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History of Topics in Special Relativity/Lorentz transformation (general)

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History of Lorentz transformation (edit)
History of Topics in Special Relativity (edit)

Most general Lorentz transformations

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General quadratic form

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The general w:quadratic form q(x) with coefficients of a w:symmetric matrix A, the associated w:bilinear form b(x,y), and the w:linear transformations of q(x) and b(x,y) into q(x′) and b(x′,y′) using the w:transformation matrix g, can be written as[1]

q=𝐱T𝐀𝐱=q=𝐱T𝐀𝐱b=𝐱T𝐀𝐲=b=𝐱T𝐀𝐲(𝐀=𝐀T)𝐱=𝐠𝐱𝐱=𝐠1𝐱|𝐠T𝐀𝐠=𝐀

 

 

 

 

(Q1)

The case n=1 is the w:binary quadratic form introduced by Lagrange (1773) and Gauss (1798/1801), n=2 is the ternary quadratic form introduced by Gauss (1798/1801), n=3 is the quaternary quadratic form etc.

Most general Lorentz transformation

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The Lorentz interval is the invariant relation between axes and conjugate diameters of hyperbolas, illustrating Lorentz transformations between two inertial frames.
The Lorentz interval is the invariant relation between axes and conjugate diameters of hyperbolas, illustrating Lorentz transformations between two inertial frames.

The general Lorentz transformation follows from (Q1) by setting A=A′=diag(-1,1,...,1) and det g=±1. It forms an w:indefinite orthogonal group called the w:Lorentz group O(1,n), while the case det g=+1 forms the restricted w:Lorentz group SO(1,n). The quadratic form q(x) becomes the w:Lorentz interval in terms of an w:indefinite quadratic form of w:Minkowski space (being a special case of w:pseudo-Euclidean space), and the associated bilinear form b(x) becomes the w:Minkowski inner product:[2][3]

x02++xn2=x02++xn2x0y0++xnyn=x0y0++xnyn𝐱=𝐠𝐱x0=x0g00+x1g01++xng0nx1=x0g10+x1g11++xng1nxn=x0gn0+x1gn1++xngnn𝐱=𝐠1𝐱x0=x0g00x1g10xngn0x1=x0g01+x1g11++xngn1xn=x0g0n+x1g1n++xngnn|𝐀𝐠T𝐀=𝐠1𝐠T𝐀𝐠=𝐀𝐠𝐀𝐠T=𝐀i=1ngijgikg0jg0k={1(j=k=0)1(j=k>0)0(jk)j=1ngijgkjgi0gk0={1(i=k=0)1(i=k>0)0(ik)

 

 

 

 

(1a)

The invariance of the Lorentz interval with n=1 between axes and w:conjugate diameters of hyperbolas was known for a long time since Apollonius (ca. 200 BC). Lorentz transformations (1a) for various dimensions were used by Gauss (1818), Jacobi (1827, 1833), Lebesgue (1837), Bour (1856), Somov (1863), Hill (1882) in order to simplify computations of w:elliptic functions and integrals.[4][5] They were also used by Chasles (1829) and Weddle (1847) to describe relations on hyperboloids, as well as by Poincaré (1881), Cox (1881-91), Picard (1882, 1884), Killing (1885, 1893), Gérard (1892), Hausdorff (1899), Woods (1901, 1903), Liebmann (1904/05) to describe w:hyperbolic motions (i.e. rigid motions in the w:hyperbolic plane or w:hyperbolic space), which were expressed in terms of Weierstrass coordinates of the w:hyperboloid model satisfying the relation x02++xn2=1 or in terms of the w:Cayley–Klein metric of w:projective geometry using the "absolute" form x02++xn2=0 as discussed by Klein (1871-73).[M 1][6][7] In addition, w:infinitesimal transformations related to the w:Lie algebra of the group of hyperbolic motions were given in terms of Weierstrass coordinates x02++xn2=1 by Killing (1888-1897).

Most general Lorentz transformation of velocity

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If xi, xi in (1a) are interpreted as w:homogeneous coordinates, then the corresponding inhomogenous coordinates us, us follow by

xsx0=us, xsx0=us (s=1,2n)

defined by u12+u22++un21 so that the Lorentz transformation becomes a w:homography inside the w:unit hypersphere, which w:John Lighton Synge called "the most general formula for the composition of velocities" in terms of special relativity[8] (the transformation matrix g stays the same as in (1a)):

us=gs0+gs1u1++gsnung00+g01u1++g0nunus=g0s+g1su1++gnsung00g10u1gn0un|i=1ngijgikg0jg0k={1(j=k=0)1(j=k>0)0(jk)j=1ngijgkjgi0gk0={1(i=k=0)1(i=k>0)0(ik)

 

 

 

 

(1b)

Such Lorentz transformations for various dimensions were used by Gauss (1818), Jacobi (1827–1833), Lebesgue (1837), Bour (1856), Somov (1863), Hill (1882), Callandreau (1885) in order to simplify computations of elliptic functions and integrals, by Picard (1882-1884) in relation to Hermitian quadratic forms, or by Woods (1901, 1903) in terms of the w:Beltrami–Klein model of hyperbolic geometry. In addition, infinitesimal transformations in terms of the w:Lie algebra of the group of hyperbolic motions leaving invariant the unit sphere 1+u12++un2=0 were given by Lie (1885-1893) and Werner (1889) and Killing (1888-1897).

Historical notation

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Apollonius (BC) – Conjugate diameters

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Equality of difference in squares

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Fig. 1: Apollonius' proposition illustrated by Borelli (1661) of AC2QR2=IL2NO2

w:Apollonius of Perga (c. 240–190 BC) in his 7th book on conics (that survived in Arabian translation and was translated into Latin in 1661 and 1710) defined the following well known proposition:

  • In every hyperbola the difference between the squares of the axes is equal to the difference between the squares of any conjugate diameters of the section. (Latin translation 1710 by w:Edmond Halley.)[M 3]
  • [..] in every hyperbola the difference of the squares on any two conjugate diameters is equal to the [..] difference [..] of the squares on the axes. (English translation 1896 by w:Thomas Heath.)[M 4]

Fig. 2: La Hire's (1685) illustration of AB2DE2=NM2LK2
Fig. 3: l'Hôpital's (1707) illustration of CS2CM2=CB2CA2

w:Philippe de La Hire (1685) stated this proposition as follows:

I say that the difference of the squares of any two diameters conjugated to each other, AB, DE, is equal to the difference of the squares of any two other diameters conjugated to each other, NM, LK.[M 5]

and also summarized the related propositions in the 7th book of Apollonius:

In a hyperbola, the difference of the squares of the axes is equal to the difference of the squares of any two conjugate diameters.[M 6]

w:Guillaume de l'Hôpital (1707), using the methods of w:analytic geometry, demonstrated the same proposition:[M 7]

The difference of the squares of any two conjugate diameters "Mm, Ss" is equal to the difference of the squares of the two axes "Aa, Bb." We are to prove that CS2CM2=CB2CA2, or CM2CS2=CA2CB2. (English translation 1723 by w:Edmund Stone.)[M 8]
Apollonius' proposition can be expressed as x02+x12=x02+x12 in agreement with the invariance of the Lorentz interval, so that the Lorentz transformation (1a) "(n=1)" can be interpreted as mapping from one pair of axes of a hyperbola to a pair of conjugate diameters.

Equality of areas of parallelograms

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Fig. 4: Apollonius' proposition illustrated by Borelli (1661) of the equality of areas of parallelogram ABCD (of the axes) and KLMN (of the conjugated diameters).

Apollonius also gave another well known proposition in his 7th book regarding ellipses as well as conjugate sections of hyperbolas (see also Del Centina & Fiocca[9] for further details on the history of this proposition):

  • In the ellipse, and in conjugate sections [the opposite branches of two conjugate hyperbolas] the parallelogram bounded by the axes is equal to the parallelogram bounded by any pair of conjugate diameters, if its angles are equal to the angles the conjugate diameters form at the centre. (English translation by Del Centina & Fiocca[10] based on the Latin translation 1661 by w:Giovanni Alfonso Borelli and w:Abraham Ecchellensis.[M 9])
  • If two conjugate diameters are taken in an ellipse, or in the opposite conjugate sections; the parallelogram bounded by them is equal to the rectangle bounded by the axes, provided its angles are equal to those formed at the centre by the conjugate diameters. (English translation by Del Centina & Fiocca[10] based on the Latin translation 1710 by w:Edmond Halley.)[M 10])
  • If PP', DD' be two conjugate diameters in an ellipse or in conjugate hyperbolas, and if tangents be drawn at the four extremities forming a parallelogram LL'MM', then the parallelogram LL'MM' = rect. AA'·BB'. (English translation 1896 by w:Thomas Heath.)[M 11]
The graphical representation of Apollonius proposition in Borelli's Fig. 4 is essentially a w:Minkowski diagram, being a graphical representation of the Lorentz transformation. If line AB is the x-axis of an inertial frame S1, then line FG is the x-axis of another inertial frames S2 which together with its parallel lines (such as KL and NM) represent w:relativity of simultaneity. Analogously, if line CD is the time axis of another inertial frame S2, then line HI is the time axis of S2 which together with its parallel lines (such as KN and LM) represent the w:worldlines of objects at different locations. The diagonals KE (or KM) and LE (or LN) lie on the asymptotes which form a light cone. Thus the totality of all parallelograms of equal area and conjugate diameters as constructed by Apollonius, represents the totality of all inertial frames, lines of simultaneity and worldlines within a spacetime area bounded by x02+x12=const.
Fig. 5: Saint-Vincent's (1647) illustration of FGHI=OPQR, as well as BADC=KNLM.

w:Grégoire de Saint-Vincent independently (1647) stated the same proposition:[M 12]

The parallelograms whose opposite sides are tangent to two conjugate hyperbolas at the extremities of two conjugate diameters are equivalent among them. (English translation by Del Centina & Fiocca.[11])

Fig. 6 (identical to Fig. 2): La Hire's (1685) illustration of FGHI=OPQR.

w:Philippe de La Hire (1685), who was aware of both Apollonius 7th book and Saint-Vincent's book, stated this proposition as follows:[M 13]

If a parallelogram FGHI is circumscribed about conjugate sections NA, DL, BM, KE whose sides are parallel to two conjugate diameters ED, BA drawn through their extremities, and with similar method another parallelogram OPQR is drawn through the extremities of other two conjugate diameters, then the parallelograms FGHI, OPQR are equal. (English translation by Del Centina & Fiocca.[12])

and also summarized the related propositions in the 7th book of Apollonius:[M 14]

In conjugate sections and in the ellipse, the parallelogram constructed with the axes, is equal to the parallelogram constructed with any two conjugated diameters, provided the angles are equal to those between the diameters themselves. (English translation by Del Centina & Fiocca.[12])
In Saint-Vincent's Fig. 5 or La Hire's Fig. 6, parallelogram FGHI contains all coordinates related to an inertial frame S3, in particular triangles EGH, EFI (Fig. 5) or CFG, CHI (Fig. 6) contain time like intervals between events on the future and past light cones, while triangles EHI, EGF (Fig. 5) or CFI, CGH (Fig. 6) contain space like intervals between events on the negative and positive x-axis. Conversely, parallelogram OPQR contains all coordinates related to another frame S4, in particular triangles EQR, EOP (Fig. 5) or CPQ, COR (Fig. 6) contain time like intervals between events on the future and past light cones, while triangles EPR, EOQ (Fig. 5) or COP, CQR (Fig. 6) contain space like intervals between events on the negative and positive x-axis.

Lagrange (1773) – Binary quadratic forms

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After the invariance of the sum of squares under linear substitutions was discussed by E:Euler (1771), the general expressions of a w:binary quadratic form and its transformation was formulated by w:Joseph-Louis Lagrange (1773/75) as follows[M 15]

py2+2qyz+rz2=Ps2+2Qsx+Rx2y=Ms+Nxz=ms+nx|P=pM2+2qMm+rm2Q=pMN+q(Mn+Nm)+rmnR=pN2+2qNn+rn2PRQ2=(prq2)(MnNm)2
This is equivalent to (Q1) (n=1). The Lorentz interval x02+x12 and the Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=1) are a special case of the binary quadratic form by setting (p,q,r)=(P,Q,R)=(1,0,-1).

Gauss (1798–1818)

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Binary quadratic forms

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The theory of binary quadratic forms was considerably expanded by w:Carl Friedrich Gauss (1798, published 1801) in his w:Disquisitiones Arithmeticae. He rewrote Lagrange's formalism as follows using integer coefficients α,β,γ,δ:[M 16]

F=ax2+2bxy+cy2=(a,b,c)F=ax2+2bxy+cy2=(a,b,c)x=αx+βyy=γx+δyx=δxβyy=γx+αy|a=aα2+2bαγ+cγ2b=aαβ+b(αδ+βγ)+cγδc=aβ2+2bβδ+cδ2b2ac=(b2ac)(αδβγ)2

which is equivalent to (Q1) (n=1). As pointed out by Gauss, F and F′ are called "proper equivalent" if αδ-βγ=1, so that F is contained in F′ as well as F′ is contained in F. In addition, if another form F″ is contained by the same procedure in F′ it is also contained in F and so forth.[M 17]

The Lorentz interval x02+x12 and the Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=1) are a special case of the binary quadratic form by setting (a,b,c)=(a',b',c')=(1,0,-1).

Ternary quadratic forms

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Gauss (1798/1801)[M 18] also discussed ternary quadratic forms with the general expression

f=ax2+ax2+ax2+2bxx+2bxx+2bxx=(a,a,ab,b,b)g=my2+my2+my2+2nyy+2nyy+2nyy=(m,m,mn,n,n)x=αy+βy+γyx=αy+βy+γyx=αy+βy+γy

which is equivalent to (Q1) (n=2). Gauss called these forms definite when they have the same sign such as x2+y2+z2, or indefinite in the case of different signs such as x2+y2-z2. While discussing the classification of ternary quadratic forms, Gauss (1801) presented twenty special cases, among them these six variants:[M 19]

(a,a,ab,b,b)(1,1,10,0,0), (1,1,10,0,0), (1,1,10,0,0),(1,1,10,0,0), (1,1,10,0,0), (1,1,10,0,0)

These are all six types of Lorentz interval in 2+1 dimensions that can be produced as special cases of a ternary quadratic form. In general: The Lorentz interval x2+x2x2 and the Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2) is an indefinite ternary quadratic form, which follows from the general ternary form by setting:

(a,a,ab,b,b)=(m,m,mn,n,n)=(1,1,10,0,0)

Homogeneous coordinates

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Gauss (1818) discussed planetary motions together with formulating w:elliptic functions. In order to simplify the integration, he transformed the expression

(AA+BB+CC)tt+aa(tcosE)2+bb(tsinE)22aAttcosE2bBttsinE

into

G+GcosT2+GsinT2

in which the w:eccentric anomaly E is connected to the new variable T by the following transformation including an arbitrary constant k, which Gauss then rewrote by setting k=1:[M 20]

(α+αcosT+αsinT)2+(β+βcosT+βsinT)2(γ+γcosT+γsinT)2=0k(cos2T+sin2T1)=0cosE=α+αcosT+αsinTγ+γcosT+γsinTsinE=β+βcosT+βsinTγ+γcosT+γsinT|ααββ+γγ=kαααααα=kααββ+γγ=kββββββ=kααββ+γγ=kγγγγγγ=+kααββ+γγ=0βγβγβγ=0ααββ+γγ=0γαγαγα=0ααββ+γγ=0αβαβαβ=0k=1tcosE=α+αcosT+αsinTtsinE=β+βcosT+βsinTt=γ+γcosT+γsinT|ααββ+γγ=1ααββ+γγ=1ααββ+γγ=1ααββ+γγ=0ααββ+γγ=0ααββ+γγ=0

The coefficients α,β,γ,... of Gauss' case k=1 are equivalent to the coefficient system in Lorentz transformations (1a) and (1b) (n=2).

Further setting [cosT,sinT,cosE,sinE]=[u1, u2, u1, u2], Gauss' transformation becomes Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2).

Subsequently, he showed that these relations can be reformulated using three variables x,y,z and u,u′,u″, so that

aaxx+bbyy+(AA+BB+CC)zz2aAxz2bByz

can be transformed into

Guu+Guu+Guu,

in which x,y,z and u,u′,u″ are related by the transformation:[M 21]

x=αu+αu+αuy=βu+βu+βuz=γu+γu+γuu=αxβy+γzu=αx+βyγzu=αx+βyγz|ααββ+γγ=1ααββ+γγ=1ααββ+γγ=1ααββ+γγ=0ααββ+γγ=0ααββ+γγ=0
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2) satisfying x2+y2z2=u2+u2u2, and can be related to Gauss' previous equations in terms of homogeneous coordinates [cosT,sinT,cosE,sinE]=[xz, yz, uu, uu].

Jacobi (1827, 1833/34) – Homogeneous coordinates

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Following Gauss (1818), w:Carl Gustav Jacob Jacobi extended Gauss' transformation in 1827:[M 22]

cosP2+sinP2cosϑ2+sinP2sinϑ2=1k(cosψ2+sinψ2cosφ2+sinψ2sinφ21)=0(𝟏)cosP=α+αcosψ+αsinψcosφ+αsinψsinφδ+δcosψ+δsinψcosφ+δsinψsinφsinPcosϑ=β+βcosψ+βsinψcosφ+βsinψsinφδ+δcosψ+δsinψcosφ+δsinψsinφsinPsinϑ=γ+βcosψ+γsinψcosφ+γsinψsinφδ+δcosψ+δsinψcosφ+δsinψsinφcosψ=δ+αcosP+βsinPcosϑ+γsinPsinϑδαcosPβsinPcosϑγsinPsinϑsinψcosφ=δ+αcosP+βsinPcosϑ+γsinPsinϑδαcosPβsinPcosϑγsinPsinϑsinψsinφ=δ+αcosP+βsinPcosϑ+γsinPsinϑδαcosPβsinPcosϑγsinPsinϑ(𝟐)αμ+βx+γy+δz=mαμ+βx+γy+δz=mαμ+βx+γy+δz=mαμ+βx+γy+δz=mAm+Am+Am+Am=μBm+Bm+Bm+Bm=xCm+Cm+Cm+Cm=yDm+Dm+Dm+Dm=zα=kA,β=kB,γ=kC,δ=kD,α=kA,β=kB,γ=kC,δ=kD,α=kA,β=kB,γ=kC,δ=kD,α=kA,β=kB,γ=kC,δ=kD,|αα+ββ+γγδδ=kαα+ββ+γγδδ=kαα+ββ+γγδδ=kαα+ββ+γγδδ=kαα+ββ+γγδδ=0αα+ββ+γγδδ=0αα+ββ+γγδδ=0αα+ββ+γγδδ=0αα+ββ+γγδδ=0αα+ββ+γγδδ=0αα+αα+αα+αα=kββ+ββ+ββ+ββ=kγγ+γγ+γγ+γγ=kδδ+δδ+δδ+δδ=kαβ+αβ+αβ+αβ=0αγ+αγ+αγ+αγ=0αδ+αδ+αδ+αδ=0βγ+βγ+βγ+βγ=0γδ+γδ+γδ+γδ=0δβ+δβ+δβ+δβ=0
By setting [cosP, sinPcosφ, sinPsinφ]=[u1, u2, u3][cosψ, sinψcosϑ, sinψsinϑ]=[u1, u2, u3] and k=1 in the (1827) formulas, transformation system (1) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=3), and by setting k=1 in transformation system (2) it becomes equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=3) producing m2+m2+m2m2=μ2+x2+y2z2.

Alternatively, in two papers from 1832 Jacobi started with an ordinary orthogonal transformation, and by using an imaginary substitution he arrived at Gauss' transformation (up to a sign change):[M 23]

xx+yy+zz=ss+ss+ss=0(𝟏)x=αs+αs+αsy=βs+βs+βsz=γs+γs+γss=αx+βy+γzs=αx+βy+γzs=αx+βy+γz|αα+ββ+γγ=1αα+αα+αα=1αα+ββ+γγ=1ββ+ββ+ββ=1αα+ββ+γγ=1γγ+γγ+γγ=1αα+ββ+γγ=0βγ+βγ+βγ=0αα+ββ+γγ=0γα+γα+γα=0αα+ββ+γγ=0αβ+αβ+αβ=0[yx, zx, ss, ss]=[icosφ, isinφ, icosη, isinη][α, α, β, γ]=[iα, iα, iβ, iγ](𝟐)(ααcosηαsinη)2=(ββcosηβsinη)2+(γγcosηγsinη)2(αβcosϕγsinϕ)2=(αβcosϕγsinϕ)2+(αβcosϕγsinϕ)2cosϕ=ββcosηβsinηααcosηαsinη,cosη=αβcosϕγsinϕαβcosϕγsinϕsinϕ=γγcosηγsinηααcosηαsinη,sinη=αβcosϕγsinϕαβcosϕγsinϕ(𝟑)1zzyy=1ssss(ααsαs)2y=ββsβsααsαs,s=αβyγzαβyγz,z=γγsγsααsαs,s=αβyγzαβyγz,|ααββγγ=1ααββγγ=1ααββγγ=1ααββγγ=0ααββγγ=0ααββγγ=0αααααα=1ββββββ=1γγγγγγ=1βγβγβγ=0γαγαγα=0αβαβαβ=0
By setting [cosϕ, sinϕ, cosη, sinη]=[u1, u2, u1, u2], transformation system (2) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2). Also transformation system (3) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2) up to a sign change.

Extending his previous result, Jacobi (1833) started with Cauchy's (1829) orthogonal transformation for n dimensions, and by using an imaginary substitution he formulated Gauss' transformation (up to a sign change) in the case of n dimensions:[M 24]

x1x1+x2x2++xnxn=y1y1+y2y2++ynyn(𝟏) yϰ=α1(ϰ)x1+α2(ϰ)x2++αn(ϰ)xnxϰ=αϰy1+αϰy2++αϰ(n)ynyϰyn=α1(ϰ)x1+α2(ϰ)x2++αn(ϰ)xnα1(n)x1+α2(n)x2++αn(n)xnxϰxn=αϰy1+αϰy2++αϰ(n)ynα1(n)x1+α2(n)x2++αn(n)xn|αϰαλ+αϰαλ++αϰ(n)αλ(n)=0αϰαϰ+αϰαϰ++αϰ(n)αϰ(n)=1α1(ϰ)α1(λ)+α2(ϰ)α2(λ)++αn(ϰ)αn(λ)=0α1(ϰ)α1(ϰ)+α2(ϰ)α2(ϰ)++αn(ϰ)αn(ϰ)=1xϰxn=iξϰ, yϰyn=iνϰ1ξ1ξ1ξ2ξ2ξn1ξn1=ynynxnxn(1ν1ν1ν2ν2νn1νn1)αn(ϰ)=iα(ϰ), αϰ(n)=iαϰ, αn(n)=α1ξ1ξ1ξ2ξ2ξn1ξn1=1ν1ν1ν2ν2νn1νn1[ααν1αν2α(n1)νn1]2(𝟐) νϰ=α(ϰ)α1(ϰ)ξ1α2(ϰ)ξ2αn1(ϰ)ξn1αα1ξ1α2ξ2αn1ξn1ξϰ=αϰαϰν1α2ν2αϰ(n1)νn1ααν1αν2α(n1)νn1ξ1ξ1ξ2ξ2ξn1ξn1=1  ν1ν1ν2ν2νn1νn1=1
Transformation system (2) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) up to a sign change.

He also stated the following transformation leaving invariant the Lorentz interval:[M 25]

uuu1u1u2u2un1un1=www1w1w2w2wn1wn1u=αwαw1αw2α(n1)wn1u1=α1wα1w1α1w2α1(n1)wn1un1=αn1wαn1w1αn1w2αn1(n1)wn1w=αuα1u1α2u2αn1un1w1=αuα1u1α2u2αn1un1wn1=α(n1)uα1(n1)u1α2(n1)u2αn1(n1)un1|ααααααα(n1)α(n1)=+1αϰαϰαϰαϰαϰαϰαϰ(n1)αϰ(n1)=1ααϰααϰααϰα(n1)αϰ(n1)=0αϰαλαϰαλαϰαλαϰ(n1)αλ(n1)=0ααα1α1α2α2αn1αn1=+1αϰαϰα1ϰα1ϰα2α2αn1(ϰ)αn1(ϰ)=1αα(ϰ)α1α1(ϰ)α2α2(ϰ)αn1αn1(ϰ)=0α(ϰ)α(λ)α1(ϰ)α1λl)α2(ϰ)α2(λ)αn1(ϰ)αn1(λ)=0 
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) up to a sign change.

Chasles (1829) – Conjugate hyperboloids

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w:Michel Chasles (1829) independently introduced the same equation systems as Gauss (1818) and Jacobi (1827), albeit in the different context of conjugate hyperboloids. He started with two equation systems (a) and (b) from which he derived systems (c), (d) and others:[M 26]

α2+β2γ2=1α2+β2γ2=1α2+β2γ2=1}(a)αα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0}(b)α2+α2α2=1β2+β2β2=1γ2+γ2γ2=1}(c)αβ+αβαβ=0αγ+αγαγ=0βγ+βγβγ=0}(d)

He noted that those quantities become the “frequently employed” formulas of Lagrange [i.e. the coefficients of the Euclidean orthogonal transformation first given by E:Euler (1771)] by setting:[M 27]

γγ1γγ1αα1ββ1
Equations (a,b,c,d) are the coefficients of Lorentz transformation (1a, n=2).

Chasles now showed that equation systems (a,b,c,d) are of importance when discussing the relations between conjugate diameters of hyperboloids. He used the equations of a one-sheet hyperboloid and of a two-sheet hyperboloid having the same principal axes (x,y,z), thus sharing the same conjugate axes, and having the common asymptotic cone x2a2+y2b2z2c2=0. He then transformed those two hyperboloids to new axes (x',y',z') sharing the property of conjugacy:[M 28]

x2a2+y2b2z2c2=1x2a2+y2b2z2c2=1x=lx+ly+lzy=mx+my+mzz=nx+ny+nz{lla2+mmb2nnc2=0lla2+mmb2nnc2=0lla2+mmb2nnc2=0}(l2a2+m2b2n2c2)x2+(l2a2+m2b2n2c2)y2+(l2a2+m2b2n2c2)z2=1(l2a2+m2b2n2c2)x2+(l2a2+m2b2n2c2)y2+(l2a2+m2b2n2c2)z2=1
Chasles defined the conditional equations of l,m,n in the same way as those of α,β,γ in equation system (b) above, so his transformation of x,y,z into x',y',z' represents Lorentz transformation (1a, n=2) by applying equation system (a) as well.

He went on to use two semi-diameters of the one-sheet hyperboloid and one semi-diameter of the two-sheet hyperboloid in order to define equation system (A), and went on to suggest that the other equations related to this system can be obtained using the above transformation from oblique coordinates to other oblique ones, but he deemed it more simple to use a geometric argument to obtain system (B), which together with (A) then allowed him to algebraically determine systems (C), (D) and additional ones, leading Chasles to announce that “from these formulas one can very easily conclude the various properties of conjugated diameters of hyperboloids”:[M 29]

α2+β2γ2=a2α2+β2γ2=b2α2+β2γ2=c2}(A)αα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0}(B)α2+α2α2=a2β2+β2β2=b2γ2+γ2γ2=c2}(C)αβ+αβαβ=0αγ+αγαγ=0βγ+βγβγ=0}(D)
Equation systems (A,B,C,D), being equivalent to systems (a,b,c,d) above, are the coefficients of Lorentz transformation (1a, n=2) by setting a=b=c=1.

Lebesgue (1837) – Homogeneous coordinates

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w:Victor-Amédée Lebesgue (1837) summarized the previous work of Gauss (1818), Jacobi (1827, 1833), Cauchy (1829). He started with the orthogonal transformation[M 30]

x12+x22++xn2=y12+y22++yn2 (9)x1=a1,1y1+a1,2y2++a1,nynx2=a2,1y1+a2,2y2++a2,nynxn=an,1x1+an,2x2++an,nxny1=a1,1x1+a2,1x2++an,1xny2=a1,2x1+a2,2x2++an,2xn (12) yn=a1,nx1+a2,nx2++an,nxn|a1,α2+a2,α2++an,α2=1(10)a1,αa1,β+a2,αa2,β++an,αan,β=0(11)aα,12+aα,22++aα,n2=1(13)aα,1aβ,1+aα,2aβ,2++aα,naβ,n=0(14)

In order to achieve the invariance of the Lorentz interval[M 31]

x12+x22++xn12xn2=y12+y22++yn12yn2

he gave the following instructions as to how the previous equations shall be modified: In equation (9) change the sign of the last term of each member. In the first n-1 equations of (10) change the sign of the last term of the left-hand side, and in the one which satisfies α=n change the sign of the last term of the left-hand side as well as the sign of the right-hand side. In all equations (11) the last term will change sign. In equations (12) the last terms of the right-hand side will change sign, and so will the left-hand side of the n-th equation. In equations (13) the signs of the last terms of the left-hand side will change, moreover in the n-th equation change the sign of the right-hand side. In equations (14) the last terms will change sign.

These instructions give Lorentz transformation (1a) in the form:

x12+x22++xn12xn2=y12+y22++yn12yn2x1=a1,1y1+a1,2y2++a1,nynx2=a2,1y1+a2,2y2++a2,nynxn=an,1x1+an,2x2++an,nxny1=a1,1x1+a2,1x2++an1,1xn1an,1xny2=a1,2x1+a2,2x2++an1,2xn1an,2xnyn=a1,nx1+a2,nx2++an1,nxn1an,nxn|a1,α2+a2,α2++an1,α2an,α2=1a1,n2+a2,n2++an1,n2an,n2=1a1,αa1,β+a2,αa2,β++an1,αan1,βan,αan,β=0aα,12+aα,22++aα,n12aα,n2=1an,12+an,22++an,n12an,n2=1aα,1aβ,1+aα,2aβ,2++aα,n1aβ,n1aα,naβ,n=0

He went on to redefine the variables of the Lorentz interval and its transformation:[M 32]

x12+x22++xn12xn2=y12+y22++yn12yn2x1=xncosθ1,x2=xncosθ2,xn1=xncosθn1y1=yncosϕ1,y2=yncosϕ2,yn1=yncosϕn1cos2θ1+cos2θ2++cos2θn1=1cos2ϕ1+cos2ϕ2++cos2ϕn1=1cosθi=ai,1cosϕ1+ai,2cosϕ2++ai,n1cosϕn1+ai,nan,1cosϕ1+an,2cosϕ2++an,n1cosϕn1+an,n(i=1,2,3n)
Setting [cosθi, cosϕi]=[us, us] it is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b).

Weddle (1847) – Conjugate hyperboloids

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Very similar to Chasles (1829), though without reference to him, w:Thomas Weddle discussed conjugate hyperboloids using the following equation system (α), from which he derived equations (β) and others:[M 33]

l12+m12n12=1,l1l2+m1m2n1n2=0l22+m22n22=1,l1l3+m1m3n1n3=0l32+m32n32=1,l2l3+m2m3n2n3=0}(α)l12+l22l32=1,l1m1+l2m2l3m3=0m12+m22m32=1,l1n1+l2n2l3n3=0n12+n22n32=1,m1n1+m2n2m3n3=0}(β)
These are the coefficients of Lorentz transformation (1a, n=2).

Using the equations of a one-sheet hyperboloid and of a two-sheet hyperboloid sharing the same conjugate axes, and having the common asymptotic cone x2a2+y2b2z2c2=0, he defined three conjugate points (x1,y1,z1) on those two conjugate hyperboloids, related to each other in the same way as equations (α, β) stated above:[M 34]

x2a2+y2b2z2c2=1x2a2+y2b2z2c2=1x1x2a2+y1y2b2z1z2c2=0x1x3a2+y1y3b2z1z3c2=0x2x3a2+y2y3b2z2z3c2=0x12a2+y12b2z12c2=1x22a2+y22b2z22c2=1x32a2+y32b2z32c2=1x12+x22x32=a2y12+y22y32=b2z12+z22z32=c2x1y1+x2y2x3y3=0x1z1+x2z2x3z3=0y1z1+y2z2y3z3=0
These are the coefficients of Lorentz transformation (1a, n=2) by setting a=b=c=1.

Bour (1856) – Homogeneous coordinates

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Following Gauss (1818), w:Edmond Bour (1856) wrote the transformations:[M 35]

cos2E+sin2E1=k(cos2T+sin2T1)(𝟏) cosE=α+αcosT+αsinTγ+γcosT+γsinTsinE=β+βcosT+βsinTγ+γcosT+γsinTk=+1t=γ+γcosT+γsinT,1=u, cosT=u, sinT=u,t=z, tcosE=x, tsinE=y(𝟐)x=αu+αu+αuy=βu+βu+βuz=γu+γu+γuu=γzαxβyu=αx+βyγzu=αx+βyγz|α2β2+γ2=kα2β2+γ2=kα2β2+γ2=kαα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0α2α2α2=kβ2β2β2=kγ2γ2γ2=kβγβγβγ=0αγαγαγ=0αβαβαβ=0
Transformation system (2) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2), implying x2+y2z2=u2+u2u2. Furthermore, setting [k,cosT,sinT,cosE,sinE]=[1,u1,u2,u1,u2] in transformation system (1) produces Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2).

Somov (1863) – Homogeneous coordinates

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Following Gauss (1818), Jacobi (1827, 1833), and Bour (1856), w:Osip Ivanovich Somov (1863) wrote the transformation systems:[M 36]

cosϕ=mcosψ+nsinψ+smcosψ+nsinψ+ssinϕ=mcosψ+nsinψ+smcosψ+nsinψ+s|cos2ϕ+cos2ϕ=1cos2ψ+cos2ψ=1(𝟏) cosϕ=x,cosψ=xsinϕ=y,sinψ=y |x=mx+ny+smx+ny+sy=mx+ny+smx+ny+s| x2+y2=1x2+y2=1cosϕ=xz,cosψ=xzsinϕ=yz,sinψ=yz |xz=mx+ny+szmx+ny+szyz=mx+ny+szmx+ny+sz| x2+y2=z2x2+y2=z2(𝟐) x=mx+ny+szy=mx+ny+szz=mx+ny+szx=mx+mymzy=nx+nynzz=sxsy+szdx=mdx+ndy+sdzdy=mdx+ndy+sdzdz=mdx+ndy+sdz|m2+m2m2=1n2+n2n2=1s2s2+s2=1ns+nsns=0sm+smsm=0mn+mnmn=0m2+n2s2=1m2+n2s2=1m2n2+s2=1mmnn+ss=0mmnn+ss=0mm+nnss=0dx2+dy2dz2=dx2+dy2dz2

Transformation system (1) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2).

Transformation system (2) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2).

Klein (1871-73) – Cayley absolute and non-Euclidean geometry

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Elaborating on w:Arthur Cayley's (1859) definition of an "absolute" (w:Cayley–Klein metric), w:Felix Klein (1871) defined a "fundamental w:conic section" in order to discuss motions such as rotation and translation in the non-Euclidean plane.[M 37] This was elaborated in (1873) when he pointed out that hyperbolic geometry in terms of a surface of constant negative curvature can be related to a quadratic equation, which can be transformed into a sum of squares of which one square has a different sign, and can also be related to the interior of a surface of second degree corresponding to a two-sheet w:hyperboloid.[M 38]

Klein's representation of hyperbolic space in terms of a two-sheet hyperboloid and its accompanied quadratic form suggests that Lorentz transformations can be geometrically interpreted as motions or isometries in hyperbolic space.

Killing (1878–1893)

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Weierstrass coordinates

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w:Wilhelm Killing (1878–1880) described non-Euclidean geometry by using Weierstrass coordinates (named after w:Karl Weierstrass who described them in lectures in 1872 which Killing attended) obeying the form

k2t2+u2+v2+w2=k2[M 39] with ds2=k2dt2+du2+dv2+dw2[M 40]

or[M 41]

k2x02+x12++xn2=k2

where k is the reciprocal measure of curvature, k2= denotes w:Euclidean geometry, k2>0 w:elliptic geometry, and k2<0 hyperbolic geometry. In (1877/78) he pointed out the possibility and some characteristics of a transformation (indicating rigid motions) preserving the above form.[M 42] In (1879/80) he tried to formulate the corresponding transformations by plugging k2 into a general rotation matrix:[M 43]

k2u2+v2+w2=k2cosητ+λ21cosητη2,νsinητη+λμ1cosητη2,μsinητη+νλ1cosητη2k2νsinητη+k2λμ1cosητη2,cosητ+μ21cosητη2,λsinητη+k2μν1cosητη2k2μsinητη+k2νλ1cosητη2,λsinητη+k2μν1cosητη2,cosητ+ν21cosητη2(λ2+k2μ2+k2ν2=η2)

In (1885) he wrote the Weierstrass coordinates and their transformation as follows:[M 44]

k2p2+x2+y2=k2k2p2+x2+y2=k2p2+x2+y2ds2=k2dp2+dx2+dy2k2p=k2wp+wx+wyx=ap+ax+ayy=bp+bx+byk2p=k2wp+ax+byx=wp+ax+byy=wp+ax+by|k2w2+w2+w2=k2a2k2+a2+a2=1b2k2+b2+b2=1aw+aw+aw=0bw+bw+bw=0abk2+ab+ab=0k2w2+a2+b2=k2w2k2+a2+b2=1w2k2+a2+b2=1ww+aa+bb=0ww+aa+bb=0wwk2+aa+bb=0

In (1885) he also gave the transformation for n dimensions:[M 45][13]

k2x02+x12++xn2=k2ds2=k2dx02+dx12++dxn2k2ξ0=k2a00x0+a01x1++a0nx0ξϰ=aϰ0x0+aϰ1x1++aϰnxnk2x0=a00k2ξ0+a10ξ1++an0ξnxϰ=a0ϰξ0+a1ϰξ1++anϰξn|k2a002+a102++an02=k2a00a0ϰ+a10a1ϰ++an0anϰ=0a0ιa0ϰk2+a0ιa1ϰ++anιanϰ=δικ=1 (ι=κ) or 0 (ικ)

In (1885) he applied his transformations to mechanics and defined four-dimensional vectors of velocity and force.[M 46] Regarding the geometrical interpretation of his transformations, Killing argued in (1885) that by setting k2=1 and using p,x,y as rectangular space coordinates, the hyperbolic plane is mapped on one side of a two-sheet hyperboloid p2x2y2=1 (known as w:hyperboloid model),[M 47][14] by which the previous formulas become equivalent to Lorentz transformations and the geometry becomes that of Minkowski space.

All of Killing's transformations between 1879 and 1885 don't work when k2 is negative, thus they fail to produce Lorentz transformation (1a) with k2=1.

Finally, in (1893) he wrote:[M 48]

k2t2+u2+v2=k2t=at+bu+cvu=at+bu+cvv=at+bu+cv|k2a2+a2+a2=k2k2b2+b2+b2=1k2c2+b2+c2=1k2ab+ab+ab=0k2ac+ac+ac=0k2bc+bc+bc=0

and in n dimensions[M 49]

k2x02+x12++xn2=k2k2y0y0+y1y1++ynyn=k2x0x0+x1x1++xnxnds2=k2dx02++dxn2y0=a00x0+a01x1++a0nxny1=a10x0+a11x1++a1nxnyn=an0x0+an1x1++annxn|k2a002+a102++an02=k2k2a0ϰ2+a1ϰ2++anϰ2=1k2a00a0ϰ+a10a1ϰ++an0anϰ=0k2a0ϰa0λ+a1ϰa1λ++anϰanλ=0(ϰ,λ=1,,n, λϰ)
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) with k2=1.

Infinitesimal transformations and Lie group

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After Lie (1885/86) identified the projective group of a general surface of second degree fikxixk=0 with the group of non-Euclidean motions, Killing (1887/88)[M 50] defined the infinitesimal projective transformations (Lie algebra) in relation to the unit hypersphere:

x12++xm+12=1Xιϰf=xifxϰxϰfxιwhere(Xιϰ,Xιλ)=Xϰλ; (Xιϰ,Xλμ)=0;[ιϰλμ]

and in (1892) he defined the infinitesimal transformation for non-Euclidean motions in terms of Weierstrass coordinates:[M 51]

k2x02+x12++xn2=k2Xιϰ=xιpϰxϰpι,Xι=x0pιxιp0k2where(XιXιϰ)=Xϰf; (XιXϰλ)=0; (XιXϰ)=1k2Xιϰf;

In (1897/98) he showed the relation between Weierstrass coordinates k2x02+x12++xn2=k2 and coordinates k2+y12+y22++yn2=0 used by himself in (1887/88) and by Werner (1889), Lie (1890):[M 52]

k2x02+x12++xn2(a)k2x02+x12++xn2=k2(b)Vϰ=k2x0pϰxϰp0,Uιϰ=pιxϰpϰxιwhere(Vι,Vϰ)=k2Uιϰ, (Vι,Uιϰ)=Vϰ, (Vι,Uϰλ)=0,(Uιϰ,Uιλ)=Uϰλ, (Uιϰ,Uλμ)=0[ι,ϰ,λ,μ=1,2,n]y1=x1x0, y2=x2x0,yn=xnx0k2+y12+y22++yn2=0qϰ+yϰk2ϱyyqϱ,qιyϰqϰyι

He pointed out that the corresponding group of non-Euclidean motions in terms of Weierstrass coordinates is intransitive when related to quadratic form (a) and transitive when related to quadratic form (b).

Setting k2=1 denotes the group of hyperbolic motions and thus the Lorentz group.

Poincaré (1881) – Weierstrass coordinates

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w:Henri Poincaré (1881) connected the work of E:Hermite (1853) and E:Selling (1873) on indefinite quadratic forms with non-Euclidean geometry (Poincaré already discussed such relations in an unpublished manuscript in 1880).[15] He used two indefinite ternary forms in terms of three squares and then defined them in terms of Weierstrass coordinates (without using that expression) connected by a transformation with integer coefficients:[M 53][16]

F=(ax+by+cz)2+(ax+by+cz)2(ax+by+cz)2=ξ2+η2ζ2=1F=(ax+by+cz)2+(ax+by+cz)2(ax+by+cz)2=ξ2+η2ζ2=1ξ=αξ+βη+γζη=αξ+βη+γζζ=αξ+βη+γζ|α2+α2α2=1β2+β2β2=1γ2+γ2γ2=1αβ+αβαβ=0αγ+αγαγ=0βγ+βγβγ=0

He went on to describe the properties of "hyperbolic coordinates".[M 54][14] Poincaré mentioned the hyperboloid model also in (1887).[M 55]

This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2).

Cox (1881–1891) – Weierstrass coordinates

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Homersham Cox (1881/82) – referring to similar rectangular coordinates used by Gudermann (1830)[M 56] and w:George Salmon (1862)[M 57] on a sphere, and to Escherich (1874) as reported by w:Johannes Frischauf (1876)[M 58] in the hyperbolic plane – defined the Weierstrass coordinates (without using that expression) and their transformation:[M 59]

z2x2y2=1x2y2z2=Z2Y2X2x=l1X+l2Y+l3Zy=m1X+m2Y+m3Zz=n1X+n2Y+n3ZX=l1x+m1yn1zY=l2x+m2yn2zZ=l3x+m3yn3z|l12+m12n12=1l22+m22n22=1l32+m32n32=1l1l2+m1m2n1n2=0l2l3+m2m3n2n3=0l3l1+m3m1n3n1=0l12+l22l32=1m12+m22m32=1n12+n22n32=1l1m1+l2m2l3m3=0m1n1+m2n2m3n3=0n1l1+n2l2n3l3=0
These equations contain several errors or misprints: Z2Y2X2 has to be replaced by X2Y2Z2, and l32+m32n32=1n12+n22n32=1 replaced with l32+m32n32=1n12+n22n32=1, and by reversing the sign of Z in the inverse transformation, this becomes Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2).

Cox (1881/82) also gave the Weierstrass coordinates and their transformation in hyperbolic space:[M 60]

w2x2y2z2=1w2x2y2z2=w2x2y2z2x=l1x+l2y+l3zl4wy=m1x+m2y+m3zm4wz=n1x+n2y+n3zn4ww=r1x+r2y+r3zr4wx=l1x+m1y+n1zr1wy=l2x+m2y+n2zr2wz=l3x+m3y+n3zr3ww=l4x+m4y+n4zr4w|l12+m12+n12r12=1l22+m22+n22r22=1l32+m32+n32r32=1l42+m42+n42r42=1l2l3+m2m3+n2n3r2r3=0l3l1+m3m1+n3n1r3r1=0l1l4+m1m4+n1n4r1r4=0l2l4+m2m4+n2n4r2r4=0l3l4+m3m4+n3n4r3r4=0
By replacing l42+m42+n42r42=1 with l42+m42+n42r42=1 this represents an improper antichronous Lorentz transformation, which becomes proper orthochronous Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=3) by reversing the sign of w everywhere.

In 1883 he formulated relations between w:orthogonal circles which he identified with the previously (1881/82) given transformations:[M 61]

x2+y2+z2w2=0x=λ1X+λ2Y+λ3Z+λ4Wy=μ1X+μ2Y+μ3Z+μ4Wz=ν1X+ν2Y+ν3Z+ν4Ww=ρ1X+ρ2Y+ρ3Z+ρ4WX=λ1x+μ1y+ν1z+ρ1wY=λ2x+μ2y+ν2z+ρ2wZ=λ3x+μ3y+ν3z+ρ3wW=λ4x+μ4y+ν4z+ρ4w|λ12+μ12+ν12ρ12=1λ22+μ22+ν22ρ22=1λ32+μ32+ν32ρ32=1λ42+μ42+ν42ρ42=1λ2λ3+μ2μ3+ν2ν3ρ2ρ3=0λ3λ1+μ3μ1+ν3ν1ρ3ρ1=0λ1λ2+μ1μ2+ν1ν2ρ1ρ2=0λ1λ4+μ1μ4+ν1ν4ρ1ρ4=0λ2λ4+μ2μ4+ν2ν4ρ2ρ4=0λ3λ4+μ3μ4+ν3ν4ρ3ρ4=0λ12+λ22+λ32λ42=1μ12+μ22+μ32μ42=1ν12+ν22+ν32ν42=1ρ12+ρ22+ρ32ρ42=1λ1μ1+λ2μ2+λ3μ3λ4μ4=0λ1ν1+λ2ν2+λ3ν3λ4ν4=0λ1ρ1+λ2ρ2+λ3ρ3λ4ρ4=0μ1ν1+μ2ν2+μ3ν3μ4ν4=0μ1ρ1+μ2ρ2+μ3ρ3μ4ρ4=0ν1ρ1+ν2ρ2+ν3ρ3ν4ρ4=0
The relations between λ,μ,ν,ρ are correct, even though the transformation still represents an improper antichronous Lorentz transformation, which becomes proper orthochronous Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=3) by reversing the sign of w everywhere.

Finally, in a treatise on w:Grassmann's Ausdehnungslehre and circles (1891), he again provided transformations of orthogonal circle systems described by him as being "identical with those for transformation of coordinates in non-Euclidean geometry":[M 62]

x2+y2+z2=w2x=λ1x+λ2y+λ3z+λ4w(4 equations)x=λ1x+μ1y+ν1zρ1ww=λ4x+μ4y+ν4zρ4wλ12+μ12+ν12ρ12=1λ22+μ22+ν22ρ22=1λ32+μ32+ν32ρ32=1λ42+μ42+ν42ρ42=1λ1λ2+μ1μ2+ν1ν2ρ1ρ2=0(6 equations)λ12+λ22+λ32λ42=1ρ12+ρ22+ρ32ρ42=1λ1μ1+λ2μ2+λ3μ3λ4μ4=0(6 equations) 
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=3).

Hill (1882) – Homogeneous coordinates

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Following Gauss (1818), w:George William Hill (1882) formulated the equations[M 63]

k(sin2T+cos2T1)k(sin2E+cos2E1)cosE=α+αsinT+αcosTγ+γsinT+γcosT(𝟏)sinE=β+βsinT+βcosTγ+γsinT+γcosTHLINE TBDx=αu+αu+αuy=βu+βu+βuz=γu+γu+γu(𝟐)u=αxβy+γzu=αx+βyγzu=αx+βyγz|α2+β2γ2=1α2+β2γ2=1α2+β2γ2=1αα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0αα+ββγγ=0(k=1)α2α2α2=kβ2β2β2=kγ2γ2γ2=kαβαβαβ=0αγαγαγ=0βγβγβγ=0

Transformation system (1) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2) with [cosT,sinT,cosE,sinE]=[u1,u2,u1,u2].

Transformation system (2) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2) .

Picard (1882-1884) – Quadratic forms

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w:Émile Picard (1882) analyzed the invariance of indefinite ternary Hermitian quadratic forms with integer coefficients and their relation to discontinuous groups, extending Poincaré's Fuchsian functions of one complex variable related to a circle, to "hyperfuchsian" functions of two complex variables related to a w:hypersphere. He formulated the following special case of an Hermitian form:[M 64][17]

xx0+yy0zz0(𝟏) x=M1X+P1Y+R1Zy=M2X+P2Y+R2Zz=M3X+P3Y+R3Z[[][x,y,z]=complex[x0,y0,z0]=conjugate]x2+x2+y2+y2=1x=x+ix,y=y+iy(𝟐) X=M1x+P1y+R1M3x+P3y+R3Y=M2x+P2y+R2M3x+P3y+R3|M1μ1+M2μ2M3μ3=1P1π1+P2π2P3π3=1R1ρ1+R2ρ2R3ρ3=1P1μ1+P2μ2P3μ3=0M1ρ1+M2ρ2M3ρ3=0P1ρ1+P2ρ2P3ρ3=0M1μ1+P1π1R1ρ1=1M2μ2+P2π2R2ρ2=1M3μ3+P3π3R3ρ3=1μ2M1+π2P1R1ρ2=0μ2M3+π2P3R3ρ2=0μ3M1+π3P1R1ρ3=0[[][M,P,R]=complex[μ,π,ρ]=conjugate]
Replacing the imaginary variables and coefficients with real ones, transformation system (1) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2) producing x2+y2-z2=X2+Y2-Z2 and transformation system (2) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2) producing x2+y2=X2+Y2=1.

Or in (1884a) in relation to indefinite binary Hermitian quadratic forms:[M 65]

UU0VV0=uu0vv0U=𝒜u+vV=𝒞u+𝒟v|𝒜𝒜0𝒞𝒞0=1𝒜0𝒞𝒟0=00𝒟𝒟0=1𝒟𝒟0𝒞𝒞0=1
Replacing the imaginary variables and coefficients with real ones, this is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=1) producing U2-V2=u2-v2.

Or in (1884b):[M 66]

xx0+yy01=0X=M1x+P1y+R1M3x+P3y+R3Y=M2x+P2y+R2M3x+P3y+R3|M1μ1+M2μ2M3μ3=P1π1+P2π2P3π3=1R1ρ1+R2ρ2R3ρ3=1P1μ1+P2μ2P3μ3=M1ρ1+M2ρ2M3ρ3=P1ρ1+P2ρ2P3ρ3=0M1ρ1+M2ρ2M3ρ3=0
Replacing the imaginary variables and coefficients with real ones, this is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2) producing x2+y2=X2+Y2=1.

Or in (1884c):[M 67]

UU0+VV0WW0=uu0+vv0ww0(𝟏) U=Mu+Pv+RwV=Mu+Pv+RwW=Mu+Pv+Rwu=M0U+M0VM0Wv=P0U+P0VP0Ww=R0UR0V+R0W|MM0+MM0MM0=1PP0+PP0PP0=1RR0+RR0RR0=1MP0+MP0MP0=0MR0+MR0MR0=0PR0+PR0PR0=0MM0+PP0RR0=1MM0+PP0RR0=1MM0+PP0RR0=1M0M+P0PR0R=0M0M+P0PR0R=0M0M+P0PR0R=0Invariance of unit hypersphere:(𝟐) ξ=Aξ+Aη+ACξ+Cη+Cη=Bξ+Bη+BCξ+Cη+C|AA0+AA0AA0=1BB0+BB0BB0=1CC0+CC0CC0=1AB0+AB0AB0=0AC0+AC0AC0=0BC0+BC0BC0=0
Replacing the imaginary variables and coefficients with real ones, transformation system (1) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2) producing U2+V2-W2=u2+v2-w2 and transformation system (2) is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2) producing ξ2+η2=ξ2+η2=1.

Callandreau (1885) – Homography

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Following Gauss (1818) and Hill (1882), w:Octave Callandreau (1885) formulated the equations[M 68]

k(sin2T+cos2T1)=(α+αsinT+αcosT)2+(β+βsinT+βcosT)2(γ+γsinT+γcosT)2cosε=α+αsinT+αcosTγ+γsinT+γcosTsinε=β+βsinT+βcosTγ+γsinT+γcosT|(k=1)α2+β2γ2=kαα+ββγγ=0α2+β2γ2=+kαα+ββγγ=0α2+β2γ2=+kαα+ββγγ=0α2α2α2=1αβαβαβ=0β2β2β2=1αγαγαγ=0γ2γ2γ2=+1βγβγβγ=0
The transformation system is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=2) with [cosT,sinT,cosε,sinε]=[u1,u2,u1,u2].

Lie (1885-1890) – Lie group, hyperbolic motions, and infinitesimal transformations

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In (1885/86), w:Sophus Lie identified the projective group of a general surface of second degree fikxixk=0 with the group of non-Euclidean motions.[M 69] In a thesis guided by Lie, w:Hermann Werner (1889) discussed this projective group by using the equation of a unit hypersphere as the surface of second degree (which was already given before by Killing (1887)), and also gave the corresponding infinitesimal projective transformations (Lie algebra):[M 70]

x12+x22++xn2=1xipϰxϰpi,pixi1nj xjpj(i,ϰ=1,,n)where(Qi,Qϰ)=Ri,ϰ; (Qi,Qj,ϰ)=εi,jQϰεi,ϰQj;(Ri,ϰ,Rμ,ν)=εϰ,μRi,νεϰ,νRi,με,μRϰ,ν+εi,νRϰ,μ[εi,ϰ0 for iϰ; εi,i=1]

More generally, Lie (1890)[M 71] defined non-Euclidean motions in terms of two forms x12+x22+x32±1=0 in which the imaginary form with +1 denotes the group of elliptic motions (in Klein's terminology), the real form with −1 the group of hyperbolic motions, with the latter having the same form as Werner's transformation:[M 72]

x12++xn21=0pkxkj10xjpj,xipkxkpi(i,k=1n)

Summarizing, Lie (1893) discussed the real continuous groups of the conic sections representing non-Euclidean motions, which in the case of hyperbolic motions have the form:

x2+y21=0[M 73] or x12+x22+x321=0[M 74] or x12++xn21=0.[M 75]

The group of hyperbolic motions is isomorphic to the Lorentz group. The interval x12++xn21=0 becomes the Lorentz interval x12++xn2x02=0 by setting

(x1,, xn, 1)=(x1x0,, xnx0, x0x0)

Gérard (1892) – Weierstrass coordinates

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w:Louis Gérard (1892) – in a thesis examined by Poincaré – discussed Weierstrass coordinates (without using that name) in the plane using the following invariant and its Lorentz transformation equivalent to (1a) (n=2):[M 76]

X2+Y2Z2=1X2+Y2Z2=X2+Y2Z2X=aX+aY+aZY=bX+bY+bZZ=cX+cY+cZX=aX+bYcZY=aX+bYcZZ=aXbY+cZ|a2+b2c2=1a2+b2c2=1a2+b2c2=1aa+bbcc=0aa+bbcc=0aa+bbcc=0
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2).

He gave the case of translation as follows:[M 77]

X=Z0X+X0ZY=YZ=X0X+Z0Z with X0=shOOZ0=chOO
This is equivalent to Lorentz boost (3b).

Hausdorff (1899) – Weierstrass coordinates

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w:Felix Hausdorff (1899) – citing Killing (1885) – discussed Weierstrass coordinates in the plane using the following invariant and its transformation:[M 78]

p2x2y2=1x=a1x+a2y+x0py=b1x+b2y+y0pp=e1x+e2y+p0px=a1x+b1ye1py=a2x+b2ye2pp=x0x+y0yp0p|a12+b12e12=1a22+b22e22=1x02y02+p02=1a2x0+b2y0e2p0=0a1x0+b1y0e1p0=0a1a2+b1b2e1e2=0a12+a22x02=1b12+b22y02=1e12e22+p02=1b1e1+b2e2y0p0=0a1e1+a2e2x0p0=0a1b1+a2b2x0y0=0
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2).

Woods (1901-05) – Beltrami and Weierstrass coordinates

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In (1901/02) w:Frederick S. Woods defined the following invariant quadratic form and its w:projective transformation in terms of Beltrami coordinates (he pointed out that this can be connected to hyperbolic geometry by setting k=1R with R as real quantity):[M 79]

k2(u2+v2+w2)+1=0u=α1u+α2v+α3w+α4δ1u+δ2v+δ3w+δ4v=β1u+β2v+β3w+β4δ1u+δ2v+δ3w+δ4w=γ1u+γ2v+γ3w+γ4δ1u+δ2v+δ3w+δ4|k2(αi2+βi2+γi2)+δi2=k2(i=1,2,3)k2(α42+β42+γ42)+δ42=1αiαh+βiβh+γiγh+δiδh=0(i,h=1,2,3,4; ih)
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1b) (n=3) with k2=-1.

Alternatively, Woods (1903, published 1905) – citing Killing (1885) – used the invariant quadratic form in terms of Weierstrass coordinates and its transformation (with k=1k for hyperbolic space):[M 80]

x02+k2(x12+x22+x32)=1ds2=1k2dx02+dx12+dx22+dx32x1=α1x1+α2x2+α3x3+α0x0x2=β1x1+β2x2+β3x3+β0x0x3=γ1x1+γ2x2+γ3x3+γ0x0x0=δ1x1+δ2x2+δ3x3+δ0x0|δ02+k2(α02+β02+γ02)=1δi2+k2(αi2+βi2+γi2)=k2(i=1,2,3)δiδh+k2(αiαh+βiβh+γiγh)=0(i,h=0,1,2,3; ih)
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=3) with k2=-1.

Liebmann (1904–05) – Weierstrass coordinates

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w:Heinrich Liebmann (1904/05) – citing Killing (1885), Gérard (1892), Hausdorff (1899) – used the invariant quadratic form and its Lorentz transformation equivalent to (1a) (n=2)[M 81]

p2x2y2=1x1=α11x+α12y+α13py1=α21x+α22y+α23px1=α31x+α32y+α33px=α11x1+α21y1α31p1y=α12x1+α22y1α32p1p=α13x1α23y1+α33p1|α332α132α232=1α312+α112+α212=1α322+α122+α222=1α31α32α11α12α21α22=0α32α33α12α13α22α23=0α33α31α23α11α23α21=0
This is equivalent to Lorentz transformation (1a) (n=2).

References

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Historical mathematical sources

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  1. Killing (1885), p. 71
  2. Apollonius/Borelli/Ecchellensis (1661), Summary of prop. XII and other props. from book VII on pp. 291-292; See also the note on prop. XII on pp. 293-294, where Borelli demontrates AC2QR2=IL2NO2 (in later translations such as Halley (1710), the proposition was numbered as XIII.) Latin: "Differentia quadratorum duorum axium hyperboles æqualis est differentiæ quadratorum quarumlibet duarum diametrorum coniugatarum."
  3. Apollonius/Halley (1710), Prop. XIII of book VII on p. 107; Latin: "In omni Hyperbola differentia inter quadrata Axium aequalis est differentiae inter quadrata ex diametris quibusvis conjugatis sectionis."
  4. Apollonius/Heath (1896), Proposition 129; (Apollonius, Book VII, Prop. 13).
  5. La Hire (1685), Book IV, Proposition XLII, p. 85; Latin: "Dico differentiam quadratorum duarum diametrorum quarumlibet inter se conjugatarum AB, DE esse æqualem differentiæ quadratorum duarum aliarum diametrorum quarumlibet inter se conjugatarum, NM, LK."
  6. La Hire (1685), p. 242. Summary of propositions XII, XIII, XXV in the 7th book of Apollonius; Latin: "In hyperbola differentia quadratorum axium æqualis est differentia quadratorum duarum diametrorum conjugatarum quarumlibet."
  7. l'Hôpital (1707), Third book, Prop. XII, p. 76.
  8. l'Hôpital/Stone (1723), pp. 62-63
  9. Apollonius/Borelli/Ecchellensis (1661), Summary of prop. XXXI of book VII on p. 370; Note on pp. 372-374; Latin: "In ellypsi, & sectionibus coniugatis parallelogrammum sub axibus contentum æquale est parallelogrammo à quibuscunque duabus coniugatis diametris comprehenso, si eorum anguli æquales fuerint angulis ad centrum contentis à coniugatis diametris."
  10. Apollonius/Halley (1710), Prop. XXXI of book VII on p. 115–117; Latin: "Si ducantur diametri quævis conjugate in Ellipsi, vel inter sectiones oppositas conjugatas; erit parallelogrammum contentam sub his diametris æquale rectangulo sub ipsis Axibus facto: modo anguli ejus æquales sint angulis ad centrum sectionis à diametris conjugatis comprehensis."
  11. Apollonius/Heath (1896), Proposition 136, p. 235; (Apollonius, Book VII, Prop. 31).
  12. St. Vincent (1647), Book VI, Prop. XLIX, p. 560; Latin: “Si fuerint binæ hyperbolarum coniugaciones A, B, C, D: ponantur autem per E centrum duæ quoque diametrorum coniugationes per quarum vertices contingentes actæ constituant duo quadrilatera FGHI, OPQR. Dico illa esse æqualia inter se.”
  13. La Hire (1685), Book IV, Proposition XLIII, pp. 85-86; Latin: "In sectionibus conjugatis NA, DL, BM, KE si circumscribatur parallelogrammum FGHI à rectis parallelis duabus diametris inter se conjugatis ED, BA, & per ipsorum terminos ductis, & simili methodo circumscribatur aliud parallelogrammum OPQR à rectis ductis per terminos diametrorum conjugatarum, & ipsis parallelis: Dico parallelogramma FGHI, OPQR esse inter se æqualia."
  14. La Hire (1685), p. 242. Summary of proposition XXXI in the 7th book of Apollonius; Latin: "In sectionibus conjugatis & Ellipsi parallelogrammum sub axibus æquale est paralelogrammo sub duabus quibuscunque diametris inter se conjugatis, in angulis ipsarum diametrorum conjugatarum."
  15. Lagrange (1773/75), section 22
  16. Gauss (1798/1801), articles 157–158;
  17. Gauss (1798/1801), section 159
  18. Gauss (1798/1801), articles 266–285
  19. Gauss (1798/1801), article 277
  20. Gauss (1818), pp. 5–10
  21. Gauss (1818), pp. 9–10
  22. Jacobi (1827), p. 235, 239–240
  23. The orthogonal substitution and the imaginary transformation was defined in Jacobi (1832a), pp. 257, 265–267; Transformation system (2) and (3) and coefficients in Jacobi (1832b), pp. 321-325.
  24. Jacobi (1833/34), pp. 7–8, 34–35, 41; Some misprints were corrected in Jacobi's collected papers, vol 3, pp. 229–230.
  25. Jacobi (1833/34), p. 37. Some misprints were corrected in Jacobi's collected papers, vol 3, pp. 232–233.
  26. Chasles (1829), p. 139
  27. Chasles (1829), p. 141
  28. Chasles (1829), pp. 143-144
  29. Chasles (1829), pp. 145-146
  30. Lebesgue (1837), pp. 338-341
  31. Lebesgue (1837), pp. 353–354
  32. Lebesgue (1837), pp. 353–355
  33. Weddle (1847), p. 274
  34. Weddle (1847), pp. 275-276
  35. Bour (1856), pp. 61; 64–65
  36. Somov (1863), pp. 12–14; p. 18 for differentials.
  37. Klein (1871), pp. 601–602
  38. Klein (1873), pp. 127-128
  39. Killing (1877/78), p. 74; Killing (1880), p. 279
  40. Killing (1880), eq. 25 on p. 283
  41. Killing (1880), p. 283
  42. Killing (1877/78), eq. 25 on p. 283
  43. Killing (1879/80), p. 274
  44. Killing (1885), pp. 18, 28–30, 53
  45. Killing (1884/85), pp. 42–43; Killing (1885), pp. 73–74, 222
  46. Killing (1884/85), pp. 4–5
  47. Killing (1885), Note 9 on p. 260
  48. Killing (1893), see pp. 144, 327–328
  49. Killing (1893), pp. 314–316, 216–217
  50. Killing (1887/88a), pp. 274–275
  51. Killing (1892), p. 177
  52. Killing (1897/98), pp. 255–256
  53. Poincaré (1881a), pp. 133–134
  54. Poincaré (1881b), p. 333
  55. Poincaré (1887), p. 206
  56. Gudermann (1830), §1–3, §18–19
  57. Salmon (1862), section 212, p. 165
  58. Frischauf (1876), pp. 86–87
  59. Cox (1881/82), p. 186 for Weierstrass coordinates; pp. 193–194 for Lorentz transformation.
  60. Cox (1881/82), pp. 199, 206–207
  61. Cox (1883), pp. 109ff
  62. Cox (1891), pp. 27-28
  63. Hill (1882), pp. 323–325
  64. Picard (1882), pp. 307–308 first transformation system; pp. 315-317 second transformation system
  65. Picard (1884a), p. 13
  66. Picard (1884b), p. 416
  67. Picard (1884c), pp. 123–124; 163
  68. Callandreau (1885), pp. A.7; A.12
  69. Lie (1885/86), p. 411
  70. Werner (1889), pp. 4, 28
  71. Lie (1890a), p. 295;
  72. Lie (1890a), p. 311
  73. Lie (1893), p. 474
  74. Lie (1893), p. 479
  75. Lie (1893), p. 481
  76. Gérard (1892), pp. 40–41
  77. Gérard (1892), pp. 40–41
  78. Hausdorff (1899), p. 165, pp. 181-182
  79. Woods (1901/02), p. 98, 104
  80. Woods (1903/05), pp. 45–46; p. 48)
  81. Liebmann (1904/05), p. 168; pp. 175–176

Secondary sources

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  1. Bôcher (1907), chapter X
  2. Ratcliffe (1994), 3.1 and Theorem 3.1.4 and Exercise 3.1
  3. Naimark (1964), 2 in four dimensions
  4. Musen (1970) pointed out the intimate connection of Hill's scalar development and Minkowski's pseudo-Euclidean 3D space.
  5. Touma et al. (2009) showed the analogy between Gauss and Hill's equations and Lorentz transformations, see eq. 22-29.
  6. Müller (1910), p. 661, in particular footnote 247.
  7. Sommerville (1911), p. 286, section K6.
  8. Synge (1955), p. 129 for n=3
  9. Del Centina & Fiocca (2020)
  10. 10.0 10.1 Del Centina & Fiocca (2020), section 3.1
  11. Del Centina & Fiocca (2020), section 5.1
  12. 12.0 12.1 Del Centina & Fiocca (2020), section 5.2
  13. Ratcliffe (1994), § 3.6
  14. 14.0 14.1 Reynolds (1993)
  15. Gray (1997)
  16. Dickson (1923), pp. 220–221
  17. Dickson (1923), pp. 280-281