Deduction of Lorentz transformations from classical thermodynamics

Abstract

The Lorentz transformations are obtained by assuming that the laws of classicalthermodynamics are invariant under changes of inertial reference frames. As Maxwellequations are used in order to deduce a wave equation that shows the constancy of thespeed of light, by means of the laws of classical thermodynamics, the invariance of theCarnot cycle is deduced under reference frame changes. Starting with this result and theblackbody particle number density in a rest frame, the Lorentz transformations are obtained.A discussion about the universality of classical thermodynamics is given.