Scribd
Upload
66 views3 pages

1 Poincaré and Lorentz Transformations

The document summarizes Poincaré and Lorentz transformations. Some key points: - Poincaré transformations combine Lorentz transformations and translations. They form a group. - Vectors and tensors transform under Poincaré transformations according to specific rules. - In quantum mechanics, Poincaré transformations correspond to unitary transformations on quantum states. - The Poincaré algebra describes the commutation relations between generators of Lorentz transformations (Jμν) and translations (Pμ). It forms the foundation of relativistic quantum mechanics and particle physics.

Uploaded by

Ananda Dasgupta
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
66 views3 pages

1 Poincaré and Lorentz Transformations

The document summarizes Poincaré and Lorentz transformations. Some key points: - Poincaré transformations combine Lorentz transformations and translations. They form a group. - Vectors and tensors transform under Poincaré transformations according to specific rules. - In quantum mechanics, Poincaré transformations correspond to unitary transformations on quantum states. - The Poincaré algebra describes the commutation relations between generators of Lorentz transformations (Jμν) and translations (Pμ). It forms the foundation of relativistic quantum mechanics and particle physics.

Uploaded by

Ananda Dasgupta
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

1

Poincar and Lorentz transformations


Poincar transformation (, a) :

x0 = x + a ,

where

dx0 = dx

dx0 dx0 = dx dx

Our metric convention is = (, +, +, +)


Matrix form (x) = x , () = , (a) = a , () = :

x0 = x + a,
where

dx0 = dx

dx0T dx0 = dxdx

Restriction on :

= ,

T =

10 conditions (symmetry ) on the 16 components of leaves 6 independent parameters.


Consequence :

0
0 1

det = 1,
Composition law :



(, a) , a = , a + a

Inverse :

(, a)

= 1 , 1 a

Poincar transformations form a group!


Vectors [(A) = A ] transform as :

A0 = A

A0 = A ,

Invariant inner product of two vectors :


A0 A0 = A A ,
Covector (B) = B :

B = B

B = B ,

B = 1 B

B = B ,

where


1

A0T A0 = AT A

= .

Covector transformation law :


B0 = B 0 = B = B = B

B0 = B0 = B = 1 B = T
So

= .

= (I)

() = (I)

= (I)

() 1

= (I)

1

Tensor of rank (r, s) - transformation law :


T 1 ...r
Contraction - T

1 ...s

= 11 . . . rr 1 1 . . . s s T 1 ...r

1 ...s

is a rank (2, 1) tensor :


T 0

=
=

 T

T



T


Raising and lowering of dummy indices do not change contractions :


A

= A = A

Innitesimal Lorentz transformation :


= +

= I + ,

where = =
+ = 0

which means that there are 6 independent innitesimal parameters.


Innitesimal Poincar transformation has 10 parameters:
= + ,

a = 

Quantum mechanics of the Poincar transformation


Corresponding to a Poincar transformation (, a) which acts on coordinates, there is a unitary transformation
U (, a) that acts on quantum states.




(, a) , a = , a + a
=
U (, a) U , a = U , a + a


1
(, a) , a (, a) = 1 , a + a 1 a implies


U (, a) U , a U 1 (, a) = U 1 , a + a 1 a
Innitesimal Poincar transformation corresponds to
i
U (I + , ) = I + J i P + . . .
2

where J = J .
Unitarity =

J
= J , . . . , P = P

U (, a) U (I + , ) U 1 (, a) = U I + 1 ,  1 a =

i
I + U (, a) J U 1 (, a) i U (, a) P U 1 (, a) + . . .
2


i
1
J i  1 a P + . . .
2

i
= I + J i  a P
2
i
= I + (J + a P a P ) i P
2
= I+

- in the above we have used

= 1

Comparing :
U (, a) J U 1 (, a)

(J + a P a P )

U (, a) P U 1 (, a)


U (I + , ) J U 1 (I + , ) = + ( + ) (J +  P  P ) gives, to rst order in and  :
i
J + [J , J ] i [P , J ]
2

= J + J + J +  P  P

 Coecient of :
i
[J , J ]
2

( J J )

( J + J )

( J + J J J )
2

 Coecient of  :

i [P , J ] =  P  P =  ( P P )

U (I + , ) P U 1 (I + , ) = + P gives, to rst order in and  :
i
P + [J , P ] i [P , P ] = P + P
2

 Coecient of :

i

[J , P ] = P = P =
( P P )
2
2

 Coecient of  :

i [P , P ] = 0

Poincar algebra :
i [J , J ]

J + J J J

i [P , J ]

P P

i [P , P ]

Dene
J1 = J23

J2 = J31 ,

J3 = J12

K1 = J01 ,

K2 = J02 ,
K3 = J03

1
~
P = P0 = H,
P = P , P 2, P 3
0

Alternatively,
Ji =

1
ijk Jjk ,
2

Jij = ijk Jk


P = H, P~

Ki = J0i ,

(latin indices run from 1 to 3)


~ :
Poincar'e algebra in terms of J~ and K
[J1 , J2 ] = [J23 , J31 ] = i (21 J33 + 33 J21 23 J31 31 J23 ) = i (J3 ) = iJ3

and similarly [J2 , J3 ] = iJ1 and [J3 , J1 ] = iJ2 . These are the familiar angular momentum commutation relations :
[Ji , Jj ] = iijk Jk

Similarly it is easy to see that


[Ji , Kj ]

= iijk Kk

[Ki , Kj ]

= iijk Kk

You might also like