Published November 2014 | Version v1
Journal article

Thomas precession and the Bacry paradox

  • 1. Belarusian State Univ., Dept. of Physics, Minsk (Belarus)
  • 2. Belarusian State Univ., Inst. for Nuclear Problems, Minsk (Belarus)
  • 3. Okan Univ., Akfirat, Istanbul (Turkey)

Description

We show that in the derivation of the frequency of Thomas precession, the fact of implementation of rotation-free Lorentz transformations between a laboratory frame, KL, and Lorentz frames K(t) co-moving with a particle with spin at any time moments, t, has principal importance. Choosing for the observation of the particle's motion any other inertial frame, K, related with KL by the rotation-free transformation, we have to realize that the transformations between K and K(t) at any t are no longer rotation-free. This way we provide a resolution of the known paradox by Bacry (H. Bacry. Nuovo Cimento, 26, 1164 (1962)) and suggest a reinterpretation of the Thomas precession, which is further discussed. (author)

Availability note (English)

Available from doi: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjp-2014-0140

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Canadian Journal of Physics
Journal Volume
92
Journal Issue
11
Journal Page Range
p. 1380-1386
ISSN
0008-4204

INIS

Country of Publication
Canada
Country of Input or Organization
Canada
INIS RN
50023088
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
LORENTZ TRANSFORMATIONS; PRECESSION; SPACE-TIME; SPECIAL RELATIVITY THEORY; SPIN
Descriptors DEC
ANGULAR MOMENTUM; PARTICLE PROPERTIES; RELATIVITY THEORY; TRANSFORMATIONS

Optional Information

Notes
10 refs., 5 figs.