Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 9

Please hand in the questions marked with (RF) to the Students Administration Office by 2pm on
Monday 12 December for marking. These questions will be covered in a Rapid Feedback session on
Friday 16 December.

1. (RF) Consider the Lorentz transformation

 
γ 0 0 −γβ
 0 1 0 0 
Λµ ν =
 0

0 1 0 
−γβ 0 0 γ
0

0 that 0this reduces0 to the familiar Lorentz transformation equations t =
(a) Show explicitly
vz
γ t − c2 , x = x, y = y and z = γ (z − vt).
(b) Show explicitly that (x0 )2 − (x1 )2 − (x2 )2 − (x3 )2 is invariant under this transformation.
(c) A photon travels along the z–axis of a particular Lorentz frame, so that at time t its position
is z. Compute the components {xµ } of the photon’s spacetime displacement four-vector
at time t. What is the (squared) length `2 of this four-vector?

2. (RF)

(a) Using the property Λρ µ Λρ ν = δµ ν , show that `2 = ξ µ ξµ is frame-independent for an

arbitrary four-vector ξ µ .
(b) Show that √ 
−1 0
2 √ 0
−1 2 0 0
Λµ ν =
 0

0 0 1
0 0 −1 0
is a Lorentz transformation. What is its inverse?
(c) Show that the scalar product of two four-vectors is independent of the Lorentz frame in
which it is calculated.
(d) The components of the four-velocity uµ of a rocket in a specific Lorentz frame are
(2, 1, 1, 1). In the same frame the components of the four-momentum pµ of a cosmic
ray (in units where c = 1) happen to be (300, 299, 0, 0) × 10−27 kg. What is the energy
of the cosmic ray according to the rocket observer? (Hint: You do not need a Lorentz
transformation!)

NB: EPFL students only, please submit your solution to the following question by email by
Monday 22 December.

3. In terms of the electric field E and magnetic field B, the Faraday tensor is
 
0 Ex /c Ey /c Ez /c
−Ex /c 0 Bz −By 
F µν = 
−Ey /c −Bz
.
0 Bx 
−Ez /c By −Bx 0
0 0
(a) How does it transform under Lorentz transformation xµ = Λµ ν xν ? [2 marks]

1
Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2016 Problem Sheet 9

(b) Show that the quantity Fµν F µν is Lorentz invariant. Express it in terms of E and
B. [4 marks]
(c) Write down the Faraday tensor that corresponds to a linearly polarised electromagnetic
plane wave travelling in the z direction, given by
E(t, r) = Eı̂eik(z−ct) ,
E ik(z−ct)
B(t, r) = ̂e .
c
Show that it satisfies the Maxwell equations
∂µ F µν = 0,
µ νρ ν ρµ ρ µν
∂ F +∂ F +∂ F = 0.
[5 marks]
(d) Find the Faraday tensor in a frame boosted in the z direction in terms of the boosted
0
coordinates xµ ? [4 marks]