Re: Symmetry in Lorentz transformation equations

[DEVARAKONDA VENKATA NARAYANA SARMA <narayana@HD1.DOT.NET.IN>]

I think the first one i.e., x<--->t, x'<---->t' is the most obvious.
It is telling us that x and t are exchangeable. Both equations have the
dimensions of time and it indicates the equivalence of x and t.

regards,

sarma.
At 08:54 AM 9/3/99 -0400, you wrote:
> Sarma,
>
> Just what is the symmetry you (or the article) had in mind here?  Is it
> the invariance: x^2 - t^2 = x'^2 - t'^2, or is it the symmetry of the
> Lorentz boost transformation under the replacements: x <--> t, x' <--> t',
> or is it x <--> x', t <--> -t', or is it x <--> -x', t <--> t', or is it
> x --> -x, t --> -t, x' --> -x', t' --> -t', or is it something else?
>
> What, IYO, is the significance or importance of the symmetry (whatever it
> actually is)?
>
> > We have
> >                x' = (x -vt)/K and t' = (t - vx)/K
> >
> > Here we have to note x and x' have dimensions of time and are numerically
> > equal to space intervals in units of magnitude c.
>
> David Bowman
> dbowman@georgetowncollege.edu