No Arabic abstract
Classical mechanics, relativity, electrodynamics and quantum mechanics are often depicted as separate realms of physics, each with its own formalism and notion. This remains unsatisfactory with respect to the unity of nature and to the necessary number of postulates. We uncover the intrinsic connection of these areas of physics and describe them using a common symplectic Hamiltonian formalism. Our approach is based on a proper distinction between variables and constants, i.e. on a basic but rigorous ontology of time. We link these concept with the obvious conditions for the possibility of measurements. The derived consequences put the measurement problem of quantum mechanics and the Copenhagen interpretation of the quantum mechanical wavefunction into perspective. According to our (onto-) logic we find that spacetime can not be fundamental. We argue that a geometric interpretation of symplectic dynamics emerges from the isomorphism between the corresponding Lie algebra and the representation of a Clifford algebra. Within this conceptional framework we derive the dimensionality of spacetime, the form of Lorentz transformations and of the Lorentz force and fundamental laws of physics as the Planck-Einstein relation, the Maxwell equations and finally the Dirac equation.
We revisit the notion of quantum Lie algebra of symmetries of a noncommutative spacetime, its elements are shown to be the generators of infinitesimal transformations and are naturally identified with physical observables. Wave equations on noncommutative spaces are derived from a quantum Hodge star operator. This general noncommutative geometry construction is then exemplified in the case of k-Minkowski spacetime. The corresponding quantum Poincare-Weyl Lie algebra of infinitesimal translations, rotations and dilatations is obtained. The dAlembert wave operator coincides with the quadratic Casimir of quantum translations and it is deformed as in Deformed Special Relativity theories. Also momenta (infinitesimal quantum translations) are deformed, and correspondingly the Einstein-Planck relation and the de Broglie one. The energy-momentum relations (dispersion relations) are consequently deduced. These results complement those of the phenomenological literature on the subject.
We reconsider the thermal scalar Casimir effect for $p$-dimensional rectangular cavity inside $D+1$-dimensional Minkowski space-time. We derive rigorously the regularization of the temperature-dependent part of the free energy by making use of the Abel-Plana formula repeatedly and get the explicit expression of the terms to be subtracted. In the cases of $D$=3, $p$=1 and $D$=3, $p$=3, we precisely recover the results of parallel plates and three-dimensional box in the literature. Furthermore, for $D>p$ and $D=p$ cases with periodic, Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, we give the explicit expressions of the Casimir free energy in both low temperature (small separations) and high temperature (large separations) regimes, through which the asymptotic behavior of the free energy changing with temperature and the side length is easy to see. We find that for $D>p$, with the side length going to infinity, the Casimir free energy tends to positive or negative constants or zero, depending on the boundary conditions. But for $D=p$, the leading term of the Casimir free energy for all three boundary conditions is a logarithmic function of the side length. We also discuss the thermal Casimir force changing with temperature and the side length in different cases and find with the side length going to infinity the force always tends to zero for different boundary conditions regardless of $D>p$ or $D=p$. The Casimir free energy and force at high temperature limit behave asymptotically alike in that they are proportional to the temperature, be they positive (repulsive) or negative (attractive) in different cases. Our study may be helpful in providing a comprehensive and complete understanding of this old problem.
The four dimensional spacetime continuum, as originally conceived by Minkowski, has become the default framework for describing physical laws. Due to its fundamental importance, there have been various attempts to find the origin of this structure from more elementary principles. In this paper, we show how the Minkowski spacetime structure arises naturally from the geometrical properties of three dimensional space when modelled by Clifford geometric algebra of three dimensions $ Cell(Re^3) $. We find that a time-like dimension along with the three spatial dimensions, arise naturally, as well as four additional degrees of freedom that we identify with spin. Within this expanded eight-dimensional arena of spacetime, we find a generalisation of the invariant interval and the Lorentz transformations, with standard results returned as special cases. The value of this geometric approach is shown by the emergence of a fixed speed for light, the laws of special relativity and the form of Maxwells equations, without recourse to any physical arguments.
Two one-parameter families of twists providing kappa-Minkowski * -product deformed spacetime are considered: Abelian and Jordanian. We compare the derivation of quantum Minkowski space from two perspectives. The first one is the Hopf module algebra point of view, which is strictly related with Drinfelds twisting tensor technique. The other one relies on an appropriate extension of deformed realizations of nondeformed Lorentz algebra by the quantum Minkowski algebra. This extension turns out to be de Sitter Lie algebra. We show the way both approaches are related. The second path allows us to calculate deformed dispersion relations for toy models ensuing from different twist parameters. In the Abelian case one recovers kappa-Poincare dispersion relations having numerous applications in doubly special relativity. Jordanian twists provide a new type of dispersion relations which in the minimal case (related to Weyl-Poincare algebra) takes an energy-dependent linear mass deformation form.
We will read, through the Emmy Noether paper and the two concepts of `proper and `improper conservation laws, the problem, posed by Hilbert, of the nature of the law of conservation of energy in the theory of General Relativity. Epistemological issues involved with the two kind of conservation laws will be enucleate.