Lorentz Transformations in xy & xyz Directions | Pat

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So I'm looking at some Lorentz transformation equations and it says
x'=[tex]\gamma[/tex](x-vt)
t'=[tex]\gamma[/tex](t-vx/c[tex]^{2}[/tex])
y'=y
z'=z

I'm assuming the values for y', y, z' and z only hold true when the inertial frames of S and S' are moving at a relative velocity in the x-direction. With this being said, what would the transformations be if the inertial frames were in an xy or xyz direction? Thanks in advance.

-Pat
 
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lorentz transformation plane motion

patapat said:
So I'm looking at some Lorentz transformation equations and it says
x'=[tex]\gamma[/tex](x-vt)
t'=[tex]\gamma[/tex](t-vx/c[tex]^{2}[/tex])
y'=y
z'=z

I'm assuming the values for y', y, z' and z only hold true when the inertial frames of S and S' are moving at a relative velocity in the x-direction. With this being said, what would the transformations be if the inertial frames were in an xy or xyz direction? Thanks in advance.

-Pat
As far as I know the situation is known as plane motion. Your question is answered in

Relativistic motion in a plane
Byron L. Coulter
Am. J. Phys. 48, 633 (1980) Full Text: [ PDF (486 kB) GZipped PS Order ]
I think it can be simplified.
 
patapat said:
So I'm looking at some Lorentz transformation equations and it says
x'=[tex]\gamma[/tex](x-vt)
t'=[tex]\gamma[/tex](t-vx/c[tex]^{2}[/tex])
y'=y
z'=z

I'm assuming the values for y', y, z' and z only hold true when the inertial frames of S and S' are moving at a relative velocity in the x-direction. With this being said, what would the transformations be if the inertial frames were in an xy or xyz direction? Thanks in advance.

-Pat

If [itex](\mathbf{r},t)[/itex] are space-time coordinates of an event in the reference frame O, and the reference frame O' moves with velocity [itex]\mathbf{v} = c \vec{\theta} \theta^{-1} \tanh \theta[/itex] with respect to O, then space-time coordinates [itex](\mathbf{r}',t')[/itex] of the same event in O' can be obtained by formulas

[tex]\mathbf{r}' = \mathbf{r} + \frac{\vec{\theta}}{\theta}(\mathbf{r} \cdot \frac{\vec{\theta}}{\theta}) (\cosh \theta - 1) - \frac{\vec{\theta}}{\theta} ct \sinh \theta[/tex]

[tex]t' = t \cosh \theta - (\mathbf{r} \cdot \frac{\vec{\theta}}{\theta}) \frac{\sinh \theta}{c}[/tex]

These formulas are derived by the same procedure as momentum-energy Lorentz transformations (see eq. (4.2) - (4.3) in http://www.arxiv.org/physics/0504062 )

Eugene.
 
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And if you know matrix multiplication,
[tex]B = \begin{pmatrix} \gamma & -\gamma \beta_1 & -\gamma \beta_2 & -\gamma \beta_3 \\<br /> -\gamma \beta_1 & 1 + \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_1^2}{\beta^2} & \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_1\beta_2}{\beta^2} & \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_1\beta_3}{\beta^2} \\<br /> -\gamma \beta_2 & \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_1\beta_2}{\beta^2} & 1+\frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_2^2}{\beta^2} & \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_2\beta_3}{\beta^2} \\<br /> -\gamma \beta_3 & \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_1\beta_3}{\beta^2} & \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_2\beta_3}{\beta^2} & 1 + \frac{(\gamma - 1)\beta_3^2}{\beta^2}<br /> \end{pmatrix}[/tex]
where [itex]\beta = (\beta_1, \beta_2, \beta_3)[/itex] is a unit vector in the direction of the relative velocity, and
[itex]x' = B x[/itex] for [itex]x = (c t, x, y, z)[/itex] and similar for the transformed system [itex]x'[/itex].

Source: Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, chapter 11.7[/size]
 
I had a feeling there was no simple answer, thanks guys.