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The Wikipedia page on Rindler coordinates shows a nice example of how a coordinate transformation can be represented in a plot.

They start with two coordinates $T,X$ with $0 < X < \infty,\; -X < T < X$. Then, they introduce two new coordinates $t, x$ by

$\begin{align*}t &= \mathrm{artanh}\left(\frac{T}{X}\right) \\ x &= \sqrt{X^2-T^2}\end{align*}$

From the plot below, it is clear how curves of constant $x$ and constant $t$ run in the old coordinate system:

Coordinate transformation from (T,X) to (t,x)

How could you make a clear plot like this with Mathematica? I would like to include the labels as well.

I guess you need the inverse transformations to express T and X in terms of t and x. I entered them below

T = x Sinh[t] X = x Cosh[t]
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  • $\begingroup$ What does t = infinity mean here? As I understand arctan(T/X) runs merely from -1 to 1, and so t from -Pi/4 to Pi/4 ... ? $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 28, 2013 at 13:49

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By ParametricPlot:

ParametricPlot[{x Cosh[t], x Sinh[t]}, {t, -Pi/4, Pi/4}, {x, 0, 4}, PlotRange -> {{0, 1.5}, {-1, 1}}, BoundaryStyle -> Dashed]

mesh lines for Rindler coordinates

or, for fun: 

ParametricPlot[{x Cosh[t], x Sinh[t]}, {t, -Pi/4, Pi/4}, {x, 0, 4}, PlotRange -> {{0, 1.5}, {-1, 1}}, BoundaryStyle -> Directive[Thick, Red, Dashed], PlotStyle -> Pink, PlotPoints -> 40, MeshShading -> {{Pink, Lighter[Red, 0.8]}}, Mesh -> 32, Frame -> False]

another Rindler mesh

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  • $\begingroup$ But, where are the labels for the various lines? :) (+1) $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 28, 2013 at 20:08
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Plot[{ Table[Tan[t] X, {t, -Pi/4, Pi/4, Pi/16.}], Table[sign Sqrt[X^2 - x^2], {x, 0, 5}, {sign, {-1, 1}}]}, {X, 0, 5}, AspectRatio -> Automatic]

Mathematica graphics

Basic plot only.

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There seems to be something wrong with the image linked in the question. In the Wikipedia article, they define the coordinates with a parameter g:

rindlerXT[x_, t_, g_] := {x Cosh[g t], x Sinh[g t]};

But the image appears to be for g = 1/2, not g = 1 as claimed.

First, here is a labeling function. Nothing special -- it seemed convenient to put it in its own place.

labels[g_] := {Table[ Text[x == x0, rindlerXT[x0, 0.1 x0 + ArcSinh[0.16]/(g x0), g], {0, -0.5}, D[rindlerXT[x, t, g], t] /. {x -> x0, t -> ArcSinh[0.16]/(g x0)}], {x0, 0.2, 1, 0.2}], Table[Text[t == t0, rindlerXT[Cos[g t0], t0, g], {0, -0.8}, D[rindlerXT[x, t, g], x] /. {x -> Cos[g t0], t -> t0}], {t0, -1/g, 1/g}], Black, Text[x == 0, {0.16, 0.16}, {0, -0.7}, {1, 1}], Text[t == Infinity, {0.75, 0.75}, {0, -0.7}, {1, 1}], Text[t == -Infinity, {0.75, -0.75}, {0, -0.8}, {1, -1}], Thick, Arrowheads[{-0.07, 0.07}], Arrow[{{0, 1.19}, {0, 0}, {1.19, 0}}], Text[Style["T", Italic, Large], {0, 1.2}, {1.8, 1.5}], Text[Style["X", Italic, Large], {1.2, 0}, {1.5, 1.5}]};

I thought I'd show another way to get the grid. I join a couple of larger values of t to the ends of the grid to make sure the curves do not stop short. There are also some extra points in the t direction (constant x) so that the curves look smooth. The grid of points generated by Table conveniently contain the lines we wish to plot.

rindler[g_, extraTPoints_: 3] := Module[{color = Blend[{Red, Magenta}], tLines, xLines}, xLines = Table[rindlerXT[x, t, g], {x, 0., 1.2, 1/20}, {t, ({-10, -5}/g)~Join~ Range[-Ceiling[4/g], Ceiling[4/g], 1/(8 extraTPoints)]~ Join~({5, 10}/g)}]; tLines =(* skip extra points t = -10, -5 and the extra intermediate points *) Transpose[xLines][[3 ;; ;; extraTPoints]]; Graphics[{ Lighter[color, 0.7], Thin, Line[xLines], Line[tLines], Thick, Line[xLines[[1 ;; ;; 4]]], Line[tLines[[1 ;; ;; 4]]], {Black, Thick, Dashed, Line[{{1.5, -1.5}, {0, 0}, {1.5, 1.5}}]}, color, labels[g]}, PlotRange -> {{-0.15, 1.18}, {-1.2, 1.2}}, PlotRangeClipping -> True, Frame -> True, FrameTicks -> None, FrameLabel -> {{None, None}, {Row[{"g = ", Sequence @@ If[g == 1, {1}, {"1/", 1/g}]}], None}}, ImageSize -> 250, BaseStyle -> 13] ] Row[rindler /@ {1, 1/2}, " "]

Plots of Rindler coordinates with g = 1, 1/2

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