In physics, a particle is called ultrarelativistic when its speed is very close to the speed of light c.
The expression for the relativistic energy of a particle with rest mass m and momentum p is given by
\( E^{2}=m^{2}c^{4}+p^{2}c^{2}. \)
The energy of an ultrarelativistic particle is almost completely due to its momentum (pc ≫ mc2), and thus can be approximated by E = pc. This can result from holding the mass fixed and increasing p to very large values (the usual case); or by holding the energy E fixed and shrinking the mass m to negligible values. The latter is used to derive orbits of massless particles such as the photon from those of massive particles (cf. Kepler problem in general relativity).
In general, the ultrarelativistic limit of an expression is the resulting simplified expression when pc ≫ mc2 is assumed. Or, similarly, in the limit where the Lorentz factor γ = 1/√1 − v2/c2 is very large (γ ≫ 1).[1]
Expression including mass value
While it is possible to use the approximation E = p c {\displaystyle E=pc} E=pc, this neglects all information of the mass. In some cases, even with p ≫ m {\displaystyle p\gg m} {\displaystyle p\gg m}, the mass may not be ignored, as in the derivation of neutrino oscillation. A simple way to retain this mass information is using a Taylor expansion rather than a simple limit. The following derivation assumes c=1 (and the ultrarelativistic limit \( {\displaystyle pc\gg mc^{2}}) \). Without loss of generality, the same can be shown including the appropriate c {\displaystyle c} c terms.
Derivation
Ultrarelativistic approximations
Below are some ultrarelativistic approximations in units with c = 1. The rapidity is denoted φ:
- 1 − v ≈ 1⁄2γ2
- E − p = E(1 − v) ≈ m2⁄2E = m⁄2γ
- φ ≈ ln(2γ)
- Motion with constant proper acceleration: d ≈ eaτ/(2a), where d is the distance traveled, a = dφ/dτ is proper acceleration (with aτ ≫ 1), τ is proper time, and travel starts at rest and without changing direction of acceleration (see proper acceleration for more details).
- Fixed target collision with ultrarelativistic motion of the center of mass: ECM ≈ √2E1E2} where E1 and E2 are energies of the particle and the target respectively (so E1 ≫ E2), and ECM is energy in the center of mass frame.
Accuracy of the approximation
For calculations of the energy of a particle, the relative error of the ultrarelativistic limit for a speed v = 0.95c is about 10%, and for v = 0.99c it is just 2%. For particles such as neutrinos, whose γ (Lorentz factor) are usually above 106 (v practically indistinguishable from c), the approximation is essentially exact.
Other limits
The opposite case (pc ≪ mc2) is a so-called classical particle, where its speed is much smaller than c and so its energy can be approximated by E = mc2 + p2⁄2m. See also
Classical mechanics
Special relativity
Aichelburg–Sexl ultraboost
Notes
Dieckmann 2005.
References
Dieckmann, M. E. (2005). "Particle simulation of an ultrarelativistic two-stream instability". Physical Review Letters. 94 (15): 155001. Bibcode:2005PhRvL..94o5001D. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.155001. PMID 15904153.
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