Past exam of the symmetry and relativity course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / 4 / d / Solution

Let $K_i$ generate Lorentz boosts with the same exponential convention as the rotation generators of rotations $J_i$. The Lie algebra of the Lorentz group isConsequently non-collinear Lorentz boosts do not close among themselves: the product contains a rotation, the Wigner rotation. For an explicit counterexample, in coordinates $(ct,x,y)$ write $c_a=\cosh a$, $s_a=\sinh a$ and similarly for $b$. ThenA pure rotationless Lorentz boost has a symmetric matrix, whereas this product has spatial entries $(xy)=0$ and $(yx)=s_a{s}_b\ne 0$ for $a,b\ne 0$. It is therefore a concrete product of two pure Lorentz boosts that is not a pure Lorentz boost. Collinear Lorentz boosts are the special case that do form a one-parameter group, with additive rapidities.

Allowing all spatial directions and closure generates both the $K_i$ and, through their commutators, all $J_i$. The smallest connected group containing all these Lorentz boosts is the proper orthochronous Lorentz groupIt contains arbitrary compositions of spatial rotations and Lorentz boosts continuously connected to the identity. It has six continuous parameters. Here “smallest” refers to the subgroup generated by all continuous pure Lorentz boosts, not to an arbitrary collection already including discrete reversals.

The full Lorentz group $O(1,3)$ has four connected components, distinguished by the sign of the determinant and the direction of time. Representatives are the identity, parity $P=\mathrm{diag}(1,-1,-1,-1)$, time reversal $\mathsf{T}=\mathrm{diag}(-1,1,1,1)$, and $P\mathsf{T}=-I$. ThusMultiplication by these discrete transformations relates the components algebraically; no continuous path within the Lorentz group joins different components. Translations are not required for closure here; adding them gives the larger Poincaré group.