Linearity of space-time transformations without the one-to-one, line-onto-line, or constancy-of-speed-of-light assumptions (Q5940545)

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.