Relativistic screw

A relativistic screw $$\mathbf Q$$ about a line $$\boldsymbol l$$ is given by

$$\mathbf Q(2\tau) = \exp_\unicode{x27C7}[\gamma\tau(\dot\delta \mathbf e_0 + \dot\phi{\large\unicode{x1D7D9}}) \mathbin{\unicode{x27C7}} \boldsymbol l - \gamma c\tau\,\mathbf e_{321}]$$ ,

where $$c$$ is the speed of light, $$\tau$$ is proper time, and $$\gamma = dt/d\tau$$. The rate of rotation about the line is specified by $$\dot\phi$$, and the rate of translation along the line is specified by $$\dot\delta$$.

The operator $$\mathbf Q$$ transforms a position $$\mathbf r$$ (or any other quantity) through the sandwich product

$$\mathbf r' = \mathbf Q \mathbin{\unicode{x27C7}} \mathbf r \mathbin{\unicode{x27C7}} \smash{\mathbf{\underset{\Large\unicode{x7E}}{Q}}}$$.

The bulk norm of a unitized relativistic screw operator is given by

$$\left\Vert\mathbf Q\right\Vert_\unicode["segoe ui symbol"]{x25CF} = \sqrt{c^2t^2 - Q_{mx}^2 - Q_{my}^2 - Q_{mz}^2 - Q_{mw}^2}$$ ,

and it corresponds to the distance that the origin is moved. This must be real for any motion that's physically possible (i.e., without exceeding the speed of light).

See Also

• Translation