Relativistic Harmonic Oscillator

Kirk T. McDonald
Joseph Henry Laboratories, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
(April 28, 2013)

1 Problem
Estimate the period τ of a “simple” harmonic oscillator consisting of a zero-rest-length
massless spring of constant k that is connected to a rest mass m0 (with the other end of the
spring fixed to the origin), taking in account the relativistic mass.

2 Solution
2.1 Quick Estimates
Ignoring relativistic effects, the angular frequency ω 0 and the period τ 0 of the oscillator are,
 
k 2π m0
ω0 = , τ0 = = 2π . (1)
m0 ω0 k
In this approximation, the oscillating mass has position and velocity,

x = A cos ω 0 t, v = −Aω0 sin ω 0t. (2)

In general, the oscillating mass has (time-dependent) relativistic mass,

 
m0 v2
m=  ≈ m0 1 + 2 , (3)
1 − v 2/c2 2c

where c is the speed of light in vacuum. We expect that the period τ of oscillation of the
relativistic mass can be approximated as,

2π m
τ≈ = 2π > τ0 , (4)
ω k
where m > m0 is an appropriate average of the relativistic mass. This might be the time
average,
      τ0 
1 τ m0 τ v2 1
mt = m(t) dt ≈ 1 + 2 dt ≈ m0 1 + 2 2 2
A ω 0 cos ω 0 t dt
τ 0 τ 0 2c 2τ 0 c2 0
   
A2 ω 20 kA2
= m0 1 + = m0 1 + , (5)
4c2 4m0c2
in which case,
  
kA2 kA2
τ ≈ τ0 1+ ≈ τ0 1 + , m = mt . (6)
4m0 c2 8m0 c2

1
 However, it could be that the spatial average is more appropriate,
      A  
1 A m0 A v2 1 x2
mx = m(x) dx ≈ 1 + 2 dx ≈ m0 1 + A ω 0 1 − 2 dx
2 2
A 0 A 0 2c 2Ac2 0 A
 2 2
  2

A ω0 kA
= m0 1 + 2
= m0 1 + , (7)
4c 3m0c2
√ 
noting that sin ωt = 1 − cos2 ωt ≈ 1 − x2 /A2 , in the approximation that oscillating mass
has x-coordinate x = A cos ωt. In this case,
  
kA2 kA2
τ ≈ τ0 1 + ≈ τ0 1 + , m = mx . (8)
3m0 c2 6m0 c2

As many other averages of the relativistic mass can be imagined, we seek a method that
clarifies what type of approximation is best.

2.2 A Better Estimate

A different approach is to note that the motion is periodic with spatial amplitude A, and so
the period τ can be computed as,
 A  A
dt dx
τ =4 dx = 4 . (9)
0 dx 0 v
Total energy E is conserved in this example,

kx2 m 0 c2 kx2 kA2

E = mc2 + = + = m 0 c2 + , (10)
2 1 − v 2/c2 2 2

where the potential energy of the system is kx2/2, such that,1

 √ 
1 τ0 1 + k(A2 − x2)/2m0 c2 τ0 1 3k A2 − x2
= √  ≈ √ + . (11)
v 2π A2 − x2 1 + k(A2 − x2)/4m0 c2 2π A 2 − x2 8m0 c2

Hence,
 A  A√   
2τ 0 dx 3k 3kA2
τ≈ √ + A2 − x2 dx = τ0 1+ . (12)
π 0 A −x
2 2 8m0 c2 0 16m0 c2

The correction term in this result is 2% larger than that in the estimate (8) based on the
spatial average of the relativistic mass.
The “exact” periord of a relativistic harmonic oscillator can be given as an elliptic integral.
A series approximation to this integral is given in [2].
1
There is a sign error in the correction term of eq. (7-150), p. 325 of [1], which corresponds to eq. (11)
of the present note. Thanks to Bill Jones for pointing this out.

2
References
[1] H. Goldstein, Classical Mechanics, 2nd ed. (Addison-Wesley, 1980),
http://kirkmcd.princeton.edu/examples/mechanics/goldstein_3ed.pdf

[2] L.A. MacColl, Theory of the Relativistic Harmonic Oscillator, Am. J. Phys. 25, 535
(1957), http://kirkmcd.princeton.edu/examples/mechanics/maccoll_ajp_25_535_57.pdf