The 2+1-Dimensional Special Relativity

Abstract

In the new mathematical description of special relativity in terms of the relativistic velocity space, many physical aspects acquire new geometric meanings. Performing conformal deformations upon the 2-dimensional relativistic velocity space for the (2+1)-dimensional special relativity, we find that these conformal deformations correspond to the generalized Lorentz transformations, which are akin to the ordinary Lorentz transformation, but are morphed by a global rescaling of the polar angle and correspondingly characterized by a topological integral index. The generalized Lorentz transformations keep the two fundamental principles of special relativity intact, suggesting that the indexed generalization may be related to the Bondi–Metzner–Sachs (BMS) group of the asymptotic symmetries of the spacetime metric. Furthermore, we investigate the Doppler effect of light, the Planck photon rocket, and the Thomas precession, affirming that they all remain in the same forms of the standard special relativity under the generalized Lorentz transformation. Additionally, we obtain the general formula of the Thomas precession, which gives a clear geometric meaning from the perspective of the gauge field theory in the relativistic velocity space.