Scientific calculator

Relativistic Kinematics

Anar Rustamov

Inputs

Beam configuration

Input variable
GeV
Collision frame
GeV/c²
GeV/c²

Default values use the proton mass. In collider mode, m₂ = m₁ is enforced.

Results

Kinematic quantities

Fixed-target
Beam momentum p
GeV/c
Beam kinetic energy T
GeV
Beam total energy E
GeV
Velocity β = v/c
Lorentz factor γ
Beam rapidity ylab
Center-of-mass energy √s
GeV
CM velocity βcm
CM Lorentz factor γcm
CM rapidity ycm in lab
Beam momentum p* in CM
GeV/c
Beam energy E* in CM
GeV
Beam kinetic energy T* in CM
GeV
Beam rapidity ybeam in CM

Definitions in Natural units: c = 1.

E = T + m;   p = √(E²−m²);   β = p/E;   γ = E/m = 1/√(1−β²).

s = (p₁+p₂)². Fixed target: s = m₁²+m₂²+2m₂E₁. Symmetric collider: √s = 2E.

For a fixed target, βcm = p₁/(E₁+m₂), γcm = 1/√(1−βcm²), and ycm = atanh(βcm). For a symmetric collider βcm=ycm=0.

E₁*=(s+m₁²−m₂²)/(2√s), p*=√(E₁*²−m₁²), and T*=E₁*−m₁.

y = ½ ln[(E+pz)/(E−pz)] = atanh(βz). ylab refers to the incident beam in the lab; ybeam is its CM-frame rapidity.