We consider the Thomas–Wigner rotation of coordinate systems under successive Lorentz transformations of inertial reference frames, and disclose its physical mechanism on the basis of the relativistic contraction of moving scale, and the relativity of the simultaneity of events for different inertial observers. This result allows us to better understand the physical meaning of the Thomas precession, and to indicate some overlooked aspects of the physical interpretation of this effect, as related to two specific examples: the circular motion of a classical electron around a heavy nucleus, and the motion of a classical electron along an open path, where its initial velocity and acceleration are mutually orthogonal to each other.

中文翻译：

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托马斯-威格纳旋转和托马斯进动的相对论机制

我们考虑惯性参考系在连续的Lorentz变换下的坐标系的Thomas-Wigner旋转，并基于运动标尺的相对论收缩以及不同惯性观测者的事件同时性的相对性，揭示其物理机制。这一结果使我们能够更好地理解托马斯进动的物理含义，并指出对此效应的物理解释的一些被忽略的方面，与两个具体示例有关：经典电子围绕重核的圆周运动以及经典电子沿开放路径的运动，其初始速度和加速度相互正交。