Problem 2.2c

A First Course in String Theory

2.2 Lorentz transformations for light-cone coordinates.

Consider coordinates $\displaystyle{x^\mu = ( x^0, x^1, x^2, x^3 )}$ and the associated light-cone coordinates $\displaystyle{x^\mu = ( x^+, x^-, x^2, x^3 )}$ . Write the following Lorentz transformations in terms of the light-cone coordinates.

$\displaystyle{ \begin{aligned} \begin{bmatrix} c t' \\ z' \\ x' \\ y' \end{bmatrix} &= \begin{bmatrix} \gamma & -\beta \gamma & 0 & 0 \\ -\beta \gamma & \gamma & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} c\,t \\ z \\ x \\ y \end{bmatrix} \\ \end{aligned} }$

~~~

$\displaystyle{ \begin{aligned} \begin{bmatrix} c t' \\ x' \\ y' \\ z' \end{bmatrix} &= \begin{bmatrix} \gamma & 0 & 0 & -\beta \gamma \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ -\beta \gamma & 0 & 0 & \gamma \\ \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} c\,t \\ x \\ y \\ z \end{bmatrix} \\ \end{aligned} }$

$\displaystyle{ \begin{aligned} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & -1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \sqrt{2} & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & \sqrt{2} \\ \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} (x^+)' \\ (x^-)' \\ y' \\ z' \end{bmatrix} &= \begin{bmatrix} \gamma & 0 & 0 & -\beta \gamma \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 \\ -\beta \gamma & 0 & 0 & \gamma \\ \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ 1 & -1 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & \sqrt{2} & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & \sqrt{2} \\ \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} x^+ \\ x^- \\ y \\ z \end{bmatrix} \\ \end{aligned} }$

$\displaystyle{ \begin{aligned} \begin{bmatrix} (x^+)' \\ (x^-)' \\ y' \\ z' \end{bmatrix} &= \frac{1}{2} \begin{bmatrix} \gamma + 1 & \gamma - 1 & 0 & -\sqrt{2}\,\beta\,\gamma \\ \gamma - 1 & \gamma + 1 & 0 & -\sqrt{2}\,\beta\,\gamma \\ 0 & 0 & 2 & 0 \\ - \sqrt{2}\,\beta\,\gamma & - \sqrt{2}\,\beta\,\gamma & 0 & 2 \gamma \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} x^+ \\ x^- \\ y \\ z \end{bmatrix} \\ \end{aligned} }$

— Me@2020-04-19 11:52:09 PM

Physics Town

continues

Problem 2.2c

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