Using Mathematica for 4 vectors and etc.

[drmcninja]

I just got mathematica and I wanted to use it to simplify 4 vector/ Lorentz transformations by using matrices etc. I was wondering how I would go about doing this. I just started special relativity in my first semester Quantum Mechanics/S.R. class for reference.

 

[arkajad]

You may like to consult Trott's book

 

[drmcninja]

Thanks, but the book did not address my issue (not to mention it was over my level). I was just introduced to the transforms and I was wondering how I would go about doing this. For example variable declarations, matrix operations, basic lorentz transforms, etc. I have looked around and went through tutorials but I couldn't put it together.

 

[arkajad]

You can check these notes:

http://inside.mines.edu/~jamcneil/CourseInformation/phgn300/McNeil/Lectures/SpaceTime3/MathematicaIntro/Introduction.html

Try to understand what is going on. Then you have to decide what problem you want to solve, what drawing you want to make.

 

[Dale]

Here is a notebook that I use. It has some definitions and several random examples. I had to delete some sections and some output to make it smaller.

 

[drmcninja]

Arkajad, thanks for the link, that one was very useful.

Dalespam, I really thank you for that notebook, I am keeping it for reference, that is a great help :).