RELATIVISTIC KINEMATICS

JUNGIL LEE
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
KOREA UNIVERSITY
jungil@korea.ac.kr
HEP Summer School
- Physics at Hadron Colliders -
CHEP, June 16-17, 2006
COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE
2
0.1 Special Theory of Relativity
0.1.1 Proper time
1. P
i
= (t
i
, x
i
, y
i
, z
i
) is a particular event in an inertial reference frame K and P

i
=
(t

i
, x

i
, y

i
, z

i
) is the same event observed in another inertial frame K

.
2. Spatial distance between two events i and j in the frame K is
d
ij
=
_
(x
i
x
j
)
2
+ (y
i
y
j
)
2
+ (z
i
z
j
)
2
. (1)
3. If a signal is propagating with the speed of light,
(x
i
x
j
)
2
+ (y
i
y
j
)
2
+ (z
i
z
j
)
2
= c
2
(t
i
t
j
)
2
, (2a)
(x

i
x

j
)
2
+ (y

i
y

j
)
2
+ (z

i
z

j
)
2
= c
2
(t

i
t

j
)
2
, (2b)
where the speed of light c is invariant in any inertial reference frame.
4. In the limit x
j
= x
i
+ dx x
i
and so forth,
(cd)
2
(cdt)
2
(dx)
2
(dy)
2
(dz)
2
(3)
= (cdt

)
2
(dx

)
2
(dy

)
2
(dz

)
2
= 0 = constant. (4)
0.1.2 Time Dilation
5. A particle at rest in an inertial reference frame K

was created at (t

1
, 0) and then decayed
at (t

2
, 0). In another inertial frame K both events were observed as (t
1
, x
1
) and (t
2
, x
2
).
The relative velocity between the two frames is v = c.
(a) Show that the particle is moving with the velocity v in frame K.
v =
x
2
x
1
t
2
t
1
. (5)
(b) Proper time interval is measured at the frame K

where the particle is at rest.

(c)
2
= (ct)
2
(x)
2
= (ct)
2
_
1
2
_
, (6a)
= t

2
t

1
=
t
2
t
1

, where (6b)
=
1
_
1
2
. (6c)
(c) If K

is not an inertial frame, the particle does not move with a constant velocity in
an inertial frame K. In this case show that
= t

2
t

1
=
_
t
2
t
1
dt
(t)
. (7)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.1. SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 3
The lifetime of a particle represents that in its rest frame.
6.

and
0
are the lightest hadrons in nature. m

0 135 MeV and m

140 MeV.
The mean life time of

is (2.6033 0.0005) 10
8
s. If a charged pion is observed at a
laboratory with v = 0.999c, how long does track of the pion?
= (2.6033 0.0005) 10
8
s, (8a)
=
1

1 0.999
2
= 22.3662720421 , (8b)
t = , (8c)
x = v t = 0.9 299792458m/s 22.3662720421 (2.6033 0.0005) 10
8
s
= (157.10 0.03)m. (8d)
7. Speed of light c is an invariant quantity. As we have learned, life time of a particle varies
depending on the frame. Minimum value of the life time can be measured if the particle
is at rest. The life time of a particle usually means the proper life time.
8. A collection of particles with identical mean life time is at rest. The number of particles
N(t) decreases as time passes by.
N(t) = N(t = 0)e
t
. (9)
Decay rate is inverse of proper life time

1

. (10)
The ratio of the number of particles to the initial number measured at proper life time is
N()
N(0)
=
1
e
= 0.367879441171 . (11)
9. Decay rate is not Lorentz invariant quantity. Decay rate of a particle approaches the
maximum value at the rest frame.
10. The most important assumption of the special theory of relativity is that the speed of
light is invariant in any inertial frame. Explain why there is no inertial frame where light
is at rest.
0.1.3 Length Contraction
11. Consider a cube with volume L
3
0
placed at an inertial frame K

with a corner matching

to the spatial axes. The frame K

is moving with velocity v x with respect to the frame

K.
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
4
12. At t

= 0 the origins of the two frames meet each other. At t

, the origin of K passes the

end of the side. Show that the length of the side along the x

axis in the K

is
L
0
= vt

. (12)
13. Show that the two events in the K

frame are
(0, 0, 0, 0) and (t

, L
0
, 0, 0) =
_
L
0
v
, L
0
, 0, 0
_
. (13)
14. The origin of K is at rest in the frame K. Show that the above two events measured at
the frame K are
(0, 0, 0, 0) and (t, 0, 0, 0) =
_
L
v
, 0, 0, 0
_
. (14)
15. The length L of the side along the xaxis measured in the frame K is the speed of the
cube v times
L = v t. (15)
Using Lorentz invariance, show that
(ct)
2
= (ct

)
2
L
2
0

L
2

2
=
L
2
0

2
L
2
0
L =
_
1
2
L
0
=
L
0

. (16a)
16. Show that the volume of the cube measured in the frame K is
V =
V
0

. (17)
17. There is a box with rest volume V containing N particles. If the box is at rest in the
frame K

and the frame is moving with speed v with respect to another inertial frame K,
the density of the particle in the box is depending on the frame.
[K

] =
N
V
, (18a)
[K] =
N
V/
= [K

]. (18b)
Therefore, the particle density increases with the multiplicative factor compared to that
measured in the rest frame.
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.2. LORENTZ TRANSFORMATION 5
0.2 Lorentz Transformation
1. We would like to use the same dimensions for both time and length. Therefore, we
multiply the speed of light to time so that ct has the dimensions of length. And we dene
the four vector x

as
x

= (x
0
, x
1
, x
2
, x
3
) (ct, x, y, z). (19)
We call this four-vector by contravariant vector.
2. We assumed
(c)
2
= (ct)
2
x
2
y
2
z
2
(20)
is invariant for any inertial frame. Especially, the proper time d for the light is vanishing
in any case so that the light can travel with the speed of light. Lorentz transformation is
the relation between the two four vectors satisfying the invariance condition (20).
3. We use
r
2
= r
2
= x
2
+ y
2
+ z
2
, (21)
for three-vectors.
4. For four-vectors, we have to dene such inner product in a dierent way because of the
sign dierence between space and time. A convenient way of writing inner product is
dening the four-squared length as
x
2
(ct)
2
x
2
y
2
z
2
. (22)
If we dene covariant vector x

as
x

= (x
0
, x
1
, x
2
, x
3
) (ct, x, y, z), (23)
we can write
x
2
x

. (24)
Note that x

and x

are not Lorentz invariant.

x

= x

= (ct)
2
+ x
2
+ y
2
+ z
2
. wrong! (25)
5. Lorentz transformation is then
x

, (26)
keeping the length
x
2
= x
2
. (27)
6. For a while, we neglect the transverse directions with respect to the relative motion.
We consider the case in which the relative motion is along the xaxis. By explicit
evaluation to see if c
2
t
2
x
2
= c
2
t
2
x
2
, show that the following transform is a Lorentz
transformation
_
ct

_
=
_
cosh sinh
sinh cosh
__
ct
x
_
, (28)
where is a real number. Use cosh
2
sinh
2
= 1.
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
6
7. Show that the inverse transform is
_
ct
x
_
=
_
cosh sinh
sinh cosh
__
ct

_
. (29)
8. Show that the Lorentz transform (28) can be written as
_
ct

_
=
_


__
ct
x
_
(30)
_
ct
x
_
=
_


__
ct

_
(31)
where = cosh
1
= tanh
1

9. Show that K

is moving with a constant velocity v = c along the positive x-axis in K.

10. K

is moving with the velocity c in K. x = x

+ x

, x

= 0, and x

= x.
Show that
x

= x

+x

(32a)
x

=
x

2
(32b)
x

= x

2
(32c)
ct

=
_
ct x

_
= (ct x) (32d)
x

=
_
ct +x

_
=
_
ct +
x

2
_
(32e)
x

= x

= x
x

2
(32f)
11. Arranging previous results, show that
ct

= (ct x) (33)
x

= x +
_
ct +
1

2
x
_
(34)
= x +
_
ct +

1 +
x
_
(35)
12. From Eq. (35), read the matrix representation of the transform matrix

.
x

(36a)

=
_
_
_
_
_

1

1
1 +
(1)(
1
)
2

2
(1)
1

2
(1)
1

2
(1)
2

2
1 +
(1)(
2
)
2

2
(1)
2

3
(1)
3

2
(1)
3

2
1 +
(1)(
3
)
2

2
_
_
_
_
_

(36b)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.3. FOUR-VECTORS AND INVARIANTS 7
From Eq. (35), read the matrix representation of the inverse transform matrix.
x

(37a)
x

= (
1
)

(37b)
(
1
)

( ) (37c)
=
_
_
_
_
_

1

1
1 +
(1)(
1
)
2

2
(1)
1

2
(1)
1

2
(1)
2

2
1 +
(1)(
2
)
2

2
(1)
2

3
(1)
3

2
(1)
3

2
1 +
(1)(
3
)
2

2
_
_
_
_
_

(37d)
Show that

1
() = () = g
T
()g. (38)
13. Taking the non-relativistic limit, show that in the limit 0
t

= t
v x
c
2
, (39a)
x

= x vt. (39b)
0.3 Four-vectors and Invariants
0.3.1 Four-vector Notation and Metric Tensor
1. If a vector A satises the same transformation condition as that of x, A is a four-vector.
x

(40)
A

(41)
where any repeated indices are summed over 0,1,2, and 3.
2. If both A

and B

are four-vectors, their inner product is Lorentz invariant.

A

= A B : A

= A

. (42)
3. Recall covariant vector A

and contravariant vector A

:
A

(A
0
, A), A

(A
0
, +A) (43)
and check the following.
A B A
0
B
0
A B = A

= A

. (44)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
8
4. Metric tensor g

= g

is useful in the transformation between covariant and contravari-

ant vectors.
g

= g

_
_
_
_
1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
_
_
_
_

. (45)
Show that
A

= g

, A

= g

, A B = g

= g

(46)
One of any pair of repeated indices is contravariant. And the other is covariant.
5. Show that
g

= g

= g

= g

=
_
_
_
_
1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
_
_
_
_

(47)
6. Show that the proof A

= A B is equivalent to prove

= g

=
_
_
_
_
1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
_
_
_
_

. (48)
0.3.2 Four-Derivative
7. Show that
x

=
_
1 if = ,
0 if = .
(49)
8. Show that
x

= 4 and
x

= 4. (50)
Both
x

and
x

are found to be Lorentz invariant. Therefore,

= derivative

(contravariant) and

x

= derivative

(covariant) (51)
9. If you do not trust above argument, you can check it through brutal-force calculation.
(a) From the denition of Lorentz transformation, show that

=
x

. (52)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.3. FOUR-VECTORS AND INVARIANTS 9
(b) From the identity (52), show that

(53)
is a contravariant vector

. (54)
(c) With the same method, show that

is a covariant vector

. (55)
10. Show that four-divergence is Lorentz invariant.
J =

=

t
+ J, (56)
where J

= (, J).
11. Show that four-dimensional Laplacian of a Lorentz invariant function is also Lorentz
invariant.

2
=

2
t
2

2
=

2
t
2

2
=

. (57)
0.3.3 Derivation of Useful Four-vectors
In this subsection we derive useful four-vectors using known Lorentz covariant four-vectors
and Lorentz invariant quantities.
12. We know x

is a four-vector.
x

. (58)
13.
14. If A

is a four-vector and a is a scalar(invariant), aA

is a four-vector.
15. Consider a particle at rest in K

ct = (c + vx

/c) = c (59a)
x = (x

+ v) = c (59b)
dx

dt
= (c, c) = (c, v)
dx

dt
dx

dt
= c
2
(1
2
) (59c)
dx

dt

=
d
d
(c, 0) = (c, 0)
dx

dt

dx

dt

= c
2
(59d)
dx

dt
is NOT a four-vector because t is not a scalar.
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
10
16. Four-velocity
x

is a four-vector and proper time is a scalar. Show that u

dx

d
= (c, v) u
2
= c
2
(60)
is a four-vector. u

is the four-velocity of a particle. At rest the four-velocity reduces into

u

= (c, 0). (61)

17. Four-momentum
u

is a four-vector and the rest mass m

0
is a scalar. Four momentum is a four-vector.
p

m
0
u

= m
0
(c, v), (62a)
p
2
= m
2
0
c
2
. (62b)
At rest the four-momentum becomes
p

= (m
0
c, 0). (63)
18. Show that
p

=
_
E
c
, p
_
E = mc
2
= m
0
c
2
(64a)
E =
_
(m
0
c
2
)
2
+p
2
c
2
(64b)
=
E
m
0
c
2
(64c)
=
pc
E
(64d)
19. Show that the Lorentz transform from a frame where a particle is at rest to the frame
where the particle is moving with momentum p

= (E/c, p) is
_


_
=
1
mc
2
_
E pc
pc E
_
, (65)
where m is the rest mass of the particle.
20. Velocity addition
From the Lorentz transformation
t

=
_
t
x
c
_
, (66a)
x

= x +
_
x
1 +
ct
_
, (66b)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.4. 2-BODY KINEMATICS 11
derive the formula for velocity addition
u

=
dx

dt

=
u +v
_
uv
c
2
(1+)
1
_

_
1
uv
c
2
_ , (67)
where u =
dx
dt
and v = c.
21. From the velocity addition formula, derive the relation for the angle of the trajectory.
tan

=
u
2
u
1
=
usin
(ucos v)
, (68)
where u = (u
1
, u
2
, 0), u

= (u
1
, u
2
, 0), = (1, 0, 0), tan = u
2
/u
1
0.4 2-body Kinematics
0.4.1 Center-of-Momentum Frame
1. Let us consider a collision of two particles. In general their momenta are written as
p
1
= (E
1
, p
1
), p
2
1
= m
2
1
, (69a)
p
2
= (E
2
, p
2
), p
2
2
= m
2
2
. (69b)
2. Invariant mass of the two particles is dened by
M
2
= (p
1
+ p
2
)
2
= (E
1
+ E
2
)
2
(p
1
+p
2
)
2
. (70)
Evidently, the invariant mass is Lorentz invariant.
3. In a center of momentum frame, expressions are greatly simplied.
p
1
= (E

1
, p

1
), (71a)
p
2
= (E

2
, p

2
), p

1
+p

2
= 0, (71b)
M
2
= (p
1
+ p
2
)
2
= (E

1
+ E

2
)
2
. (71c)
Note that the center-of-momentum energy E

1
+E

2
, total energy in the center-of-momentum
frame, is expressed in terms of Lorentz invariant quantity (p
1
+p
2
)
2
. If we know the com-
plete components of the four-momenta for the two particle in any inertial frame, we can
calculate the center-of-momentum energy
_
(p
1
+ p
2
)
2
because the expression is Lorentz
invariant.
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
12
0.4.2 Fixed-Target or CM
In a xed target frame, a particle hits the other particle at rest. In the center-of-
momentum (CM) frame, the sum of two three-momenta of the colliding particles is van-
ishing.
4. Let us consider a collision of two particles in any frame K.
(a) Sum of three-momenta for the two particles are
P = p
1
+p
2
. (72)
If we are in the CM frame, the P vanishes.
(b) Sum of energies of the two particles are given by
E = E
1
+ E
2
. (73)
(c) Invariant mass is
M =
_
(p
1
+ p
2
)
2
= E

1
+ E

2
. (74)
(d) The velocity and factor of the system of particle P

= (E, P) are expressed as

follows.
=
P
E
=
p
1
+p
2
E
1
+ E
2
, (75a)
=
E
M
=
E

E
2
P
2
=
E
1
+ E
2
_
(E
1
+ E
2
)
2
(p
1
+p
2
)
2
. (75b)
5. Let us dene by the scattering angle at the xed-target frame.
(a) Show that cos can be expressed in terms of Lorentz invariant quantity.
cos =
E
1
E
2
p
1
p
2
_
(E
2
1
m
2
1
)(E
2
2
m
2
2
)
. (76)
(b) Show that
M
2
= m
2
1
+ m
2
2
+ 2(E
1
E
2
p
1
p
2
), (77)
where M
2
= (p
1
+ p
2
)
2
.
6. Let us consider the case p
1
is at rest; p
1
= (m
1
, 0) and p
2
= (E
2
, p
2
),
(a) Express the energy and momentum of the incoming particle (p
2
) in terms of Lorentz
invariant quantities.
E
2
=
p
1
p
2
m
1
, (78a)
|p
2
| =
_
(p
1
p
2
)
2
m
2
1
m
2
2
m
1
. (78b)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.4. 2-BODY KINEMATICS 13
(b) Express the factor and velocity of the incoming particle in terms of Lorentz
invariant quantities.
=
E
2
m
2
=
p
1
p
2
m
1
m
2
(79a)
=
|p
2
|
E
2
=
_
(p
1
p
2
)
2
m
2
1
m
2
2
p
1
p
2
. (79b)
7. Energy and momentum of each particle in two-body collision can be expressed in terms
of Lorentz invariants. Let us rst choose the center-of-momentum frame. The four-
momenta for the two particles and their sum are p
1
= (E

1
, p

), p
2
= (E

2
, p

), and
P = p
1
+ p
2
= (M, 0). Show that
M = E

1
+ E

2
, (80a)
E

1
=
P p
1
M
=
M
2
+ m
2
1
m
2
2
2M
, (80b)
E

2
=
P p
2
M
=
M
2
+ m
2
2
m
2
1
2M
. (80c)
8. The magnitude of the three-momentum of the two particles are same in the center-of-
momentum frame. Derive the following formula for the magnitude of the three-momentum
in the center-of-momentum frame.
|p

| =

1/2
(M
2
, m
2
1
, m
2
2
)
2M
(81a)
=
_
[M
2
(m
1
+ m
2
)
2
] [M
2
(m
1
m
2
)
2
]
2M
(81b)
(a, b, c) = a
2
+ b
2
+ c
2
2(ab + bc + ca) (81c)
=
_
a
_

b +

c
_
2
_ _
a
_

c
_
2
_
. (81d)
0.4.3 Lorentz transformation to the rest frame of an arbitrary
particle
9. p

1
is a four-vector. Show that the components of this vector in the frame where P

=
(E, P) is at rest becomes
E

1
= (E
1
p
1
) (82a)
p

1
= p
1
+
_
p
1
1 +
E
1
_
(82b)
=
P
E
(82c)
=
E
M
, P
2
= M
2
(82d)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
14
10. If p
1
= P, show that
E

1
= M (83a)
p

1
= 0 (83b)
11. If P = p
1
+ p
2
, show that p

1
and p

2
in the rest frame of the P become
E

1
=
1
M
(EE
1
P p
1
) =
P p
1
M
(84a)
E

2
=
1
M
(EE
2
P p
2
) =
P p
2
M
(84b)
p

1
= p
1
+
P
M
_
P p
1
E + M
E
1
_
(84c)
p

2
= p
2
+
P
M
_
P p
2
E + M
E
2
_
(84d)
E

1
+ E

2
= M (84e)
p

1
+p

2
= 0 (84f)
0.5 Lorentz Transformation of integrals
1. There is a function f(x), x = (x
1
, , x
n
) and we want to change the variables into
y
k
= y
k
(x
1
, , x
n
), k = 1, 2, , n (85)
Show that
_
R
x
f(x)d
n
x =
_
R
y
g(y)d
n
y (86a)
g(y) =
(x
1
, , x
n
)
(y
1
, , y
n
)
f[x(y)], (86b)
where R
x
and R
y
are the region of integration with respect to x
k
or y
k
, respectively.
2. The Jacobian is dened by
(x
1
, , x
n
)
(y
1
, , y
n
)
=

x
1
y
1
x
2
y
1

x
n
y
1
.
.
.
x
1
y
n
x
2
y
n

x
n
y
n

. (87)
3. If = (, 0, 0), show that p

=
_
_
_
_
0 0
0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1
_
_
_
_

. (88)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.6. KINEMATICS OF 2-2 SCATTERING 15
4. Show that
(p
0
p
1
p
2
p
3
)
(p
0
p
1
p
2
p
3
)
= Det = 1. (89)
5. Using the general Lorentz Boost matrix, prove
d
4
p = d
4
p

dp
0
dp
1
dp
2
dp
3
= dp
0
dp
1
dp
2
dp
3
. (90)
This is equivalent to
(p
0
p
1
p
2
p
3
)
(p
0
p
1
p
2
p
3
)
= Det = 1. (91)
Therefore, d
4
p is Lorentz invariant.
6. Show that
[f(x)] =

(x x
i
)

df
dx
(x
i
)

, (92a)
where f(x) has a simple pole at x = x
i
.
7. Show that
(x
2
a
2
) =
(x +|a|) + (x |a|)
2|a|
. (93)
8. Show that (p
2
m
2
)d
4
p is Lorentz invariant. E =
_
m
2
+p
2
(p
2
m
2
)d
4
p =
_
(p
0
E)(p
0
+ E)
_
dp
0
dp
1
dp
2
dp
3
=
(p
0
E) + (p
0
+ E)
2E
dp
0
dp
1
dp
2
dp
3
. (94a)
9. Show that
(p
0
)(p
2
m
2
)d
4
p =
d
3
p
2E
. (95)
is Lorentz invariant.
10. Explain the Lorentz invariance of d
4
p and d
3
p/(2E) using only time dilation and length
contraction.
0.6 Kinematics of 2-2 Scattering
0.6.1 Independent Kinematic Variables
1. Transition amplitude of four particles with momenta p
1
, p
2
, p
3
, and p
4
is a function of
the four four-momenta
T
fi
= T(p
1
, p
2
, p
3
, p
4
), (96)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
16
where we ignore any other variables like spin, isospin, so on. The function is a Lorentz
scalar. We want to know how many independent Lorentz scalars made of the scalar
products of the four four-momenta exist.
2. Show that there are 10 scalar products made of the four four-vectors.
4(from p
2
i
) +
4 3
2
(from p
i
p
j
, i = j) = 10. (97)
3. Among the 10 scalar products
p
2
1
= m
2
1
, p
2
2
= m
2
2
, p
2
3
= m
2
3
, p
2
4
= m
2
4
(98)
are known from on-shell conditions so that we have at most 104 = 6 independent scalar
products.
4. In addition, there are four more conditions from energy-momentum conservation
p
1
+ p
2
+ p
3
+ p
4
= 0. (99)
Finally we end up with only two independent scalar products.
0.6.2 Lab(xed-target) system
5.
p
1
(m
1
) + p
2
(m
2
) p
3
(m
3
) + p
4
(m
4
) (100a)
p
1
= (E
1
, p
1
), p
2
= (m
2
, 0) (100b)
p
3
= (E
3
, p
3
), p
4
= (E
4
, p
4
) (100c)
6. Energy-momentum conservation requires
E
1
+ m
2
= E
3
+ E
4
, p
1
= p
3
+p
4
. (101)
7. For i = 1, 3, 4, show that
E
i
=
p
2
p
i
m
2
(102a)
|p
i
| =
_
(p
2
p
i
)
2
m
2
2
m
2
i
m
2
(102b)
8. If the scattering angle
i
(i = 3, 4) is the angle between p
1
and p
i
, show that
cos
i
=
p
1
p
2
p
i
p
2
p
1
p
i
m
2
2
_
[(p
1
p
2
)
2
m
2
1
m
2
2
] [(p
i
p
2
)
2
m
2
i
m
2
2
]
. (103a)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.6. KINEMATICS OF 2-2 SCATTERING 17
0.6.3 Center-of-Momentum(CM) system
9.
p
1
(m
1
) + p
2
(m
2
) p
3
(m
3
) + p
4
(m
4
), (104a)
p
1
= (E
1
, p
1
), p
2
= (E
2
, p
2
), (104b)
p
3
= (E
3
, p
3
), p
4
= (E
4
, p
4
), (104c)
P = p
1
+ p
2
= p
3
+ p
4
= (E, P). (104d)
In the CM system, energy-momentum conservation requires
E = M = E
1
+ E
2
= E
3
+ E
4
, P = p
1
+p
2
= p
3
+p
4
= 0. (105)
10. Show that

s is the CM energy E;
s (p
1
+ p
2
)
2
= (p
3
+ p
4
)
2
= E
2
, (106a)
p
1
p
2
=
1
2
_
s m
2
1
m
2
2
_
, p
3
p
4
=
1
2
_
s m
2
3
m
2
4
_
, (106b)
11. Show that
p
1
p
3
=
1
2
_
t m
2
1
m
2
3
_
, p
2
p
4
=
1
2
_
t m
2
2
m
2
4
_
, (107a)
p
1
p
4
=
1
2
_
t m
2
1
m
2
4
_
, p
2
p
3
=
1
2
_
t m
2
2
m
2
3
_
, (107b)
t (p
1
p
3
)
2
= (p
2
p
4
)
2
, u (p
1
p
4
)
2
= (p
2
p
3
)
2
, (107c)
s + t + u = m
2
1
+ m
2
2
+ m
2
3
+ m
2
4
. (107d)
12. Show that in the CM system
E
1
=
p
1
P
M
=
s + m
2
1
m
2
2
2

s
, E
2
=
p
2
P
M
=
s + m
2
2
m
2
1
2

s
(108a)
E
3
=
p
3
P
M
=
s + m
2
3
m
2
4
2

s
, E
4
=
p
4
P
M
=
s + m
2
4
m
2
3
2

s
. (108b)
13. Show that in the CM system
|p
1
| = |p
2
| =
_
(p
1
P)
2
m
2
1
s

s
=
_
(p
2
P)
2
m
2
2
s

s
=

1/2
(s, m
2
1
, m
2
2
)
2

s
=
_
[s (m
1
+ m
2
)
2
] [s (m
1
m
2
)
2
]
2

s
(109a)
|p
3
| = |p
4
| =
_
(p
3
P)
2
m
2
3
s

s
=
_
(p
4
P)
2
m
2
4
s

s
=

1/2
(s, m
2
3
, m
2
4
)
2

s
=
_
[s (m
3
+ m
4
)
2
] [s (m
3
m
4
)
2
]
2

s
(109b)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
18
14. Show that
1
2
(1 cos ) = sin
2

2
, (110a)
1
2
(1 + cos ) = cos
2

2
. (110b)
15. If the scattering angle is the angle between p
1
and p
3
in the CM frame, show that
t = (p
1
p
3
)
2
= (E
1
E
3
)
2
(p
1
p
3
)
2
(111a)
= (E
1
E
3
)
2
(|p
1
| |p
3
|)
2
4|p
1
||p
3
| sin
2

2
, (111b)
t
min
< t < t
max
, (111c)
t
max
= (E
1
E
3
)
2
(|p
1
| |p
3
|)
2
, (111d)
t
min
= (E
1
E
3
)
2
(|p
1
| +|p
3
|)
2
, (111e)
E
1
E
3
=
m
2
1
m
2
2
m
2
3
+ m
2
4
2

s
. (111f)
16. If the scattering angle is the angle between p
1
and p
3
, show that
cos =
p
1
Pp
3
P p
1
p
3
s
_
[(p
1
P)
2
m
2
1
s] [(p
3
P)
2
m
2
3
s]
. (112)
0.7 Phase Space
1. Show that
_
e
ipx
dx = 2(p) (113)
_
e
ipx
d
4
x = (2)
4

4
(p) = (2)
4
(p
0
)(p
1
)(p
2
)(p
3
) (114)
2. Consider a scattering
k
1
+ k
2
p
1
(m
1
) + p
2
(m
2
) + + p
n
(m
n
). (115)
Show that the energy-momentum-conservation delta function
_
e
i(p
1
+p
2
++p
n
)x
e
i(k
1
+k
2
)x
d
4
x = (2)
4

4
_
n

i=1
p
i
(k
1
+ k
2
)
_
(116)
is Lorentz invariant.
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.7. PHASE SPACE 19
3. Show that the phase-space element

4
_
n

i=1
p
i
(k
1
+ k
2
)
_
n

i=1
(p
2
i
m
2
i
)d
4
p
i
(117)
is Lorentz invariant.
4. Show that

4
_
n

i=1
p
i
(k
1
+ k
2
)
_
n

i=1
(p
2
i
m
2
i
)d
4
p
i
(118a)
=
_
n

i=1
E
i
E
1
(k
1
) E
2
(k
2
)
_

3
_
n

i=1
p
i
k
1
k
2
_
n

i=1
d
3
p
i
2E
i
(118b)
is Lorentz invariant, where p
0
i
= E
i
=
_
m
2
i
+p
2
i
and E
i
(k
i
) =
_
M
2
i
+k
2
i
.
5. Show that
d
3
p = |p|
2
d|p|d =
1
2
|p|dp
2
d, (119a)
d = sin dd, 0 < < , 0 < < 2 (119b)
= d cos d, 1 < cos < 1. (119c)
6. If the angular dependence of the integrand is independent of the particular direction of
p
1
, show that
d
3
p
1
d
3
p
2
= 4|p
1
|
2
d|p
1
||p
2
|
2
d|p
2
|d cos
12
d
12
, (120a)
where
12
(
12
,
12
) is the angle between p
1
and p
2
.
7. n-body phase space element
d
n
= (2)
4

4
_
n

i=1
p
i
(k
1
+ k
2
)
_
n

i=1
d
3
p
i
2E
i
(2)
3
(121)
8. 2-body phase space element
d
2
= (2)
4

4
(p
1
+ p
2
k
1
k
2
)
d
3
p
1
d
3
p
2
4E
1
E
2
(2)
6
(122a)
= (2)
2
(E
1
+ E
2

s)
d
3
p
1
4E
1
E
2
(122b)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
20
9. Show that in the CM frame
E
1
=
_
m
2
1
+p
2
, E
2
=
_
m
2
2
+p
2
(123a)

s = E
1
+ E
2
(123b)
p
1
= p
2
= p, |p| =

1/2
(s, m
2
1
, m
2
2
)
2

s
(123c)
E
1
|p|
=
|p|
E
1
,
E
2
|p|
=
|p|
E
2
, (123d)
(E
1
+ E
2

s) =
(|p
1
| |p|)
|p|
E
1
+
|p|
E
2
(123e)
=
E
1
E
2
|p|

s
(|p
1
| |p|) (123f)
10. Therefore
d
2
=
1
(2)
2

|p|
4

s
d (124a)
|p| =

1/2
(s, p
2
1
, p
2
2
)
2

s
(124b)
this is valid in any inertial frame because of the Lorentz invariance.
In case there is no angular dependence in the integrand(matrix element),
_
d
2
=
|p|
4

s
(125)
If p
2
1
= p
2
2
= 0,
_
d
2
=
1
8
(126)
11. 3-body phase space element Show that
d
3
= (2)
4

4
(p
1
+ p
2
+ p
3
k
1
k
2
)
d
3
p
1
d
3
p
2
d
3
p
3
8E
1
E
2
E
3
(2)
9
(127a)
= (2)
5

_
E
1
+ E
2
+ E
3

s
_
d
3
p
1
d
3
p
2
8E
1
E
2
E
3
(127b)
In the k
1
+ k
2
CM frame show that
E
1
=
_
m
2
1
+p
2
1
, E
2
=
_
m
2
1
+p
2
2
(128a)
E
3
=
_
m
2
3
+p
2
1
+p
2
2
+ 2|p
1
||p
2
| cos
12
(128b)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006
0.7. PHASE SPACE 21
12. Show that
E
1
|p
1
|
=
|p
1
|
E
1
,
E
2
|p
2
|
=
|p
2
|
E
2
(129a)
E
3
cos
12
=
|p
1
||p
2
|
E
3
(129b)
d|p
1
|d|p
1
|d cos
12
=
E
1
E
2
E
3
p
2
1
p
2
2
dE
1
dE
2
dE
3
(129c)
d
3
= (2)
5

_
E
1
+ E
2
+ E
3

s
_
4d cos
12
d
12
(130a)

p
2
1
d|p
1
|p
2
2
d|p
2
|
8E
1
E
2
E
3
(130b)
= (2)
5
dE
1
dE
2
d
12
2
. (130c)
Relativistic Kinematics, COPYRIGHT c 2006, BY JUNGIL LEE May 18, 2006