lambda_\mu{}^\nu## and ##\Lambda^\mu{}_\nu##.
$$\Lambda_{\mu}{}^\nu =g_{\mu\rho}\Lambda^\rho{}_\sigma g^{\sigma\nu}.$$ What does this tell you about a combo like ##\Lambda_\rho{}^\mu \Lambda^\rho{}_\nu##?

You may also find my post in this thread useful: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/einstein-notation-notes.770129/#post-4847943
 

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