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Biquaternion
In abstract algebra, the biquaternions are the numbers , where , and are complex numbers, or variants thereof, and the elements of multiply as in the quaternion group and commute with their coefficients. There are three types of biquaternions corresponding to complex numbers and the variations thereof: * Biquaternions when the coefficients are complex numbers. * Split-biquaternions when the coefficients are split-complex numbers. * Dual quaternions when the coefficients are dual numbers. This article is about the ''ordinary biquaternions'' named by William Rowan Hamilton in 1844 (see ''Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy'' 1844 & 1850 page 388). Some of the more prominent proponents of these biquaternions include Alexander Macfarlane, Arthur W. Conway, Ludwik Silberstein, and Cornelius Lanczos. As developed below, the unit quasi-sphere of the biquaternions provides a representation of the Lorentz group, which is the foundation of special relativity. The algebra of biquatern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Split-biquaternion
In mathematics, a split-biquaternion is a hypercomplex number of the form :q = w + xi + yj + zk where ''w'', ''x'', ''y'', and ''z'' are split-complex numbers and i, j, and k multiply as in the quaternion group. Since each coefficient ''w'', ''x'', ''y'', ''z'' spans two real dimensions, the split-biquaternion is an element of an eight-dimensional vector space. Considering that it carries a multiplication, this vector space is an algebra over the real field, or an algebra over a ring where the split-complex numbers form the ring. This algebra was introduced by William Kingdon Clifford in an 1873 article for the London Mathematical Society. It has been repeatedly noted in mathematical literature since then, variously as a deviation in terminology, an illustration of the tensor product of algebras, and as an illustration of the direct sum of algebras. The split-biquaternions have been identified in various ways by algebraists; see below. Modern definition A split-biquaternion is r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Split-complex Number
In algebra, a split complex number (or hyperbolic number, also perplex number, double number) has two real number components and , and is written z=x+yj, where j^2=1. The ''conjugate'' of is z^*=x-yj. Since j^2=1, the product of a number with its conjugate is N(z) := zz^* = x^2 - y^2, an isotropic quadratic form. The collection of all split complex numbers z=x+yj for forms an algebra over the field of real numbers. Two split-complex numbers and have a product that satisfies N(wz)=N(w)N(z). This composition of over the algebra product makes a composition algebra. A similar algebra based on and component-wise operations of addition and multiplication, where is the quadratic form on also forms a quadratic space. The ring isomorphism \begin D &\to \mathbb^2 \\ x + yj &\mapsto (x - y, x + y) \end relates proportional quadratic forms, but the mapping is an isometry since the multiplicative identity of is at a distance from 0, which is normalized in . S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dual Quaternion
In mathematics, the dual quaternions are an 8-dimensional real algebra isomorphic to the tensor product of the quaternions and the dual numbers. Thus, they may be constructed in the same way as the quaternions, except using dual numbers instead of real numbers as coefficients. A dual quaternion can be represented in the form , where ''A'' and ''B'' are ordinary quaternions and ε is the dual unit, which satisfies and commutes with every element of the algebra. Unlike quaternions, the dual quaternions do not form a division algebra. In mechanics, the dual quaternions are applied as a number system to represent rigid transformations in three dimensions. Since the space of dual quaternions is 8-dimensional and a rigid transformation has six real degrees of freedom, three for translations and three for rotations, dual quaternions obeying two algebraic constraints are used in this application. Similar to the way that rotations in 3D space can be represented by quaternions of uni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lorentz Group
In physics and mathematics, the Lorentz group is the group of all Lorentz transformations of Minkowski spacetime, the classical and quantum setting for all (non-gravitational) physical phenomena. The Lorentz group is named for the Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz. For example, the following laws, equations, and theories respect Lorentz symmetry: * The kinematical laws of special relativity * Maxwell's field equations in the theory of electromagnetism * The Dirac equation in the theory of the electron * The Standard Model of particle physics The Lorentz group expresses the fundamental symmetry of space and time of all known fundamental laws of nature. In small enough regions of spacetime where gravitational variances are negligible, physical laws are Lorentz invariant in the same manner as special relativity. Basic properties The Lorentz group is a subgroup of the Poincaré group—the group of all isometries of Minkowski spacetime. Lorentz transformations are, precisely, iso ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Rowan Hamilton
Sir William Rowan Hamilton Doctor of Law, LL.D, Doctor of Civil Law, DCL, Royal Irish Academy, MRIA, Royal Astronomical Society#Fellow, FRAS (3/4 August 1805 – 2 September 1865) was an Irish mathematician, astronomer, and physicist. He was the Andrews Professor of Astronomy at Trinity College Dublin, and Royal Astronomer of Ireland, living at Dunsink Observatory. Hamilton's scientific career included the study of geometrical optics, ideas from Fourier analysis, and his work on quaternions which made him one of the founders of modern linear algebra. He made major contributions in optics, classical mechanics and abstract algebra. His work was fundamental to modern theoretical physics, particularly his reformulation of Newtonian mechanics, now called Hamiltonian mechanics. It is now central both to electromagnetism and to quantum mechanics. Early life Hamilton was the fourth of nine children born to Sarah Hutton (1780–1817) and Archibald Hamilton (1778–1819),Bruno (2003) who ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abstract Algebra
In mathematics, more specifically algebra, abstract algebra or modern algebra is the study of algebraic structures. Algebraic structures include groups, rings, fields, modules, vector spaces, lattices, and algebras over a field. The term ''abstract algebra'' was coined in the early 20th century to distinguish this area of study from older parts of algebra, and more specifically from elementary algebra, the use of variables to represent numbers in computation and reasoning. Algebraic structures, with their associated homomorphisms, form mathematical categories. Category theory is a formalism that allows a unified way for expressing properties and constructions that are similar for various structures. Universal algebra is a related subject that studies types of algebraic structures as single objects. For example, the structure of groups is a single object in universal algebra, which is called the ''variety of groups''. History Before the nineteenth century, algebra meant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spacetime Algebra
In mathematical physics, spacetime algebra (STA) is a name for the Clifford algebra Cl1,3(R), or equivalently the geometric algebra . According to David Hestenes, spacetime algebra can be particularly closely associated with the geometry of special relativity and relativistic spacetime. It is a vector space that allows not only vectors, but also bivectors (directed quantities associated with particular planes, such as areas, or rotations) or blades (quantities associated with particular hyper-volumes) to be combined, as well as rotated, reflected, or Lorentz boosted. It is also the natural parent algebra of spinors in special relativity. These properties allow many of the most important equations in physics to be expressed in particularly simple forms, and can be very helpful towards a more geometric understanding of their meanings. Structure The spacetime algebra may be built up from an orthogonal basis of one time-like vector \gamma_0 and three space-like vectors, \, with the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Complexification
In mathematics, the complexification of a vector space over the field of real numbers (a "real vector space") yields a vector space over the complex number field, obtained by formally extending the scaling of vectors by real numbers to include their scaling ("multiplication") by complex numbers. Any basis for (a space over the real numbers) may also serve as a basis for over the complex numbers. Formal definition Let V be a real vector space. The of is defined by taking the tensor product of V with the complex numbers (thought of as a 2-dimensional vector space over the reals): :V^ = V\otimes_ \Complex\,. The subscript, \R, on the tensor product indicates that the tensor product is taken over the real numbers (since V is a real vector space this is the only sensible option anyway, so the subscript can safely be omitted). As it stands, V^ is only a real vector space. However, we can make V^ into a complex vector space by defining complex multiplication as follows: :\alpha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clifford Algebra
In mathematics, a Clifford algebra is an algebra generated by a vector space with a quadratic form, and is a unital associative algebra. As -algebras, they generalize the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and several other hypercomplex number systems. The theory of Clifford algebras is intimately connected with the theory of quadratic forms and orthogonal transformations. Clifford algebras have important applications in a variety of fields including geometry, theoretical physics and digital image processing. They are named after the English mathematician William Kingdon Clifford. The most familiar Clifford algebras, the orthogonal Clifford algebras, are also referred to as (''pseudo-'')''Riemannian Clifford algebras'', as distinct from ''symplectic Clifford algebras''.see for ex. Introduction and basic properties A Clifford algebra is a unital associative algebra that contains and is generated by a vector space over a field , where is equipped with a qua ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pauli Algebra
In mathematical physics and mathematics, the Pauli matrices are a set of three complex matrices which are Hermitian, involutory and unitary. Usually indicated by the Greek letter sigma (), they are occasionally denoted by tau () when used in connection with isospin symmetries. \begin \sigma_1 = \sigma_\mathrm &= \begin 0&1\\ 1&0 \end \\ \sigma_2 = \sigma_\mathrm &= \begin 0& -i \\ i&0 \end \\ \sigma_3 = \sigma_\mathrm &= \begin 1&0\\ 0&-1 \end \\ \end These matrices are named after the physicist Wolfgang Pauli. In quantum mechanics, they occur in the Pauli equation which takes into account the interaction of the spin of a particle with an external electromagnetic field. They also represent the interaction states of two polarization filters for horizontal/vertical polarization, 45 degree polarization (right/left), and circular polarization (right/left). Each Pauli matrix is Hermitian, and together with the id ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bivector (complex)
In mathematics, a bivector is the vector part of a biquaternion. For biquaternion , ''w'' is called the biscalar and is its bivector part. The coordinates ''w'', ''x'', ''y'', ''z'' are complex numbers with imaginary unit h: :x = x_1 + \mathrm x_2,\ y = y_1 + \mathrm y_2,\ z = z_1 + \mathrm z_2, \quad \mathrm^2 = -1 = \mathrm^2 = \mathrm^2 = \mathrm^2 . A bivector may be written as the sum of real and imaginary parts: :(x_1 \mathrm + y_1 \mathrm + z_1 \mathrm) + \mathrm (x_2 \mathrm + y_2 \mathrm + z_2 \mathrm) where r_1 = x_1 \mathrm + y_1 \mathrm + z_1 \mathrm and r_2 = x_2 \mathrm + y_2 \mathrm + z_2 \mathrm are vectors. Thus the bivector q = x \mathrm + y \mathrm + z \mathrm = r_1 + \mathrm r_2 . Link from David R. Wilkins collection at Trinity College, Dublin The Lie algebra of the Lorentz group is expressed by bivectors. In particular, if ''r''1 and ''r''2 are right versors so that r_1^2 = -1 = r_2^2, then the biquaternion curve traces over and over the unit circle in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Quaternion
In mathematics, the quaternion number system extends the complex numbers. Quaternions were first described by the Irish mathematician William Rowan Hamilton in 1843 and applied to mechanics in three-dimensional space. Hamilton defined a quaternion as the quotient of two '' directed lines'' in a three-dimensional space, or, equivalently, as the quotient of two vectors. Multiplication of quaternions is noncommutative. Quaternions are generally represented in the form :a + b\ \mathbf i + c\ \mathbf j +d\ \mathbf k where , and are real numbers; and , and are the ''basic quaternions''. Quaternions are used in pure mathematics, but also have practical uses in applied mathematics, particularly for calculations involving three-dimensional rotations, such as in three-dimensional computer graphics, computer vision, and crystallographic texture analysis. They can be used alongside other methods of rotation, such as Euler angles and rotation matrices, or as an alternative to them ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
