Minkowski Space: The Spacetime of Special Relativity

In Minkowski-Space the space-time of special relativity is discussed on the basis of fundamental results of space-time theory. This idea has the consequence that the Minkowski-space can be characterized by 5 axioms, which determine its geometrical and kinematical structure completely. In this sense Minkowski-Space is a prolegomenon for the formulation of other branches of special relativity, like mechanics, electrodynamics, thermodynamics etc. But these applications are not subjects of this book.

Contents

Basic properties of special relativity
Further properties of Lorentz matrices
Further properties of Lorentz transformations
Decomposition of Lorentz matrices and Lorentz transformations
Further structures on M^s
Tangent vectors in M^s
Orientation
Kinematics on M^s
Some basic notions of relativistic theories

Joachim Schröter, University of Paderborn, Germany.