Explicit Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff–Dynkin formula for spacetime via geometric algebra

Abstract

We present a compact Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff–Dynkin formula for the composition of Lorentz transformations [Formula: see text] in the spin representation (a.k.a. Lorentz rotors) in terms of their generators [Formula: see text]: [Formula: see text] This formula is general to geometric algebras (a.k.a. real Clifford algebras) of dimension [Formula: see text], naturally generalizing Rodrigues’ formula for rotations in [Formula: see text]. In particular, it applies to Lorentz rotors within the framework of Hestenes’ spacetime algebra, and provides an efficient method for composing Lorentz generators. Computer implementations are possible with a complex [Formula: see text] matrix representation realized by the Pauli spin matrices. The formula is applied to the composition of relativistic [Formula: see text]-velocities yielding simple expressions for the resulting boost and the concomitant Wigner angle.