Split Quaternions and Particles in (2+1)-Space
Abstract
It is known that quaternions represent rotations in 3D Euclidean and Minkowski spaces. However, product by a quaternion gives rotation in two independent planes at once and to obtain single-plane rotations one has to apply by half-angle quaternions twice from the left and on the right (with its inverse). This 'double cover' property is potential problem in geometrical application of split quaternions, since (2+2)-signature of their norms should not be changed for each product. If split quaternions form proper algebraic structure for microphysics, representation of boosts in (2+1)-space leads to the interpretation of the scalar part of quaternions as wavelength of particles. Invariance of space-time intervals and some quantum behavior, like noncommutativity and fundamental spinor representation, probably also are algebraic properties. In our approach the Dirac equation represents the Cauchy-Riemann analyticity condition and the two fundamental physical parameters (speed of light and Planck's constant) appear from the requirement of positive definiteness of quaternionic norms.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1410.4136,
title = {Split Quaternions and Particles in (2+1)-Space},
author = {Merab Gogberashvili},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1410.4136},
year = {2014}
}
Comments
The version published in Eur. Phys. J. C