Lorentz transformation

Derivation of the group of Lorentz transformations

An event is something that happens at a certain point in spacetime, or more generally, the point in spacetime itself. In any inertial frame an event is specified by a time coordinate ct and a set of Cartesian coordinates x, y, z to specify position in space in that frame. Subscripts label individual events.

From Einstein's second postulate of relativity (invariance of c) it follows that:

in all inertial frames for events connected by light signals. The quantity on the left is called the spacetime interval between events a₁ = (t₁, x₁, y₁, z₁) and a₂ = (t₂, x₂, y₂, z₂). The interval between any two events, not necessarily separated by light signals, is in fact invariant, i.e., independent of the state of relative motion of observers in different inertial frames, as is shown using homogeneity and isotropy of space. The transformation sought after thus must possess the property that:

where (t, x, y, z) are the spacetime coordinates used to define events in one frame, and (t′, x′, y′, z′) are the coordinates in another frame. First one observes that (D2) is satisfied if an arbitrary 4-tuple b of numbers are added to events a₁ and a₂. Such transformations are called spacetime translations and are not dealt with further here. Then one observes that a linear solution preserving the origin of the simpler problem solves the general problem too:

(a solution satisfying the first formula automatically satisfies the second one as well; see Polarization identity). Finding the solution to the simpler problem is just a matter of look-up in the theory of classical groups that preserve bilinear forms of various signature. First equation in (D3) can be written more compactly as:

where (·, ·) refers to the bilinear form of signature (1, 3) on R⁴ exposed by the right hand side formula in (D3). The alternative notation defined on the right is referred to as the relativistic dot product. Spacetime mathematically viewed as R⁴ endowed with this bilinear form is known as Minkowski space M. The Lorentz transformation is thus an element of the group O(1, 3), the Lorentz group or, for those that prefer the other metric signature, O(3, 1) (also called the Lorentz group). One has:

which is precisely preservation of the bilinear form (D3) which implies (by linearity of Λ and bilinearity of the form) that (D2) is satisfied. The elements of the Lorentz group are rotations and boosts and mixes thereof. If the spacetime translations are included, then one obtains the inhomogeneous Lorentz group or the Poincaré group.

Generalities

The relations between the primed and unprimed spacetime coordinates are the Lorentz transformations, each coordinate in one frame is a linear function of all the coordinates in the other frame, and the inverse functions are the inverse transformation. Depending on how the frames move relative to each other, and how they are oriented in space relative to each other, other parameters that describe direction, speed, and orientation enter the transformation equations.

Transformations describing relative motion with constant (uniform) velocity and without rotation of the space coordinate axes are called Lorentz boosts or simply boosts, and the relative velocity between the frames is the parameter of the transformation. The other basic type of Lorentz transformation is only a rotation in the spatial coordinates. Unlike boosts, these are inertial transformations since there is no relative motion, the frames are simply tilted (and not continuously rotating), and in this case quantities defining the rotation are the parameters of the transformation (e.g., axis–angle representation, or Euler angles, etc.). A combination of a rotation and a boost is a homogeneous transformation, which transforms the origin back to the origin.

The full Lorentz group O(3, 1) also contains special transformations that are neither rotations nor boosts, but rather reflections in a plane through the origin. Two of these can be singled out; spatial inversion in which the spatial coordinates of all events are reversed in sign and temporal inversion in which the time coordinate for each event gets its sign reversed.

Boosts should not be conflated with mere displacements in spacetime; in this case, the coordinate systems are simply shifted and there is no relative motion. However, these also count as symmetries forced by special relativity since they leave the spacetime interval invariant. A combination of a rotation with a boost, followed by a shift in spacetime, is an inhomogeneous Lorentz transformation, an element of the Poincaré group, which is also called the inhomogeneous Lorentz group.

Physical formulation of Lorentz boosts

Coordinate transformation

A "stationary" observer in frame F defines events with coordinates t, x, y, z. Another frame F′ moves with velocity v relative to F, and an observer in this "moving" frame F′ defines events using the coordinates t′, x′, y′, z′.

The coordinate axes in each frame are parallel (the x and x′ axes are parallel, the y and y′ axes are parallel, and the z and z′ axes are parallel), remain mutually perpendicular, and relative motion is along the coincident xx′ axes. At t = t′ = 0, the origins of both coordinate systems are the same, (x, y, z) = (x′, y′, z′) = (0, 0, 0). In other words, the times and positions are coincident at this event. If all these hold, then the coordinate systems are said to be in standard configuration, or synchronized.

If an observer in F records an event t, x, y, z, then an observer in F′ records the same event with coordinates

Lorentz boost (x direction)

${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{t}^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(t-\frac{vx}{c^2}\right)\\ x^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(x-vt\right)\\ y^{\prime }& =y\\ z^{\prime }& =z\end{array}}$

where v is the relative velocity between frames in the x-direction, c is the speed of light, and $${\displaystyle \gamma =\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}}$$ (lowercase gamma) is the Lorentz factor.

Here, v is the parameter of the transformation, for a given boost it is a constant number, but can take a continuous range of values. In the setup used here, positive relative velocity v > 0 is motion along the positive directions of the xx′ axes, zero relative velocity v = 0 is no relative motion, while negative relative velocity v < 0 is relative motion along the negative directions of the xx′ axes. The magnitude of relative velocity v cannot equal or exceed c, so only subluminal speeds −c < v < c are allowed. The corresponding range of γ is 1 ≤ γ < ∞.

The transformations are not defined if v is outside these limits. At the speed of light (v = c) γ is infinite, and faster than light (v > c) γ is a complex number, each of which make the transformations unphysical. The space and time coordinates are measurable quantities and numerically must be real numbers.

As an active transformation, an observer in F′ notices the coordinates of the event to be "boosted" in the negative directions of the xx′ axes, because of the −v in the transformations. This has the equivalent effect of the coordinate system F′ boosted in the positive directions of the xx′ axes, while the event does not change and is simply represented in another coordinate system, a passive transformation.

The inverse relations (t, x, y, z in terms of t′, x′, y′, z′) can be found by algebraically solving the original set of equations. A more efficient way is to use physical principles. Here F′ is the "stationary" frame while F is the "moving" frame. According to the principle of relativity, there is no privileged frame of reference, so the transformations from F′ to F must take exactly the same form as the transformations from F to F′. The only difference is F moves with velocity −v relative to F′ (i.e., the relative velocity has the same magnitude but is oppositely directed). Thus if an observer in F′ notes an event t′, x′, y′, z′, then an observer in F notes the same event with coordinates

Inverse Lorentz boost (x direction)

${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}t& =\gamma \left(t^{\prime }+\frac{v{x}^{\prime }}{c^2}\right)\\ x& =\gamma \left(x^{\prime }+v{t}^{\prime }\right)\\ y& =y^{\prime }\\ z& =z^{\prime },\end{array}}$

and the value of γ remains unchanged. This "trick" of simply reversing the direction of relative velocity while preserving its magnitude, and exchanging primed and unprimed variables, always applies to finding the inverse transformation of every boost in any direction.

Sometimes it is more convenient to use β = v/c (lowercase beta) instead of v, so that $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}c{t}^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(ct-\beta x\right),\\ x^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(x-\beta ct\right),\end{array}}$$ which shows much more clearly the symmetry in the transformation. From the allowed ranges of v and the definition of β, it follows −1 < β < 1. The use of β and γ is standard throughout the literature. In the case of three spatial dimensions [ct, x, y, z], where the boost ${\displaystyle \beta }$ is in the x direction, the eigenstates of the transformation are [1, 1, 0, 0] with eigenvalue ${\displaystyle \sqrt{(1-\beta )/(1+\beta )}}$, [1, −1, 0, 0] with eigenvalue ${\displaystyle \sqrt{(1+\beta )/(1-\beta )}}$, and [0, 0, 1, 0] and [0, 0, 0, 1], the latter two with eigenvalue 1.

When the boost velocity ${\displaystyle \mathit{v}}$ is in an arbitrary vector direction with the boost vector ${\displaystyle \mathit{\beta }=\mathit{v}/c}$, then the transformation from an unprimed spacetime coordinate system to a primed coordinate system is given by

$${\displaystyle \left[\begin{array}{c}c{t}^{\prime }\phantom{-\gamma {\beta }_{\text{x}}}\\ x^{\prime }\phantom{1+\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}^2}\\ y^{\prime }\phantom{\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}{\beta }_{\text{y}}}\\ z^{\prime }\phantom{\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{y}}{\beta }_{\text{z}}}\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\gamma & -\gamma {\beta }_{\text{x}}& -\gamma {\beta }_{\text{y}}& -\gamma {\beta }_{\text{z}}\\ -\gamma {\beta }_{\text{x}}& 1+\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}^2& \frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}{\beta }_{\text{y}}& \frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}{\beta }_{\text{z}}\\ -\gamma {\beta }_{\text{y}}& \frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}{\beta }_{\text{y}}& 1+\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{y}}^2& \frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{y}}{\beta }_{\text{z}}\\ -\gamma {\beta }_{\text{z}}& \frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}{\beta }_{\text{z}}& \frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{y}}{\beta }_{\text{z}}& 1+\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{z}}^2\end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{c}ct\phantom{-\gamma {\beta }_{\text{x}}}\\ x\phantom{1+\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}^2}\\ y\phantom{\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{x}}{\beta }_{\text{y}}}\\ z\phantom{\frac{{\gamma }^2}{1+\gamma }{\beta }_{\text{y}}{\beta }_{\text{z}}}\end{array}\right],}$$

where the Lorentz factor is ${\displaystyle \gamma =1/\sqrt{1-{\mathit{\beta }}^2}}$. The determinant of the transformation matrix is +1 and its trace is ${\displaystyle 2(1+\gamma )}$. The inverse of the transformation is given by reversing the sign of ${\displaystyle \mathit{\beta }}$. The quantity ${\displaystyle c^2{t}^2-x^2-y^2-z^2}$ is invariant under the transformation: namely ${\displaystyle (c^2{t}^{\prime 2}-x^{\prime 2}-y^{\prime 2}-z^{\prime 2})=(c^2{t}^2-x^2-y^2-z^2)}$.

The Lorentz transformations can also be derived in a way that resembles circular rotations in 3-dimensional space using the hyperbolic functions. For the boost in the x direction, the results are

Lorentz boost (x direction with rapidity ζ)

${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}c{t}^{\prime }& =ct\cosh \zeta -x\sinh \zeta \\ x^{\prime }& =x\cosh \zeta -ct\sinh \zeta \\ y^{\prime }& =y\\ z^{\prime }& =z\end{array}}$

where ζ (lowercase zeta) is a parameter called rapidity (many other symbols are used, including Latin w and Greek η, θ, ξ, ϕ, φ, ψ). Given the strong resemblance to rotations of spatial coordinates in 3-dimensional space in the Cartesian xy, yz, and zx planes, a Lorentz boost can be thought of as a hyperbolic rotation of spacetime coordinates in the xt, yt, and zt Cartesian-time planes of 4-dimensional Minkowski space. The parameter ζ is the hyperbolic angle of rotation, analogous to the ordinary angle for circular rotations. This transformation can be illustrated with a Minkowski diagram.

The hyperbolic functions arise from the difference between the squares of the time and spatial coordinates in the spacetime interval, rather than a sum. The geometric significance of the hyperbolic functions can be visualized by taking x = 0 or ct = 0 in the transformations. Squaring and subtracting the results, one can derive hyperbolic curves of constant coordinate values but varying ζ, which parametrizes the curves according to the identity $${\displaystyle {\cosh }^2\zeta -{\sinh }^2\zeta =1.}$$

Conversely the ct and x axes can be constructed for varying coordinates but constant ζ. The definition $${\displaystyle \tanh \zeta =\frac{\sinh \zeta }{\cosh \zeta },}$$ provides the link between a constant value of rapidity, and the slope of the ct axis in spacetime. A consequence these two hyperbolic formulae is an identity that matches the Lorentz factor $${\displaystyle \cosh \zeta =\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-{\tanh }^2\zeta }}.}$$

Comparing the Lorentz transformations in terms of the relative velocity and rapidity, or using the above formulae, the connections between β, γ, and ζ are $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\beta & =\tanh \zeta ,\\ \gamma & =\cosh \zeta ,\\ \beta \gamma & =\sinh \zeta .\end{array}}$$

Taking the inverse hyperbolic tangent gives the rapidity $${\displaystyle \zeta ={\tanh }^{-1}\beta .}$$

Since −1 < β < 1, it follows −∞ < ζ < ∞. From the relation between ζ and β, positive rapidity ζ > 0 is motion along the positive directions of the xx′ axes, zero rapidity ζ = 0 is no relative motion, while negative rapidity ζ < 0 is relative motion along the negative directions of the xx′ axes.

The inverse transformations are obtained by exchanging primed and unprimed quantities to switch the coordinate frames, and negating rapidity ζ → −ζ since this is equivalent to negating the relative velocity. Therefore,

Inverse Lorentz boost (x direction with rapidity ζ)

${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}ct& =c{t}^{\prime }\cosh \zeta +x^{\prime }\sinh \zeta \\ x& =x^{\prime }\cosh \zeta +c{t}^{\prime }\sinh \zeta \\ y& =y^{\prime }\\ z& =z^{\prime }\end{array}}$

The inverse transformations can be similarly visualized by considering the cases when x′ = 0 and ct′ = 0.

So far the Lorentz transformations have been applied to one event. If there are two events, there is a spatial separation and time interval between them. It follows from the linearity of the Lorentz transformations that two values of space and time coordinates can be chosen, the Lorentz transformations can be applied to each, then subtracted to get the Lorentz transformations of the differences: $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{\Delta }{t}^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(\mathrm{\Delta }t-\frac{v\mathrm{\Delta }x}{c^2}\right),\\ \mathrm{\Delta }{x}^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(\mathrm{\Delta }x-v\mathrm{\Delta }t\right),\end{array}}$$ with inverse relations $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{\Delta }t& =\gamma \left(\mathrm{\Delta }{t}^{\prime }+\frac{v\mathrm{\Delta }{x}^{\prime }}{c^2}\right),\\ \mathrm{\Delta }x& =\gamma \left(\mathrm{\Delta }{x}^{\prime }+v\mathrm{\Delta }{t}^{\prime }\right).\end{array}}$$ where Δ (uppercase delta) indicates a difference of quantities; e.g., Δx = x₂ − x₁ for two values of x coordinates, and so on.

These transformations on differences rather than spatial points or instants of time are useful for a number of reasons:

• in calculations and experiments, it is lengths between two points or time intervals that are measured or of interest (e.g., the length of a moving vehicle, or time duration it takes to travel from one place to another),
• the transformations of velocity can be readily derived by making the difference infinitesimally small and dividing the equations, and the process repeated for the transformation of acceleration,
• if the coordinate systems are never coincident (i.e., not in standard configuration), and if both observers can agree on an event t₀, x₀, y₀, z₀ in F and t′₀, x′₀, y′₀, z′₀ in F′, then they can use that event as the origin, and the spacetime coordinate differences are the differences between their coordinates and this origin, e.g., Δx = x − x₀, Δx′ = x′ − x′₀, etc.

Physical implications

A critical requirement of the Lorentz transformations is the invariance of the speed of light, a fact used in their derivation, and contained in the transformations themselves. If in F the equation for a pulse of light along the x direction is x = ct, then in F′ the Lorentz transformations give x′ = ct′, and vice versa, for any −c < v < c.

For relative speeds much less than the speed of light, the Lorentz transformations reduce to the Galilean transformation: $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{t}^{\prime }& \approx t\\ x^{\prime }& \approx x-vt\end{array}}$$ in accordance with the correspondence principle. It is sometimes said that nonrelativistic physics is a physics of "instantaneous action at a distance".

Three counterintuitive, but correct, predictions of the transformations are:

Relativity of simultaneity

Suppose two events occur along the x axis simultaneously (Δt = 0) in F, but separated by a nonzero displacement Δx. Then in F′, we find that ${\displaystyle \mathrm{\Delta }{t}^{\prime }=-\gamma v\mathrm{\Delta }x/c^2}$, so the events are no longer simultaneous according to a moving observer.

Time dilation

Suppose there is a clock at rest in F. If a time interval is measured at the same point in that frame, so that Δx = 0, then the transformations give this interval in F′ by Δt′ = γΔt. Conversely, suppose there is a clock at rest in F′. If an interval is measured at the same point in that frame, so that Δx′ = 0, then the transformations give this interval in F by Δt = γΔt′. Either way, each observer measures the time interval between ticks of a moving clock to be longer by a factor γ than the time interval between ticks of his own clock.

Length contraction

Suppose there is a rod at rest in F aligned along the x axis, with length Δx. In F′, the rod moves with velocity −v, so its length must be measured by taking two simultaneous (Δt′ = 0) measurements at opposite ends. Under these conditions, the inverse Lorentz transform shows that Δx = γΔx′. In F the two measurements are no longer simultaneous, but this does not matter because the rod is at rest in F. So each observer measures the distance between the end points of a moving rod to be shorter by a factor 1/γ than the end points of an identical rod at rest in his own frame. Length contraction affects any geometric quantity related to lengths, so from the perspective of a moving observer, areas and volumes will also appear to shrink along the direction of motion.

Vector transformations

The use of vectors allows positions and velocities to be expressed in arbitrary directions compactly. A single boost in any direction depends on the full relative velocity vector v with a magnitude |v| = v that cannot equal or exceed c, so that 0 ≤ v < c.

Only time and the coordinates parallel to the direction of relative motion change, while those coordinates perpendicular do not. With this in mind, split the spatial position vector r as measured in F, and r′ as measured in F′, each into components perpendicular (⊥) and parallel ( || ) to v, $${\displaystyle \mathbf{r}={\mathbf{r}}_{\perp }+{\mathbf{r}}_{\Vert },{\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }={\mathbf{r}}_{\perp }^{\prime }+{\mathbf{r}}_{\Vert }^{\prime },}$$ then the transformations are $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{t}^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(t-\frac{{\mathbf{r}}_{\parallel }\cdot \mathbf{v}}{c^2}\right)\\ {\mathbf{r}}_{\Vert }^{\prime }& =\gamma ({\mathbf{r}}_{\Vert }-\mathbf{v}t)\\ {\mathbf{r}}_{\perp }^{\prime }& ={\mathbf{r}}_{\perp }\end{array}}$$ where · is the dot product. The Lorentz factor γ retains its definition for a boost in any direction, since it depends only on the magnitude of the relative velocity. The definition β = v/c with magnitude 0 ≤ β < 1 is also used by some authors.

Introducing a unit vector n = v/v = β/β in the direction of relative motion, the relative velocity is v = vn with magnitude v and direction n, and vector projection and rejection give respectively $${\displaystyle {\mathbf{r}}_{\parallel }=(\mathbf{r}\cdot \mathbf{n})\mathbf{n},{\mathbf{r}}_{\perp }=\mathbf{r}-(\mathbf{r}\cdot \mathbf{n})\mathbf{n}}$$

Accumulating the results gives the full transformations,

Lorentz boost (in direction n with magnitude v)

${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{t}^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(t-\frac{v\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{r}}{c^2}\right),\\ {\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }& =\mathbf{r}+(\gamma -1)(\mathbf{r}\cdot \mathbf{n})\mathbf{n}-\gamma tv\mathbf{n}.\end{array}}$

The projection and rejection also applies to r′. For the inverse transformations, exchange r and r′ to switch observed coordinates, and negate the relative velocity v → −v (or simply the unit vector n → −n since the magnitude v is always positive) to obtain

Inverse Lorentz boost (in direction n with magnitude v)

${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}t& =\gamma \left(t^{\prime }+\frac{{\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }\cdot v\mathbf{n}}{c^2}\right),\\ \mathbf{r}& ={\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }+(\gamma -1)({\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }\cdot \mathbf{n})\mathbf{n}+\gamma t^{\prime }v\mathbf{n},\end{array}}$

The unit vector has the advantage of simplifying equations for a single boost, allows either v or β to be reinstated when convenient, and the rapidity parametrization is immediately obtained by replacing β and βγ. It is not convenient for multiple boosts.

The vectorial relation between relative velocity and rapidity is $${\displaystyle \mathit{\beta }=\beta \mathbf{n}=\mathbf{n}\tanh \zeta ,}$$ and the "rapidity vector" can be defined as $${\displaystyle \mathit{\zeta }=\zeta \mathbf{n}=\mathbf{n}{\tanh }^{-1}\beta ,}$$ each of which serves as a useful abbreviation in some contexts. The magnitude of ζ is the absolute value of the rapidity scalar confined to 0 ≤ ζ < ∞, which agrees with the range 0 ≤ β < 1.

Transformation of velocities

Defining the coordinate velocities and Lorentz factor by $${\displaystyle \mathbf{u}=\frac{d\mathbf{r}}{dt},{\mathbf{u}}^{\prime }=\frac{d{\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }}{d{t}^{\prime }},{\gamma }_{\mathbf{v}}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-{\displaystyle \frac{\mathbf{v}\cdot \mathbf{v}}{c^2}}}}}$$ taking the differentials in the coordinates and time of the vector transformations, then dividing equations, leads to $${\displaystyle {\mathbf{u}}^{\prime }=\frac{1}{1-\frac{\mathbf{v}\cdot \mathbf{u}}{c^2}}\left[\frac{\mathbf{u}}{{\gamma }_{\mathbf{v}}}-\mathbf{v}+\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{{\gamma }_{\mathbf{v}}}{{\gamma }_{\mathbf{v}}+1}\left(\mathbf{u}\cdot \mathbf{v}\right)\mathbf{v}\right]}$$

The velocities u and u′ are the velocity of some massive object. They can also be for a third inertial frame (say F′′), in which case they must be constant. Denote either entity by X. Then X moves with velocity u relative to F, or equivalently with velocity u′ relative to F′, in turn F′ moves with velocity v relative to F. The inverse transformations can be obtained in a similar way, or as with position coordinates exchange u and u′, and change v to −v.

The transformation of velocity is useful in stellar aberration, the Fizeau experiment, and the relativistic Doppler effect.

The Lorentz transformations of acceleration can be similarly obtained by taking differentials in the velocity vectors, and dividing these by the time differential.

Transformation of other quantities

In general, given four quantities A and Z = (Z_x, Z_y, Z_z) and their Lorentz-boosted counterparts A′ and Z′ = (Z′_x, Z′_y, Z′_z), a relation of the form $${\displaystyle A^2-\mathbf{Z}\cdot \mathbf{Z}={A^{\prime }}^2-{\mathbf{Z}}^{\prime }\cdot {\mathbf{Z}}^{\prime }}$$ implies the quantities transform under Lorentz transformations similar to the transformation of spacetime coordinates; $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{A}^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(A-\frac{v\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{Z}}{c}\right),\\ {\mathbf{Z}}^{\prime }& =\mathbf{Z}+(\gamma -1)(\mathbf{Z}\cdot \mathbf{n})\mathbf{n}-\frac{\gamma Av\mathbf{n}}{c}.\end{array}}$$

The decomposition of Z (and Z′) into components perpendicular and parallel to v is exactly the same as for the position vector, as is the process of obtaining the inverse transformations (exchange (A, Z) and (A′, Z′) to switch observed quantities, and reverse the direction of relative motion by the substitution n ↦ −n).

The quantities (A, Z) collectively make up a four-vector, where A is the "timelike component", and Z the "spacelike component". Examples of A and Z are the following:

For a given object (e.g., particle, fluid, field, material), if A or Z correspond to properties specific to the object like its charge density, mass density, spin, etc., its properties can be fixed in the rest frame of that object. Then the Lorentz transformations give the corresponding properties in a frame moving relative to the object with constant velocity. This breaks some notions taken for granted in non-relativistic physics. For example, the energy E of an object is a scalar in non-relativistic mechanics, but not in relativistic mechanics because energy changes under Lorentz transformations; its value is different for various inertial frames. In the rest frame of an object, it has a rest energy and zero momentum. In a boosted frame its energy is different and it appears to have a momentum. Similarly, in non-relativistic quantum mechanics the spin of a particle is a constant vector, but in relativistic quantum mechanics spin s depends on relative motion. In the rest frame of the particle, the spin pseudovector can be fixed to be its ordinary non-relativistic spin with a zero timelike quantity s_t, however a boosted observer will perceive a nonzero timelike component and an altered spin.

Not all quantities are invariant in the form as shown above, for example orbital angular momentum L does not have a timelike quantity, and neither does the electric field E nor the magnetic field B. The definition of angular momentum is L = r × p, and in a boosted frame the altered angular momentum is L′ = r′ × p′. Applying this definition using the transformations of coordinates and momentum leads to the transformation of angular momentum. It turns out L transforms with another vector quantity N = (E/c²)r − tp related to boosts, see Relativistic angular momentum for details. For the case of the E and B fields, the transformations cannot be obtained as directly using vector algebra. The Lorentz force is the definition of these fields, and in F it is F = q(E + v × B) while in F′ it is F′ = q(E′ + v′ × B′). A method of deriving the EM field transformations in an efficient way which also illustrates the unit of the electromagnetic field uses tensor algebra, given below.

Mathematical formulation

Throughout, italic non-bold capital letters are 4 × 4 matrices, while non-italic bold letters are 3 × 3 matrices.

Homogeneous Lorentz group

Writing the coordinates in column vectors and the Minkowski metric η as a square matrix $${\displaystyle X^{\prime }=\left[\begin{array}{c}c{t}^{\prime }\\ x^{\prime }\\ y^{\prime }\\ z^{\prime }\end{array}\right],\eta =\left[\begin{array}{cccc}-1& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 1& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 1& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right],X=\left[\begin{array}{c}ct\\ x\\ y\\ z\end{array}\right]}$$ the spacetime interval takes the form (superscript T denotes transpose) $${\displaystyle X\cdot X=X^{\mathrm{T}}\eta X={X^{\prime }}^{\mathrm{T}}\eta X^{\prime }}$$ and is invariant under a Lorentz transformation $${\displaystyle X^{\prime }=\mathrm{\Lambda }X}$$ where Λ is a square matrix which can depend on parameters.

The set of all Lorentz transformations ${\displaystyle \mathrm{\Lambda }}$ in this article is denoted ${\displaystyle \mathcal{L}}$. This set together with matrix multiplication forms a group, in this context known as the Lorentz group. Also, the above expression X·X is a quadratic form of signature (3,1) on spacetime, and the group of transformations which leaves this quadratic form invariant is the indefinite orthogonal group O(3,1), a Lie group. In other words, the Lorentz group is O(3,1). As presented in this article, any Lie groups mentioned are matrix Lie groups. In this context the operation of composition amounts to matrix multiplication.

From the invariance of the spacetime interval it follows $${\displaystyle \eta ={\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\mathrm{T}}\eta \mathrm{\Lambda }}$$ and this matrix equation contains the general conditions on the Lorentz transformation to ensure invariance of the spacetime interval. Taking the determinant of the equation using the product rule gives immediately $${\displaystyle {\left[det(\mathrm{\Lambda })\right]}^2=1\Rightarrow det(\mathrm{\Lambda })=\pm 1}$$

Writing the Minkowski metric as a block matrix, and the Lorentz transformation in the most general form, $${\displaystyle \eta =\left[\begin{array}{cc}-1& 0\\ 0& \mathbf{I}\end{array}\right],\mathrm{\Lambda }=\left[\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{\Gamma }& -{\mathbf{a}}^{\mathrm{T}}\\ -\mathbf{b}& \mathbf{M}\end{array}\right],}$$ carrying out the block matrix multiplications obtains general conditions on Γ, a, b, M to ensure relativistic invariance. Not much information can be directly extracted from all the conditions, however one of the results $${\displaystyle {\mathrm{\Gamma }}^2=1+{\mathbf{b}}^{\mathrm{T}}\mathbf{b}}$$ is useful; b^Tb ≥ 0 always so it follows that $${\displaystyle {\mathrm{\Gamma }}^2\ge 1\Rightarrow \mathrm{\Gamma }\le -1,\mathrm{\Gamma }\ge 1}$$

The negative inequality may be unexpected, because Γ multiplies the time coordinate and this has an effect on time symmetry. If the positive equality holds, then Γ is the Lorentz factor.

The determinant and inequality provide four ways to classify Lorentz Transformations (herein LTs for brevity). Any particular LT has only one determinant sign and only one inequality. There are four sets which include every possible pair given by the intersections ("n"-shaped symbol meaning "and") of these classifying sets.

where "+" and "−" indicate the determinant sign, while "↑" for ≥ and "↓" for ≤ denote the inequalities.

The full Lorentz group splits into the union ("u"-shaped symbol meaning "or") of four disjoint sets $${\displaystyle \mathcal{L}={\mathcal{L}}_{+}^{\uparrow }\cup {\mathcal{L}}_{-}^{\uparrow }\cup {\mathcal{L}}_{+}^{\downarrow }\cup {\mathcal{L}}_{-}^{\downarrow }}$$

A subgroup of a group must be closed under the same operation of the group (here matrix multiplication). In other words, for two Lorentz transformations Λ and L from a particular subgroup, the composite Lorentz transformations ΛL and LΛ must be in the same subgroup as Λ and L. This is not always the case: the composition of two antichronous Lorentz transformations is orthochronous, and the composition of two improper Lorentz transformations is proper. In other words, while the sets ${\displaystyle {\mathcal{L}}_{+}^{\uparrow }}$, ${\displaystyle {\mathcal{L}}_{+}}$, ${\displaystyle {\mathcal{L}}^{\uparrow }}$, and ${\displaystyle {\mathcal{L}}_0={\mathcal{L}}_{+}^{\uparrow }\cup {\mathcal{L}}_{-}^{\downarrow }}$ all form subgroups, the sets containing improper and/or antichronous transformations without enough proper orthochronous transformations (e.g. ${\displaystyle {\mathcal{L}}_{+}^{\downarrow }}$, ${\displaystyle {\mathcal{L}}_{-}^{\downarrow }}$, ${\displaystyle {\mathcal{L}}_{-}^{\uparrow }}$) do not form subgroups.

Proper transformations

If a Lorentz covariant 4-vector is measured in one inertial frame with result ${\displaystyle X}$, and the same measurement made in another inertial frame (with the same orientation and origin) gives result ${\displaystyle X^{\prime }}$, the two results will be related by $${\displaystyle X^{\prime }=B(\mathbf{v})X}$$ where the boost matrix ${\displaystyle B(\mathbf{v})}$ represents the rotation-free Lorentz transformation between the unprimed and primed frames and ${\displaystyle \mathbf{v}}$ is the velocity of the primed frame as seen from the unprimed frame. The matrix is given by $${\displaystyle B(\mathbf{v})=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\gamma & -\gamma v_{\text{x}}/c& -\gamma v_{\text{y}}/c& -\gamma v_{\text{z}}/c\\ -\gamma v_{\text{x}}/c& 1+(\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{x}}^2}{v^2}}& (\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{x}}{v}_{\text{y}}}{v^2}}& (\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{x}}{v}_{\text{z}}}{v^2}}\\ -\gamma v_{\text{y}}/c& (\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{y}}{v}_{\text{x}}}{v^2}}& 1+(\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{y}}^2}{v^2}}& (\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{y}}{v}_{\text{z}}}{v^2}}\\ -\gamma v_{\text{z}}/c& (\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{z}}{v}_{\text{x}}}{v^2}}& (\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{z}}{v}_{\text{y}}}{v^2}}& 1+(\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{v_{\text{z}}^2}{v^2}}\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{cc}\gamma & -\gamma {\overrightarrow{\beta }}^{\text{T}}\\ -\gamma \overrightarrow{\beta }& I+(\gamma -1){\displaystyle \frac{\overrightarrow{\beta }{\overrightarrow{\beta }}^{\text{T}}}{{\beta }^2}}\end{array}\right],}$$

where $v=\sqrt{v_{\text{x}}^2+v_{\text{y}}^2+v_{\text{z}}^2}$ is the magnitude of the velocity and $\gamma =\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}}$ is the Lorentz factor. This formula represents a passive transformation, as it describes how the coordinates of the measured quantity changes from the unprimed frame to the primed frame. The active transformation is given by ${\displaystyle B(-\mathbf{v})}$.

If a frame F′ is boosted with velocity u relative to frame F, and another frame F′′ is boosted with velocity v relative to F′, the separate boosts are $${\displaystyle X^{″}=B(\mathbf{v})X^{\prime },X^{\prime }=B(\mathbf{u})X}$$ and the composition of the two boosts connects the coordinates in F′′ and F, $${\displaystyle X^{″}=B(\mathbf{v})B(\mathbf{u})X.}$$ Successive transformations act on the left. If u and v are collinear (parallel or antiparallel along the same line of relative motion), the boost matrices commute: B(v)B(u) = B(u)B(v). This composite transformation happens to be another boost, B(w), where w is collinear with u and v.

If u and v are not collinear but in different directions, the situation is considerably more complicated. Lorentz boosts along different directions do not commute: B(v)B(u) and B(u)B(v) are not equal. Although each of these compositions is not a single boost, each composition is still a Lorentz transformation as it preserves the spacetime interval. It turns out the composition of any two Lorentz boosts is equivalent to a boost followed or preceded by a rotation on the spatial coordinates, in the form of R(ρ)B(w) or B(w)R(ρ). The w and w are composite velocities, while ρ and ρ are rotation parameters (e.g. axis-angle variables, Euler angles, etc.). The rotation in block matrix form is simply $${\displaystyle R(\mathit{\rho })=\left[\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& \mathbf{R}(\mathit{\rho })\end{array}\right],}$$ where R(ρ) is a 3 × 3 rotation matrix, which rotates any 3-dimensional vector in one sense (active transformation), or equivalently the coordinate frame in the opposite sense (passive transformation). It is not simple to connect w and ρ (or w and ρ) to the original boost parameters u and v. In a composition of boosts, the R matrix is named the Wigner rotation, and gives rise to the Thomas precession. These articles give the explicit formulae for the composite transformation matrices, including expressions for w, ρ, w, ρ.

In this article the axis-angle representation is used for ρ. The rotation is about an axis in the direction of a unit vector e, through angle θ (positive anticlockwise, negative clockwise, according to the right-hand rule). The "axis-angle vector" $${\displaystyle \mathit{\theta }=\theta \mathbf{e}}$$ will serve as a useful abbreviation.

Spatial rotations alone are also Lorentz transformations since they leave the spacetime interval invariant. Like boosts, successive rotations about different axes do not commute. Unlike boosts, the composition of any two rotations is equivalent to a single rotation. Some other similarities and differences between the boost and rotation matrices include:

• inverses: B(v)⁻¹ = B(−v) (relative motion in the opposite direction), and R(θ)⁻¹ = R(−θ) (rotation in the opposite sense about the same axis)
• identity transformation for no relative motion/rotation: B(0) = R(0) = I
• unit determinant: det(B) = det(R) = +1. This property makes them proper transformations.
• matrix symmetry: B is symmetric (equals transpose), while R is nonsymmetric but orthogonal (transpose equals inverse, R^T = R⁻¹).

The most general proper Lorentz transformation Λ(v, θ) includes a boost and rotation together, and is a nonsymmetric matrix. As special cases, Λ(0, θ) = R(θ) and Λ(v, 0) = B(v). An explicit form of the general Lorentz transformation is cumbersome to write down and will not be given here. Nevertheless, closed form expressions for the transformation matrices will be given below using group theoretical arguments. It will be easier to use the rapidity parametrization for boosts, in which case one writes Λ(ζ, θ) and B(ζ).

Lie group SO+(3,1)

The set of transformations $${\displaystyle \{B(\mathit{\zeta }),R(\mathit{\theta }),\mathrm{\Lambda }(\mathit{\zeta },\mathit{\theta })\}}$$ with matrix multiplication as the operation of composition forms a group, called the "restricted Lorentz group", and is the special indefinite orthogonal group SO⁺(3,1). (The plus sign indicates that it preserves the orientation of the temporal dimension).

For simplicity, look at the infinitesimal Lorentz boost in the x direction (examining a boost in any other direction, or rotation about any axis, follows an identical procedure). The infinitesimal boost is a small boost away from the identity, obtained by the Taylor expansion of the boost matrix to first order about ζ = 0, $${\displaystyle B_{\text{x}}=I+\zeta {\frac{\mathrm{\partial }{B}_{\text{x}}}{\mathrm{\partial }\zeta }|}_{\zeta =0}+\cdots }$$ where the higher order terms not shown are negligible because ζ is small, and B_x is simply the boost matrix in the x direction. The derivative of the matrix is the matrix of derivatives (of the entries, with respect to the same variable), and it is understood the derivatives are found first then evaluated at ζ = 0, $${\displaystyle {\frac{\mathrm{\partial }{B}_{\text{x}}}{\mathrm{\partial }\zeta }|}_{\zeta =0}=-K_{\text{x}}.}$$

For now, K_x is defined by this result (its significance will be explained shortly). In the limit of an infinite number of infinitely small steps, the finite boost transformation in the form of a matrix exponential is obtained $${\displaystyle B_{\text{x}}=\underset{N\to \mathrm{\infty }}{lim}{\left(I-\frac{\zeta }{N}{K}_{\text{x}}\right)}^N=e^{-\zeta K_{\text{x}}}}$$ where the limit definition of the exponential has been used (see also Characterizations of the exponential function). More generally $${\displaystyle B(\mathit{\zeta })=e^{-\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}},R(\mathit{\theta })=e^{\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}}.}$$

The axis-angle vector θ and rapidity vector ζ are altogether six continuous variables which make up the group parameters (in this particular representation), and the generators of the group are K = (K_x, K_y, K_z) and J = (J_x, J_y, J_z), each vectors of matrices with the explicit forms $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{rlrlrl}{K}_{\text{x}}& =\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& 1& 0& 0\\ 1& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right],& K_{\text{y}}& =\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& 0& 1& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 1& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right],& K_{\text{z}}& =\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& 0& 0& 1\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 1& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right]\\ J_{\text{x}}& =\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& -1\\ 0& 0& 1& 0\end{array}\right],& J_{\text{y}}& =\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& -1& 0& 0\end{array}\right],& J_{\text{z}}& =\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& -1& 0\\ 0& 1& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right]\end{array}}$$

These are all defined in an analogous way to K_x above, although the minus signs in the boost generators are conventional. Physically, the generators of the Lorentz group correspond to important symmetries in spacetime: J are the rotation generators which correspond to angular momentum, and K are the boost generators which correspond to the motion of the system in spacetime. The derivative of any smooth curve C(t) with C(0) = I in the group depending on some group parameter t with respect to that group parameter, evaluated at t = 0, serves as a definition of a corresponding group generator G, and this reflects an infinitesimal transformation away from the identity. The smooth curve can always be taken as an exponential as the exponential will always map G smoothly back into the group via t → exp(tG) for all t; this curve will yield G again when differentiated at t = 0.

Expanding the exponentials in their Taylor series obtains $${\displaystyle B(\mathit{\zeta })=I-\sinh \zeta (\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{K})+(\cosh \zeta -1)(\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{K}{)}^2}$$ $${\displaystyle R(\mathit{\theta })=I+\sin \theta (\mathbf{e}\cdot \mathbf{J})+(1-\cos \theta )(\mathbf{e}\cdot \mathbf{J}{)}^2.}$$ which compactly reproduce the boost and rotation matrices as given in the previous section.

It has been stated that the general proper Lorentz transformation is a product of a boost and rotation. At the infinitesimal level the product $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{\Lambda }& =(I-\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}+\cdots )(I+\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}+\cdots )\\ & =(I+\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}+\cdots )(I-\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}+\cdots )\\ & =I-\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}+\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}+\cdots \end{array}}$$ is commutative because only linear terms are required (products like (θ·J)(ζ·K) and (ζ·K)(θ·J) count as higher order terms and are negligible). Taking the limit as before leads to the finite transformation in the form of an exponential $${\displaystyle \mathrm{\Lambda }(\mathit{\zeta },\mathit{\theta })=e^{-\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}+\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}}.}$$

The converse is also true, but the decomposition of a finite general Lorentz transformation into such factors is nontrivial. In particular, $${\displaystyle e^{-\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}+\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}}\ne e^{-\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}}{e}^{\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}},}$$ because the generators do not commute. For a description of how to find the factors of a general Lorentz transformation in terms of a boost and a rotation in principle (this usually does not yield an intelligible expression in terms of generators J and K), see Wigner rotation. If, on the other hand, the decomposition is given in terms of the generators, and one wants to find the product in terms of the generators, then the Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff formula applies.

Lie algebra so(3,1)

Lorentz generators can be added together, or multiplied by real numbers, to obtain more Lorentz generators. In other words, the set of all Lorentz generators $${\displaystyle V=\{\mathit{\zeta }\cdot \mathbf{K}+\mathit{\theta }\cdot \mathbf{J}\}}$$ together with the operations of ordinary matrix addition and multiplication of a matrix by a number, forms a vector space over the real numbers. The generators J_x, J_y, J_z, K_x, K_y, K_z form a basis set of V, and the components of the axis-angle and rapidity vectors, θ_x, θ_y, θ_z, ζ_x, ζ_y, ζ_z, are the coordinates of a Lorentz generator with respect to this basis.

Three of the commutation relations of the Lorentz generators are $${\displaystyle [J_{\text{x}},J_{\text{y}}]=J_{\text{z}},[K_{\text{x}},K_{\text{y}}]=-J_{\text{z}},[J_{\text{x}},K_{\text{y}}]=K_{\text{z}},}$$ where the bracket [A, B] = AB − BA is known as the commutator, and the other relations can be found by taking cyclic permutations of x, y, z components (i.e. change x to y, y to z, and z to x, repeat).

These commutation relations, and the vector space of generators, fulfill the definition of the Lie algebra ${\displaystyle \mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{o}(3,1)}$. In summary, a Lie algebra is defined as a vector space V over a field of numbers, and with a binary operation [ , ] (called a Lie bracket in this context) on the elements of the vector space, satisfying the axioms of bilinearity, alternatization, and the Jacobi identity. Here the operation [ , ] is the commutator which satisfies all of these axioms, the vector space is the set of Lorentz generators V as given previously, and the field is the set of real numbers.

Linking terminology used in mathematics and physics: A group generator is any element of the Lie algebra. A group parameter is a component of a coordinate vector representing an arbitrary element of the Lie algebra with respect to some basis. A basis, then, is a set of generators being a basis of the Lie algebra in the usual vector space sense.

The exponential map from the Lie algebra to the Lie group, $${\displaystyle \exp :\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{o}(3,1)\to \mathrm{S}\mathrm{O}(3,1),}$$ provides a one-to-one correspondence between small enough neighborhoods of the origin of the Lie algebra and neighborhoods of the identity element of the Lie group. In the case of the Lorentz group, the exponential map is just the matrix exponential. Globally, the exponential map is not one-to-one, but in the case of the Lorentz group, it is surjective (onto). Hence any group element in the connected component of the identity can be expressed as an exponential of an element of the Lie algebra.

Improper transformations

Lorentz transformations also include parity inversion $${\displaystyle P=\left[\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& -\mathbf{I}\end{array}\right]}$$ which negates all the spatial coordinates only, and time reversal $${\displaystyle T=\left[\begin{array}{cc}-1& 0\\ 0& \mathbf{I}\end{array}\right]}$$ which negates the time coordinate only, because these transformations leave the spacetime interval invariant. Here I is the 3 × 3 identity matrix. These are both symmetric, they are their own inverses (see Involution (mathematics)), and each have determinant −1. This latter property makes them improper transformations.

If Λ is a proper orthochronous Lorentz transformation, then TΛ is improper antichronous, PΛ is improper orthochronous, and TPΛ = PTΛ is proper antichronous.

Inhomogeneous Lorentz group

Two other spacetime symmetries have not been accounted for. In order for the spacetime interval to be invariant, it can be shown that it is necessary and sufficient for the coordinate transformation to be of the form $${\displaystyle X^{\prime }=\mathrm{\Lambda }X+C}$$ where C is a constant column containing translations in time and space. If C ≠ 0, this is an inhomogeneous Lorentz transformation or Poincaré transformation. If C = 0, this is a homogeneous Lorentz transformation. Poincaré transformations are not dealt further in this article.

Tensor formulation

Contravariant vectors

Writing the general matrix transformation of coordinates as the matrix equation $${\displaystyle \left[\begin{array}{c}{x^{\prime }}^0\\ {x^{\prime }}^1\\ {x^{\prime }}^2\\ {x^{\prime }}^3\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_0& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_1& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_2& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_3\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\\ {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_0& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_1& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_2& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_3\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\\ {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_0& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_1& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_3\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\\ {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_0& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_1& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_2& {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{c}{x}^0\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\\ x^1\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\\ x^2\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\\ x^3\phantom{{x^{\prime }}^0}\end{array}\right]}$$ allows the transformation of other physical quantities that cannot be expressed as four-vectors; e.g., tensors or spinors of any order in 4-dimensional spacetime, to be defined. In the corresponding tensor index notation, the above matrix expression is $${\displaystyle {x^{\prime }}^{\nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\nu }}_{\mu }{x}^{\mu },}$$

where lower and upper indices label covariant and contravariant components respectively, and the summation convention is applied. It is a standard convention to use Greek indices that take the value 0 for time components, and 1, 2, 3 for space components, while Latin indices simply take the values 1, 2, 3, for spatial components (the opposite for Landau and Lifshitz). Note that the first index (reading left to right) corresponds in the matrix notation to a row index. The second index corresponds to the column index.

The transformation matrix is universal for all four-vectors, not just 4-dimensional spacetime coordinates. If A is any four-vector, then in tensor index notation $${\displaystyle {A^{\prime }}^{\nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\nu }}_{\mu }{A}^{\mu }.}$$

Alternatively, one writes $${\displaystyle A^{{\nu }^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\nu }^{\prime }}}_{\mu }{A}^{\mu }.}$$ in which the primed indices denote the indices of A in the primed frame. For a general n-component object one may write $${\displaystyle {X^{\prime }}^{\alpha }={\mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda }{)}^{\alpha }}_{\beta }{X}^{\beta },}$$ where Π is the appropriate representation of the Lorentz group, an n × n matrix for every Λ. In this case, the indices should not be thought of as spacetime indices (sometimes called Lorentz indices), and they run from 1 to n. E.g., if X is a Dirac spinor, then the indices are called Dirac indices.

Covariant vectors

There are also vector quantities with covariant indices. They are generally obtained from their corresponding objects with contravariant indices by the operation of lowering an index; e.g., $${\displaystyle x_{\nu }={\eta }_{\mu \nu }{x}^{\mu },}$$ where η is the metric tensor. (The linked article also provides more information about what the operation of raising and lowering indices really is mathematically.) The inverse of this transformation is given by $${\displaystyle x^{\mu }={\eta }^{\mu \nu }{x}_{\nu },}$$ where, when viewed as matrices, η^μν is the inverse of η_μν. As it happens, η^μν = η_μν. This is referred to as raising an index. To transform a covariant vector A_μ, first raise its index, then transform it according to the same rule as for contravariant 4-vectors, then finally lower the index; $${\displaystyle {A^{\prime }}_{\nu }={\eta }_{\rho \nu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{\eta }^{\mu \sigma }{A}_{\mu }.}$$

But $${\displaystyle {\eta }_{\rho \nu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{\eta }^{\mu \sigma }={{\left({\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{-1}\right)}^{\mu }}_{\nu },}$$

That is, it is the (μ, ν)-component of the inverse Lorentz transformation. One defines (as a matter of notation), $${\displaystyle {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{\nu }}^{\mu }\equiv {{\left({\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{-1}\right)}^{\mu }}_{\nu },}$$ and may in this notation write $${\displaystyle {A^{\prime }}_{\nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{\nu }}^{\mu }{A}_{\mu }.}$$

Now for a subtlety. The implied summation on the right hand side of $${\displaystyle {A^{\prime }}_{\nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{\nu }}^{\mu }{A}_{\mu }={{\left({\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{-1}\right)}^{\mu }}_{\nu }{A}_{\mu }}$$ is running over a row index of the matrix representing Λ⁻¹. Thus, in terms of matrices, this transformation should be thought of as the inverse transpose of Λ acting on the column vector A_μ. That is, in pure matrix notation, $${\displaystyle A^{\prime }={\left({\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{-1}\right)}^{\mathrm{T}}A.}$$

This means exactly that covariant vectors (thought of as column matrices) transform according to the dual representation of the standard representation of the Lorentz group. This notion generalizes to general representations, simply replace Λ with Π(Λ).

Tensors

If A and B are linear operators on vector spaces U and V, then a linear operator A ⊗ B may be defined on the tensor product of U and V, denoted U ⊗ V according to

${\displaystyle (A\otimes B)(u\otimes v)=Au\otimes Bv,u\in U,v\in V,u\otimes v\in U\otimes V.}$

From this it is immediately clear that if u and v are a four-vectors in V, then u ⊗ v ∈ T₂V ≡ V ⊗ V transforms as

${\displaystyle u\otimes v\to \mathrm{\Lambda }u\otimes \mathrm{\Lambda }v={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\mu }}_{\nu }{u}^{\nu }\otimes {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{v}^{\sigma }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\mu }}_{\nu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{u}^{\nu }\otimes v^{\sigma }\equiv {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\mu }}_{\nu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{w}^{\nu \sigma }.}$

The second step uses the bilinearity of the tensor product and the last step defines a 2-tensor on component form, or rather, it just renames the tensor u ⊗ v.

These observations generalize in an obvious way to more factors, and using the fact that a general tensor on a vector space V can be written as a sum of a coefficient (component!) times tensor products of basis vectors and basis covectors, one arrives at the transformation law for any tensor quantity T. It is given by

${\displaystyle T_{{\theta }^{\prime }{\iota }^{\prime }\cdots {\kappa }^{\prime }}^{{\alpha }^{\prime }{\beta }^{\prime }\cdots {\zeta }^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\alpha }^{\prime }}}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\beta }^{\prime }}}_{\nu }\cdots {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\zeta }^{\prime }}}_{\rho }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{{\theta }^{\prime }}}^{\sigma }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{{\iota }^{\prime }}}^{\upsilon }\cdots {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}_{{\kappa }^{\prime }}}^{\zeta }{T}_{\sigma \upsilon \cdots \zeta }^{\mu \nu \cdots \rho },}$

where Λ_χ′^ψ is defined above. This form can generally be reduced to the form for general n-component objects given above with a single matrix (Π(Λ)) operating on column vectors. This latter form is sometimes preferred; e.g., for the electromagnetic field tensor.

Transformation of the electromagnetic field

Lorentz transformations can also be used to illustrate that the magnetic field B and electric field E are simply different aspects of the same force—the electromagnetic force, as a consequence of relative motion between electric charges and observers. The fact that the electromagnetic field shows relativistic effects becomes clear by carrying out a simple thought experiment.

• An observer measures a charge at rest in frame F. The observer will detect a static electric field. As the charge is stationary in this frame, there is no electric current, so the observer does not observe any magnetic field.
• The other observer in frame F′ moves at velocity v relative to F and the charge. This observer sees a different electric field because the charge moves at velocity −v in their rest frame. The motion of the charge corresponds to an electric current, and thus the observer in frame F′ also sees a magnetic field.

The electric and magnetic fields transform differently from space and time, but exactly the same way as relativistic angular momentum and the boost vector.

The electromagnetic field strength tensor is given by $${\displaystyle F^{\mu \nu }=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& -\frac{1}{c}{E}_{\text{x}}& -\frac{1}{c}{E}_{\text{y}}& -\frac{1}{c}{E}_{\text{z}}\\ \frac{1}{c}{E}_{\text{x}}& 0& -B_{\text{z}}& B_{\text{y}}\\ \frac{1}{c}{E}_{\text{y}}& B_{\text{z}}& 0& -B_{\text{x}}\\ \frac{1}{c}{E}_{\text{z}}& -B_{\text{y}}& B_{\text{x}}& 0\end{array}\right]}$$ in with signature (+, −, −, −). In relativity, the factor c may be absorbed into the tensor components to eliminate its explicit appearance in expressions. Consider a Lorentz boost in the x-direction. It is given by $${\displaystyle {{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{\mu }}_{\nu }=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}\gamma & -\gamma \beta & 0& 0\\ -\gamma \beta & \gamma & 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 1& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right],F^{\mu \nu }=\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0& E_{\text{x}}& E_{\text{y}}& E_{\text{z}}\\ -E_{\text{x}}& 0& B_{\text{z}}& -B_{\text{y}}\\ -E_{\text{y}}& -B_{\text{z}}& 0& B_{\text{x}}\\ -E_{\text{z}}& B_{\text{y}}& -B_{\text{x}}& 0\end{array}\right],}$$ where the signature is (−, +, +, +) and the field tensor is displayed side by side for easiest possible reference in the manipulations below.

The general transformation law (T3) becomes $${\displaystyle F^{{\mu }^{\prime }{\nu }^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\mu }^{\prime }}}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\nu }^{\prime }}}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }.}$$

For the magnetic field one obtains $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{B}_{x^{\prime }}& =F^{2^{\prime }{3}^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3{F}^{23}=1\times 1\times B_{\text{x}}\\ & =B_{\text{x}},\\ B_{y^{\prime }}& =F^{3^{\prime }{1}^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_{\nu }{F}^{3\nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_0{F}^{30}+{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_1{F}^{31}\\ & =1\times (-\beta \gamma )(-E_{\text{z}})+1\times \gamma B_{\text{y}}=\gamma B_{\text{y}}+\beta \gamma E_{\text{z}}\\ & =\gamma {\left(\mathbf{B}-\mathit{\beta }\times \mathbf{E}\right)}_{\text{y}}\\ B_{z^{\prime }}& =F^{1^{\prime }{2}^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2{F}^{\mu 2}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_0{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2{F}^{02}+{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_1{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2{F}^{12}\\ & =(-\gamma \beta )\times 1\times E_{\text{y}}+\gamma \times 1\times B_{\text{z}}=\gamma B_{\text{z}}-\beta \gamma E_{\text{y}}\\ & =\gamma {\left(\mathbf{B}-\mathit{\beta }\times \mathbf{E}\right)}_{\text{z}}\end{array}}$$

For the electric field results $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{E}_{x^{\prime }}& =F^{0^{\prime }{1}^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_1{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_0{F}^{10}+{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_0{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^1}_1{F}^{01}\\ & =(-\gamma \beta )(-\gamma \beta )(-E_{\text{x}})+\gamma \gamma E_{\text{x}}=-{\gamma }^2{\beta }^2(E_{\text{x}})+{\gamma }^2{E}_{\text{x}}=E_{\text{x}}(1-{\beta }^2){\gamma }^2\\ & =E_{\text{x}},\\ E_{y^{\prime }}& =F^{0^{\prime }{2}^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2{F}^{\mu 2}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_0{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2{F}^{02}+{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_1{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^2}_2{F}^{12}\\ & =\gamma \times 1\times E_{\text{y}}+(-\beta \gamma )\times 1\times B_{\text{z}}=\gamma E_{\text{y}}-\beta \gamma B_{\text{z}}\\ & =\gamma {\left(\mathbf{E}+\mathit{\beta }\times \mathbf{B}\right)}_{\text{y}}\\ E_{z^{\prime }}& =F^{0^{\prime }{3}^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3{F}^{\mu 3}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_0{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3{F}^{03}+{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^0}_1{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^3}_3{F}^{13}\\ & =\gamma \times 1\times E_{\text{z}}-\beta \gamma \times 1\times (-B_{\text{y}})=\gamma E_{\text{z}}+\beta \gamma B_{\text{y}}\\ & =\gamma {\left(\mathbf{E}+\mathit{\beta }\times \mathbf{B}\right)}_{\text{z}}.\end{array}}$$

Here, β = (β, 0, 0) is used. These results can be summarized by $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{\mathbf{E}}_{{\parallel }^{\prime }}& ={\mathbf{E}}_{\parallel }\\ {\mathbf{B}}_{{\parallel }^{\prime }}& ={\mathbf{B}}_{\parallel }\\ {\mathbf{E}}_{{\mathrm{\perp }}^{\prime }}& =\gamma \left({\mathbf{E}}_{\mathrm{\perp }}+\mathit{\beta }\times {\mathbf{B}}_{\mathrm{\perp }}\right)=\gamma {\left(\mathbf{E}+\mathit{\beta }\times \mathbf{B}\right)}_{\mathrm{\perp }},\\ {\mathbf{B}}_{{\mathrm{\perp }}^{\prime }}& =\gamma \left({\mathbf{B}}_{\mathrm{\perp }}-\mathit{\beta }\times {\mathbf{E}}_{\mathrm{\perp }}\right)=\gamma {\left(\mathbf{B}-\mathit{\beta }\times \mathbf{E}\right)}_{\mathrm{\perp }},\end{array}}$$ and are independent of the metric signature. For SI units, substitute E → E/c. Misner, Thorne & Wheeler (1973) refer to this last form as the 3 + 1 view as opposed to the geometric view represented by the tensor expression $${\displaystyle F^{{\mu }^{\prime }{\nu }^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\mu }^{\prime }}}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\nu }^{\prime }}}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu },}$$ and make a strong point of the ease with which results that are difficult to achieve using the 3 + 1 view can be obtained and understood. Only objects that have well defined Lorentz transformation properties (in fact under any smooth coordinate transformation) are geometric objects. In the geometric view, the electromagnetic field is a six-dimensional geometric object in spacetime as opposed to two interdependent, but separate, 3-vector fields in space and time. The fields E (alone) and B (alone) do not have well defined Lorentz transformation properties. The mathematical underpinnings are equations (T1) and (T2) that immediately yield (T3). The primed and unprimed tensors refer to the same event in spacetime. Thus the complete equation with spacetime dependence is $${\displaystyle F^{{\mu }^{\prime }{\nu }^{\prime }}\left(x^{\prime }\right)={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\mu }^{\prime }}}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\nu }^{\prime }}}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }\left({\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{-1}{x}^{\prime }\right)={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\mu }^{\prime }}}_{\mu }{{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\nu }^{\prime }}}_{\nu }{F}^{\mu \nu }(x).}$$

Length contraction has an effect on charge density ρ and current density J, and time dilation has an effect on the rate of flow of charge (current), so charge and current distributions must transform in a related way under a boost. It turns out they transform exactly like the space-time and energy-momentum four-vectors, $${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}{\mathbf{j}}^{\prime }& =\mathbf{j}-\gamma \rho v\mathbf{n}+\left(\gamma -1\right)(\mathbf{j}\cdot \mathbf{n})\mathbf{n}\\ {\rho }^{\prime }& =\gamma \left(\rho -\mathbf{j}\cdot \frac{v\mathbf{n}}{c^2}\right),\end{array}}$$ or, in the simpler geometric view, $${\displaystyle j^{{\mu }^{\prime }}={{\mathrm{\Lambda }}^{{\mu }^{\prime }}}_{\mu }{j}^{\mu }.}$$

Charge density transforms as the time component of a four-vector. It is a rotational scalar. The current density is a 3-vector.

The Maxwell equations are invariant under Lorentz transformations.

Spinors

Equation (T1) hold unmodified for any representation of the Lorentz group, including the Dirac spinor representation. In (T2) one simply replaces all occurrences of Λ by the Dirac spinor representation Π(Λ),

${\displaystyle \begin{array}{cc}u\otimes v\to \mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda })u\otimes \mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda })v& ={\mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda }{)}^{\alpha }}_{\beta }{u}^{\beta }\otimes {\mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda }{)}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{v}^{\sigma }\\ & ={\mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda }{)}^{\alpha }}_{\beta }{\mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda }{)}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{u}^{\beta }\otimes v^{\sigma }\\ & \equiv {\mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda }{)}^{\alpha }}_{\beta }{\mathrm{\Pi }(\mathrm{\Lambda }{)}^{\rho }}_{\sigma }{w}^{\beta \sigma }\end{array}}$

The above equation could, for instance, be the transformation of a state in Fock space describing two free electrons.

Transformation of general fields

A general noninteracting multi-particle state (Fock space state) in quantum field theory transforms according to the rule

where W(Λ, p) is the Wigner's little group and D^(j) is the (2j + 1)-dimensional representation of SO(3).