This volume presents special relativity (SR) in a language accessible to students,
while avoiding the burdens of geometry, space-time symmetries, the introduction of
4-vectors, and tensor calculus. The search for clarity in the fundamental questions
about SR, the discussion of historical developments before and after 1905, the strong
connection to current research topics, many solved examples and problems, and
illustrations of the material in colloquial discussions are the most significant and
original assets of this book. SR is presented in this volume such that nothing needs
to be called paradoxical or apparent; everything is explained. The content of this
volume develops and builds on the book RELATIVITY MATTERS,1 including new
examples, discussions, clarifications, and wording adapted for accessibility by a
wider interested readership. This introduction to SR does not require 4-vector tools.
Author(s): Johann Rafelski
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 466
Preface
Acknowledgments
Research Profile of the Author
Contents
List of Insights
Acronyms
Part I Space-Time, Light and the Æther
Introductory Remarks to Part I
1 What Is (Special) Relativity?
1.1 Principle of Relativity
Inertial Observers (IOs)
Galilean Transformation
Principle of Relativity Today
Body Motion
1.2 Time, a 4th Coordinate
Need for a Time Coordinate
Time as the 4th Coordinate of an Event
Proper Time
Causality
Is There a Deeper Understanding of Time?
1.3 Path Toward Lorentz Coordinate Transformations
1.4 Highlights: How Did Relativity Happen?
2 Light and the Æther
2.1 Measuring Space and Time: SI-Unit System
SI-Unit System
Natural Units
2.2 Speed of Light
Astronomy and the Speed of Light
Terrestrial Measurement of the Speed of Light
Speed of EM Waves
Light, Particles, Æther
2.3 Essay: Æther and Special Relativity
Maxwellians and the Æther
Paul Langevin and the Æther
Einstein and the Æther
Æther, the Structured Quantum Vacuum, and the Origin of Mass
3 Material Bodies in SR
3.1 The Michelson-Morley Experiment
Earth's Motion and the æther
3.2 Body Contraction and Time Dilation
Body Contraction
Time Dilation
Absolute Inertial Motion Is Unobservable
Concluding Remarks
3.3 Is the Lorentz-FitzGerald Body Contraction Measurable?
3.4 Experiments Requiring Body Contraction
3.5 Resolving Misunderstandings of SR
Misunderstanding 1: Space Is Contracted
Misunderstanding 2: The Lorentz-FitzGerald Body Contraction and Time Dilation Confirm Each Other
Misunderstanding 3: The Lorentz-FitzGerald Body Contraction Is Not Real
Misunderstanding 4: Small Acceleration Is Always Irrelevant
Misunderstanding 5: Time Dilation Is Observer-Reversible = `Twin Paradox'
Misunderstanding 6
Misunderstanding 7: Extended Bodies Have No Place in SR
Conclusions
Part II Time Dilation and the Lorentz-Fitzgerald Body Contraction
Introductory Remarks to Part II
4 Time Dilation
4.1 Proper Time of a Traveler
4.2 Relativistic Light-Clock
Normal to Motion Optical Path
4.3 Talking About Time (Dilation)
5 The Lorentz-FitzGerald Body Contraction
5.1 Light-Clock Moving Parallel to Light Path
Universality of Time Measurement
Optical Path Parallel to Motion
5.2 Body Contraction
5.3 Arbitrary Orientation of the Light-Clock
Part III The Lorentz Transformation
Introductory Remarks to Part III
6 Relativistic Coordinate Transformation
6.1 Derivation of the Lorentz Coordinate Transformation
Passive and Active Coordinate Transformations
Using the Isotropy and Homogeneity of Space
Using the Principle of Relativity
Using the Universality of Speed of Light
6.2 Explicit Form of the Lorentz Transformation
Einstein's form of the Lorentz Coordinate Transformation
Larmor's form of the Lorentz Transformation
6.3 The Nonrelativistic Galilean Limit
6.4 The Inverse Lorentz Coordinate Transformation
6.5 Lorentz Transformation in Arbitrary Direction
7 Some Consequences of the Lorentz Coordinate Transformation
7.1 Invariance of Proper Time
7.2 Relativistic Addition of Velocities
Case of Two Parallel Velocities
Case of Two Arbitrary Velocities
7.3 Two Lorentz Coordinate Transformations in Sequence
7.4 Rapidity
Part IV Measurement of Body Properties
Introductory Remarks to Part IV
8 Time Measurement and Lorentz Coordinate Transformations
8.1 Graphic Representation of Lorentz Transformation
8.2 Time Dilation and Simultaneity
Time Dilation
Simultaneity
9 Different Methods of Measuring Spatial Separation
9.1 Introductory Remarks
9.2 Determination of Spatial Separation
Signal Synchronized in S, the Rest-Frame of the Observer
Signal Synchronized in S0, the Rest-Frame of a Body
Body Length in Einstein's Didactics
9.3 Spatial Separation Measurement by Illumination from the Rest-Frame of the Observer
9.4 Train in the Tunnel: Is the Train or the Tunnel Contracted or Expanded?
10 The Bell Rockets
10.1 Rockets Connected by a Thread
10.2 The Thread Breaks
10.3 The Thread Spools
Part V Space, Time, and the Doppler Shift
Introductory Remarks to Part V
11 The Light Cone
11.1 The Future
11.2 The Past
12 Space-Time
12.1 Timelike and Spacelike Event Separation
12.2 Time Dilation Revisited
12.3 Essay: Quantum Entanglement and Causality
13 SR-Doppler Shift
13.1 Introducing the Nonrelativistic Doppler Shift
13.2 Misunderstanding of the Relativistic Doppler Effect
13.3 SR-Aberration of Light
13.4 SR-Doppler Shift
v || n: Motion parallel to line of sight
General case of arbitrary v, n
Part VI Mass, Energy, Momentum
Introductory Remarks to Part VI
14 Mass and Energy
14.1 Energy of a Body at Rest
14.2 Relativistic Energy of a Moving Body
14.3 Mass of a Body
15 Particle Momentum
15.1 Relation Between Energy and Momentum
15.2 Particle Rapidity
16 Generalized Mass-Energy Equivalence
16.1 Where Does Energy Come From?
16.2 Examples of Mass-Energy Equivalence
Mass Equivalence for Kinetic Energy in a Gas
Rotational Energy Mass Equivalence
Potential Energy Mass Equivalence
Atomic Mass Defect
Chemical Energy Mass Defect
Nuclear Mass Defect
16.3 Origin of Energy, Origin of Matter
Part VII Collisions, Particle Production and Decays
Introductory Remarks to Part VII
17 Preferred Frame of Reference
17.1 The Center of Momentum Reference Frame (CM-Frame)
17.2 The Lorentz Transformation to the CM-Frame
17.3 Particle Decay in the CM-Frame
17.4 Decay Energy Balance in the CM-Frame
17.5 Decay of a Body in Flight
18 Particle Reactions
18.1 Elastic Two-Body Reactions
18.2 Compton Scattering
18.3 Elastic Bounce from a Moving Wall
18.4 Inelastic Two-Body Reaction Threshold
18.5 Energy Available in a Two-Particle Collision
18.6 Inelastic Collision and Particle Production
Part VIII SR-Tests and Open Questions
Introductory Remarks to Part VIII
19 Tests of Special Relativity
19.1 Overview: Testing SR
19.2 The Michelson-Morley Experiment Today
19.3 How Constant Is the Speed of Light?
19.4 Tests of SR Material Body Properties
Test of Time Dilation
Observation and Test of Lorentz-FitzGerald Body Contraction
Test of E=mc2
19.5 Doppler Effect and Tests of the Lorentz Coordinate Transformation
19.6 Time
Time Is Different from Space
Time in Cosmology
Cosmic Microwave Background Frame of Reference
Constancy of Natural Constants
20 Acceleration
20.1 Accelerated Motion
20.2 The (Missing) Acceleration in SR
20.3 For the Existence of Acceleration
20.4 Small and Large Acceleration
20.5 Achieving Strong Acceleration
Part IX Lorentz Force and Particle Motion
Introductory Remarks to Part IX
21 Acceleration and the Lorentz Force
21.1 Newton's Second Law
21.2 Motion in Magnetic and Electric Fields
21.3 Variational Principle
21.4 Electron Coulomb Orbits
22 Electrons Riding a Plane Wave
22.1 Fields and Potentials for a Plane Wave
22.2 Role of Conservation Laws
22.3 Surfing the Plane Wave
Part X Space Travel
Introductory Remarks to Part X
23 Travel in the Milky Way
23.1 Space Travel with Constant Acceleration
23.2 The Effect of Time Dilation
23.3 How Far Can We Travel?
23.4 Variable Acceleration
24 Relativistic Rocket Equation
24.1 Nonrelativistic Rocket Equation
24.2 Relativistic Rocket Equation
24.3 Energy of Relativistic Rocket
Index
