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Thomas precession, Wigner rotations and gauge transformations

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Special Relativity and Quantum Theory

Part of the book series: Fundamental Theories of Physics ((FTPH,volume 33))

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Abstract

The exact Lorentz kinematics of the Thomas precession is discussed in terms of Wigner’s O(3)-like little group which describes rotations in the Lorentz frame in which the particle is at rest. A Lorentz-covariant form for the Thomas factor is derived. It is shown that this factor is a Lorentz-boosted rotation matrix, which becomes a gauge transformation in the infinite-momentum or zero-mass limit.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center (Code 636), Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA

    D. Hant

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA

    Y. S. Kim

  3. Department of Physics, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, 635, South Korea

    D. Son

Authors
  1. D. Hant
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  2. Y. S. Kim
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  3. D. Son
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, New York University, USA

    M. E. Noz

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, USA

    Y. S. Kim

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© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Hant, D., Kim, Y.S., Son, D. (1988). Thomas precession, Wigner rotations and gauge transformations. In: Noz, M.E., Kim, Y.S. (eds) Special Relativity and Quantum Theory. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 33. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3051-3_44

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3051-3_44

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7872-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3051-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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