Canonical Formulation of Relativistic Mechanics

Abstract

Instantaneous action-at-a-distance relativistic mechanics of the type considered by Currie and by Hill is cast into a Hamiltonian form wherein the transformations of the inhomogeneous Lorentz group are canonical. The Currie-Jordan-Sudarshan zero-interaction theorem is circumvented by renouncing the demand that physical positions be canonical; the implications for measurement theory of renouncing this demand are discussed. Examples are given.