Linearity of space-time transformations without the one-to-one, line-onto-line, or constancy-of-speed-of-light assumptions (Q5940545)
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scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1631937
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English | Linearity of space-time transformations without the one-to-one, line-onto-line, or constancy-of-speed-of-light assumptions |
scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1631937 |
Statements
Linearity of space-time transformations without the one-to-one, line-onto-line, or constancy-of-speed-of-light assumptions (English)
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9 August 2001
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The authors enlarge the hypotheses under which a mapping \(T\) of \(\mathbb{R}^n\) onto itself, \(n > 1\), is affine. Using a terminology which is specific to special relativity, the main theorem states that if \(T\) maps every timelike line into a line, and every timelike line is good (i.e. the image under \(T\) of every future ray contains at least two distinct points), then \(T\) is affine. The proof involves an interesting variant of the Pappus theorem. Some of the most remarkable consequences of this result concerning the structure of Lorentz transformations and the principles of the special relativity are clearly explained.
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affine mappings
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Fundamental Theorem of Geometry
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Pappus theorem
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Lorentz transformations
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special relativity
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