On the geometry of the kinematic space in special relativity

Abstract

The classifying space of inertial reference frames in special relativity is naturally hyperbolic. There is a remarkable interplay between central elements of hyperbolic geometry and those of special relativity — which, to a certain extent, have already been observed in the past — that we present and further discuss in the paper. We aim at a geometrization of special relativity at the level of kinematic space by giving to physical concepts/phenomena purely geometric definitions/descriptions. In this way, the differences between special relativity and classical mechanics can be seen as a manifestation of the distinct geometric natures of their kinematic spaces.