Minkowski space


Minkowski spaceMathworldPlanetmath is a 4 dimensional real vector space with a non-degenerate pseudo-metric of signature (-+++).

More precisely, M with a metric g is a Minkowski space iff:

  • M is a 4 dimensional real vector space

  • g is a symmetricPlanetmathPlanetmath 2-covariant tensor (defines a quadratic formMathworldPlanetmath )

  • g is non-degenerate (i.e. xM,g(x,y)=0y=0)

  • the diagonalization (http://planetmath.org/SylvestersLaw) of g contains one negative and three positive diagonal entries11this convention is sometimes reversed depending on notation.

Title Minkowski space
Canonical name MinkowskiSpace
Date of creation 2013-03-22 16:16:51
Last modified on 2013-03-22 16:16:51
Owner cvalente (11260)
Last modified by cvalente (11260)
Numerical id 7
Author cvalente (11260)
Entry type Definition
Classification msc 53Z05
Related topic PseudoRiemannianManifold