Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Maxwell - Quaternion PDF
Maxwell - Quaternion PDF
Where a, b, c, d are real numbers, and i, j, k are imaginary One advantage of this Quaternion Space representation is
quaternion units. These Q-units can be represented either via that it enables to describe rotational motion with great clarity.
2×2 matrices or 4×4 matrices. There is quaternionic multi- After this short review of Q-space, next we will discuss a
plication rule which acquires compact form [1] simplified method to derive Maxwell equations from Lorentz
force, in a similar way with Feynman’s derivation method us-
1qk = qk 1 = qk , q j qk = − δ jk + jkn qn . (2) ing commutative relation [3, 4].
The decomposition of equation (18) is well known, i.e. where E and B are electric and magnetic fields, respectively.
(A + B)(A − B) = 0, which is the basic of Dirac’s decomposi- With the identity
tion method into 2×2 unit matrix and Pauli matrix [6].
~p · S~ Ψ~ = ~∇ × Ψ
~, (32)
By virtue of the same method with Dirac, Gersten [6]
found in 1998 a decomposition of one photon equation from then from equation (27) and (28) one will obtain
relativistic energy condition (for massless photon [7])
! ~ ∂ E~ − i B
~
E2 i = − ~ ∇ × E~ − i B
~ , (33)
2 (3)
− ~p I Ψ = 0 , (21) c ∂t
c2
∇ · E~ − i B
~ = 0, (34)
(3)
where I is the 3×3 unit matrix and Ψ is a 3-component col- which are the Maxwell equations if the electric and magnetic
umn wavefunction. Gersten then found [6] equation (21) de- fields are real [6, 7].
composes into the form We can remark here that the combination of E and B as
E E p x introduced in (31) is quite well known in literature [9,10]. For
I − ~p · S~
(3)
I + ~p.S~ Ψ
(3)
~ − py ~p · Ψ
~ = 0 (22) instance, if we use positive signature in (31), then it is known
c c
pz as Bateman representation of Maxwell equations div ~ = 0,
rot ~ = ∂ ~ ~
∂t , = E + i B. But the equation (31) with negative
where S~ is a spin one vector matrix with components [6] signature represents the complex nature of electromagnetic
fields [9], which indicates that these fields can also be repre-
0 0 0
sented in quaternion form.
S x = 0 0 −i , (23)
Now if we represent in other form ~ = E~ − i B ~ as more
0 −i 0
conventional notation, then equation (33) and (34) will get a
quite simple form
0 0 i
S y = 0 0 0 , (24) i
~ ∂~
= − ~ ∇ × ~ , (35)
c ∂t
−i 0 0
∇ · ~ = 0 . (36)
0 −i 0
S z = −i 0 0 , (25) Now to consider quaternionic expression of the above re-
sults from Gersten [6], one can begin with the same lineariza-
0 0 0
tion procedure just as in equation (5)
and with the properties
h i dz = (dxk + idtk ) qk , (37)
S x , S y = iS z , S x , S z = iS y
which can be viewed as the quaternionic square root of the
h i
. (26) metric interval dz
S y , S z = iS x , S~ 2 = 2I (3)
dz2 = dx2 − dt2 . (38)
Gersten asserts that equation (22) will be satisfied if the
Now consider the relativistic energy condition (for mass-
two equations [6]
less photon [7]) similar to equation (21)
E !
I (3) + ~p · S~ Ψ~ = 0, (27) E2
c E 2 = p2 c 2 ⇒ − ~
p 2
= k2 . (39)
c2
~ =0
~p · Ψ (28) It is obvious that equation (39) has the same form with
(38), therefore we may find its quaternionic square root too,
are simultaneously satisfied. The Maxwell equations [8] will then we find
be obtained by substitution of E and p with the ordinary quan-
k = Eqk + i~pqk qk , (40)
tum operators (see for instance Bethe, Field Theory)
where q represents the quaternion unit matrix. Therefore the
∂ linearized quaternion root decomposition of equation (21) can
E → i~ (29)
∂t be written as follows [6]
and " #" #
Eqk qk (3) Eqk qk (3)
I + i~pqk qk · S~ I + i~pqk qk · S~ Ψ~ −
p → − ih ∇ (30) c c
and the wavefunction substitution p x
− py i~pqk qk · Ψ
~ = 0 . (41)
~ = E~ − i B
Ψ ~, (31)
pz
Accordingly, equation (41) will be satisfied if the two multiplication of two arbitrary complex quaternions q and b
equations as follows
" # D E h i
Eqk qk (3) q · b = q0 b0 − ~q, ~b + ~q × ~b + q0 ~b + b0 ~q , (51)
I + i ~pqk qk · S~ Ψ~k = 0 , (42)
c where
D E X3
~k = 0
i ~pqk qk · Ψ (43) ~q, ~b := qk bk ∈ C , (52)
k=1
are simultaneously satisfied. Now we introduce similar wave- and
function substitution, but this time in quaternion form i j k
h i
~ qk = E~ qk − i B
~ qk = ~qk . ~q × ~b := q1 q2 q3 .
(53)
Ψ (44)
b1 b2 b3
And with the identity We can note here that there could be more rigorous ap-
proach to define such a quaternionic curl operator [10].
~pqk qk · S~ Ψ~ k = ~ ∇k × Ψ
~k. (45) In the present paper we only discuss derivation of Max-
well equations in Quaternion Space using the decomposition
Then from equations (42) and (43) one will obtain the
method described by Gersten [6]. Further extension to Proca
Maxwell equations in Quaternion-space as follows
equations in Quaternion Space seems possible too using the
~ ∂~q k same method [7], but it will not be discussed here.
i = − ~ ∇k × ~qk , (46) In the next section we will discuss some physical implica-
c ∂t
tions of this new derivation of Maxwell equations in Quater-
∇k · ~qk = 0 . (47) nion Space.
Now the remaining question is to define quaternion dif-
5 A few implications: de Broglie’s wavelength and spin
ferential operator in the right hand side of (46) and (47).
In this regards one can choose some definitions of quater- In the foregoing section we derived a consistent description of
nion differential operator, for instance the Moisil-Theodore- Maxwell equations in Q-Space by virtue of Dirac-Gersten’s
sco operator [11] decomposition. Now we discuss some plausible implications
of the new proposition.
X3
First, in accordance with Gersten, we submit the view-
D ϕ = grad ϕ = ik ∂k ϕ = i1 ∂1 ϕ + i2 ∂2 ϕ + i3 ∂3 ϕ . (48) point that the Maxwell equations yield wavefunctions which
k=1
can be used as guideline for interpretation of Quantum Me-
where we can define i1 = i; i2 = j; i3 = k to represent 2×2 chanics [6]. The one-to-one correspondence between classi-
quaternion unit matrix, for instance. Therefore the differen- cal and quantum wave interpretation actually can be expected
tial of equation (44) now can be expressed in similar notation not only in the context of Feynman’s derivation of Maxwell
of (48) equations from Lorentz force, but also from known exact cor-
h i respondence between commutation relation and Poisson
D Ψ~ = D ~ = i1 ∂1 E1 + i2 ∂2 E2 + i3 ∂3 E3 − bracket [3, 5]. Furthermore, the proposed quaternion yields
(49) to a novel viewpoint of both the wavelength, as discussed be-
− i i1 ∂1 B1 + i2 ∂2 B2 + i3 ∂3 B3 , low, and also mechanical model of spin.
The equation (39) implies that momentum and energy
This expression indicates that both electric and magnetic
could be expressed in quaternion form. Now by introduc-
fields can be represented in unified manner in a biquaternion
ing de Broglie’s wavelength λDB = ~p → pDB = λ~ , then one
form.
obtains an expression in terms of wavelength
Then we define quaternion differential operator in the
right-hand-side of equation (46) by an extension of the con- ~
ventional definition of curl k = Ek +i~pk qk = Ek qk +i~pk qk = Ek qk +i DB . (54)
λk qk
i j k
In other words, now we can express de Broglie’s wave-
∂ ∂ ∂ length in a consistent Q-basis
∇ × Aqk = . (50)
∂x ∂y ∂z
~ ~
A x Ay Az λDB−Q = P3 = P3 , (55)
k=1 (p k ) q k v group k=1 (mk ) qk
To become its quaternion counterpart, where i, j, k repre-
sents quaternion matrix as described above. This quaternionic therefore the above equation can be viewed as an extended
extension of curl operator is based on the known relation of De Broglie wavelength in Q-space. This equation means that
the mass also can be expressed in Q-basis. In the meantime, a 3. Hughes R.J. On Feynman’s proof of the Maxwell equations. Am. J.
quite similar method to define quaternion mass has also been Phys., 1991, v. 60(4), 301.
considered elsewhere, but it has not yet been expressed in 4. Silagadze Z.K. Feynman’s derivation of Maxwell equations and extra
dimensions. Annales de la Fondation Louis de Broglie, 2002, v. 27,
Dirac equation form as presented here. no.2, 241.
Further implications of this new proposition of quaternion
5. Kauffmann L.H. Non-commutative worlds. arXiv: quant-ph/0403012.
de Broglie requires further study, and therefore it is excluded
6. Gersten A. Maxwell equations as the one photon quantum equation.
from the present paper. Found. Phys. Lett., 1998, v. 12, 291–298.
7. Gondran M. Proca equations derived from first principles. arXiv: quant-
6 Concluding remarks ph/0901.3300.
In the present paper we derive a consistent description of 8. Terletsky Y.P., and Rybakov Y.P. Electrodynamics. 2nd. Ed., Vysshaya
Skola, Moscow, 1990.
Maxwell equations in Q-space. First we consider a simpli-
9. Kassandrov V.V. Singular sources of Maxwell fields with self-quantized
fied method similar to the Feynman’s derivation of Maxwell
electric charge. arXiv: physics/0308045.
equations from Lorentz force. And then we present another
10. Sabadini I., Struppa D.C. Some open problems on the analysis of
method to derive Maxwell equations by virtue of Dirac de- Cauchy-Fueter system in several variables. A lecture given at Prof.
composition, introduced by Gersten [6]. Kawai’s Workshop Exact WKB Analysis and Fourier Analysis in Com-
In accordance with Gersten, we submit the viewpoint that plex Domain.
the Maxwell equations yield wavefunctions which can be 11. Kravchenko V. Quaternionic equation for electromagnetic fields in in-
homogenous media. arXiv: math-ph/0202010.
used as guideline for interpretation of quantum mechanics.
The one-to-one correspondence between classical and quan-
tum wave interpretation asserted here actually can be expect-
ed not only in the context of Feynman’s derivation of Max-
well equations from Lorentz force, but also from known exact
correspondence between commutation relation and Poisson
bracket [3, 6].
A somewhat unique implication obtained from the above
results of Maxwell equations in Quaternion Space, is that it
suggests that the De Broglie wavelength will have quater-
nionic form. Its further implications, however, are beyond
the scope of the present paper.
In the present paper we only discuss derivation of Max-
well equations in Quaternion Space using the decomposition
method described by Gersten [6]. Further extension to Proca
equations in Quaternion Space seems possible too using the
same method [7], but it will not be discussed here.
This proposition, however, deserves further theoretical
considerations. Further observation is of course recommend-
ed in order to refute or verify some implications of this result.
Acknowledgements
One of the authors (VC) wishes to express his gratitude to
Profs. A. Yefremov and M. Fil’chenkov for kind hospitality
in the Institute of Gravitation and Cosmology, PFUR. Special
thanks also to Prof. V. V. Kassandrov for excellent guide to
Maxwell equations, and to Prof. Y. P. Rybakov for discussions
on the interpretation of de Broglie’s wavelength.
Submitted on December 11, 2009 / Accepted on January 02, 2010
References
1. Yefremov A. Quaternions: algebra, geometry and physical theories.
Hypercomplex Numbers in Geometry and Physics, 2004, v. 1(1), 105;
arXiv: mathp-ph/0501055.
2. Smarandache F. and Christianto V. Less mundane explanation of Pio-
neer anomaly from Q-relativity. Progress in Physics, 2007, v. 3, no.1.