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c
c
t x V
t c x
We will use eqns 1 to transform this into the O system.
(3b) ,
'
'
'
'
(3a) ,
'
'
'
'
t t
t
x t
x
t
t x
t
x x
x
x
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
=
c
c
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
=
c
c
In general the transformation from one coordinate system to another is given by,
3
' '
v and ,
' t x t x x c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c
c
c
=
c
c
(4a) , 4(b)
Applying eqns 4 a second time gives
) ' , ' ( ' )
' ' c
2v
' c
v
'
1
'
( 0 ) , ( )
1
(
2 2
2
2
2
2
2
2 2
2
2
2
2 2
2
t x V
t x x t c x
t x V
t c x c
c
c
c
+
c
c
c
c
c
c
= =
c
c
c
c
(5)
So we see from eqn (5) that the wave equation is not a Galilean invariant.
Equations 1 must be modified so that the wave equation is invariant in transforming
from one inertial frame to another. The coordinates (y,z) perpendicular to v do not
change. We must consider a more general transformation for the x and t
coordinates. It makes sense to try a symmetrical representation of the
transformation.
(6b) ,
v
'
(6a) , v '
2
0 0
1 1
x
c
b t a t
t b x a x
=
=
In eqns 6 we choose coefficients as and bs to be dimensionless.
We now use equations 6 in equations 3 and derive for the wave equation 4
(7c) , 0 ) (
(7b) ,
1
) v (
(7a) , 1 )
v
(
1 0 0 1
2 2
2
0
2
4
2
0
2
2
2
1
2
1
=
=
=
b a b a
c c
a
c
b
c
b a
(7)
In order to ensure invariance w.r.t. coordinate transformation we need
' '
) (
v
2
'
) v (
'
)
v
(
1
1 0 0 1
2 2
2
2
2
0
2
4
2
0
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
2 2
2
x t
b a b a
c t c
a
c
b
x c
b a
t c x c
c
c
c
c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c
c
c
We can try to find a solution to 7 that is symmetric, namely try a
1
=b
1
, and a
0
=b
0
.
Both 7a and 7b give the same result.
(8b) ,
c
v
(8a) ,
1
1
2
2 2
1
2
0
=
= =
|
|
a a
5
The counterpart to the Galilean transformations ( eqns 1), which makes the wave
equation invariant is called the Lorentz transformation.
(9d) , '
(9c) , '
(9b) ),
v
( '
(9a) ), v ( '
2
z z
y y
x
c
t t
t x x
=
=
=
=
(16) ) ( '
2 2 2
J J c c
=
10
In eqn (16) we note that c
2
2
must be an invariant quantity with respect to Lorentz
transformations. The observer O is completely arbitrary. Another observer with a
different relative velocity with respect to O would come to the same conclusion if the
quantity on the right hand side of (16) were formed. Thus if there are two observers in
reference frames 1 and 2 we can write
(17) ) ( ) ( '
2 2
2
2 1 1
2
1
2 2
J J c J J c c
= =
11
Notice the close parallels between eqns (11), (12), and (17). The charge
density in the frame in which the charge distribution is at rest, O, is the
counterpart to the proper time in that frame. The current density is the
counterpart to the position x. We can rewrite equations (9) by
multiplying eqn (9b) by c.
(18b) ), ( )
v
( '
(18a) ), ( '
x ct x
c
ct ct
ct x x
|
|
= =
=
(19c) , ' ' ,
(19b) ), ( '
(19a) , ) ( '
0 0
0 0
0
ct x ct x
x x x
x x x
=
=
|
|
12
If we change our notation from (t,x,y,z) for the time and space coordinates to
J J J J J J J J c
x x x x x z y x ct
z y x
=
=
) , , , ( ) , , , (
define likewise and , ) , , , ( ) , , , (
3 2 1 0
3 2 1 0
Then we can conclude for two separate inertial reference frames O and O
(21) , ) ( ' ' ) ' (
(20) , ) ( ' ' ) ' (
2 0 2 0
2 0 2 0
J J J J J J
x x x x x x
=
=
The quantity x