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A Minkowski diagram is a two-dimensional graphical depiction of a portion of Minkowski space, usually where space has been curtailed to a single dimension. The units of measurement in these diagrams are taken such that the light cone at an event consists of the lines of slope plus or minus one through that event. [ 3 ]
To explain Minkowski diagrams: Choosing ct instead of t on the time axis the world line of a photon becomes a straight line with a slope of 45°. Date: 12 September 2011, 09:53 (UTC) Source: Minkowski_diagram_-_photon.png; Author: Minkowski_diagram_-_photon.png: Wolfgangbeyer; derivative work: Duschi (talk)
Minkowski diagram: Sending a message with superluminal speed from O via A to B in the own past. Both observer consider the temporal order of the pairs of events O and A as well as A and B different. Date: 12 September 2011, 11:25 (UTC) Source: Minkowski_diagram_-_time_travel.png; Author: Minkowski_diagram_-_time_travel.png: Wolfgangbeyer
Commonly a Minkowski diagram is used to illustrate this property of Lorentz transformations. Elsewhere, an integral part of light cones is the region of spacetime outside the light cone at a given event (a point in spacetime). Events that are elsewhere from each other are mutually unobservable, and cannot be causally connected.
A world line is a special type of curve in spacetime. Below an equivalent definition will be explained: A world line is either a time-like or a null curve in spacetime. Each point of a world line is an event that can be labeled with the time and the spatial position of the object at that time.
Minkowski's principal tool is the Minkowski diagram, and he uses it to define concepts and demonstrate properties of Lorentz transformations (e.g., proper time and length contraction) and to provide geometrical interpretation to the generalization of Newtonian mechanics to relativistic mechanics.
Minkowski_diagram_-_time_dilation.png: Wolfgangbeyer derivative work: Duschi ( talk ) This is a retouched picture , which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version.
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