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Original Paper
From Einstein's 1905 postulates to the geometry of flat space-time
Article first published online: 13 DEC 2004
DOI: 10.1002/andp.200410122
Copyright © 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Issue
1521-3889/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=294b277cbfffc09eca8e330fc1e2b8eca0869908 "Annalen der Physik")
Annalen der Physik
Special Issue: Commemorating Albert Einstein
Volume 14, Issue 1-3, pages 103–114, February 2005
Additional Information
How to Cite
Mermin, N.D. (2005), From Einstein's 1905 postulates to the geometry of flat space-time. Ann. Phys., 14: 103–114. doi: 10.1002/andp.200410122
Publication History
- Issue published online: 2 FEB 2005
- Article first published online: 13 DEC 2004
- Manuscript Received: 12 OCT 2004
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Special relativity;
- Minkowski diagrams
Abstract
Minkowski diagrams in 1+1 dimensional flat space-time are given a strictly geometric derivation, directly from two gedanken experiments incorporating the principle of the constancy of the velocity of light and the principle of (special) relativity. Rectangles of photon trajectories play a central role in determining the simultaneity convention and in establishing the invariance of the interval.