Geometry of Minkowski Space-Time / Edition 1

by Francesco Catoni, Dino Boccaletti, Roberto Cannata, Vincenzo Catoni, Paolo Zampetti

Overview

This book provides an original introduction to the geometry of Minkowski space-time. A hundred years after the space-time formulation of special relativity by Hermann Minkowski, it is shown that the kinematical consequences of special relativity are merely a manifestation of space-time geometry.

The book is written with the intention of providing students (and teachers) of the first years of University courses with a tool which is easy to be applied and allows the solution of any problem of relativistic kinematics at the same time. The book treats in a rigorous way, but using a non-sophisticated mathematics, the Kinematics of Special Relativity. As an example, the famous "Twin Paradox" is completely solved for all kinds of motions.

The novelty of the presentation in this book consists in the extensive use of hyperbolic numbers, the simplest extension of complex numbers, for a complete formalization of the kinematics in the Minkowski space-time.

Moreover, from this formalization the understanding of gravity comes as a manifestation of curvature of space-time, suggesting new research fields.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783642179761
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	03/11/2011
Series:	SpringerBriefs in Physics
Edition description:	2011
Pages:	116
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.01(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction.- Hyperbolic Numbers.- Geometrical Representation of Hyperbolic Numbers.- Trigonometry in the Hyperbolic (Minkowski) Plane.- Equilateral Hyperbolas and Triangles in the Hyperbolic Plane.- The Motions in Minkowski Space-Time (Twin Paradox).- Some Final Considerations.