Exploring the origin of Minkowski spacetime

arXiv (Cornell University), 2015

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 modeled by Clifford geometric algebra of three dimensions Cℓ(ℜ 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 Maxwell's equations, without recourse to any physical arguments.

arXiv (Cornell University), 2015

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 modeled by Clifford geometric algebra of three dimensions Cℓ(ℜ 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 Maxwell's equations, without recourse to any physical arguments.

2015

The four dimensional spacetime continuum, as originally conceived by Minkowski, has become the default framework within which to describe physical laws. Due to its fundamental nature, there have been various attempts to derive this structure from more fundamental physical principles. In this paper, we show how the Minkowski spacetime structure arises directly from the geometrical properties of three dimensional space when modeled by Clifford geometric algebra of three dimensions Cℓ(ℜ 3). We find that a time-like dimension, as well as three spatial dimensions, arise naturally, as well as four additional degrees of freedom that we identify with spin. Within this expanded eightdimensional arena of spacetime, we find a generalisation of the invariant interval and the Lorentz transformations, with standard results returned as special cases. The power of this geometric approach is shown by the derivation of the fixed speed of light, the laws of special relativity and the form of Maxwell's equations, without any recourse to physical arguments. We also produce a unified treatment of energy-momentum and spin, as well as predicting a new class of physical effects and interactions.

Minkowski famously introduced the concept of a space-time continuum in 1908, merging the three dimensions of space with an imaginary time dimension ict, with the unit imaginary producing the correct spacetime distance x 2 {c 2 t 2 , and the results of Einstein's then recently developed theory of special relativity, thus providing an explanation for Einstein's theory in terms of the structure of space and time. As an alternative to a planar Minkowski space-time of two space dimensions and one time dimension, we replace the unit imaginary i~ffi ffiffiffiffiffiffi ffi {1 p , with the Clifford bivector i~e 1 e 2 for the plane that also squares to minus one, but which can be included without the addition of an extra dimension, as it is an integral part of the real Cartesian plane with the orthonormal basis e 1 and e 2 . We find that with this model of planar spacetime, using a twodimensional Clifford multivector, the spacetime metric and the Lorentz transformations follow immediately as properties of the algebra. This also leads to momentum and energy being represented as components of a multivector and we give a new efficient derivation of Compton's scattering formula, and a simple formulation of Dirac's and Maxwell's equations. Based on the mathematical structure of the multivector, we produce a semi-classical model of massive particles, which can then be viewed as the origin of the Minkowski spacetime structure and thus a deeper explanation for relativistic effects. We also find a new perspective on the nature of time, which is now given a precise mathematical definition as the bivector of the plane.

Following Minkowski's formulation of special relativity, it is generally accepted that we live in a four-dimensional world consisting of three space and one time dimension. Due to its fundamental importance, a variety of arguments have been proposed over the years attempting to derive this spacetime structure from underlying physical principles. In our approach, we show how Minkowski spacetime arises from the geometrical properties of three dimensional space. We demonstrate this through modeling physical space with Clifford's geometric algebra of three dimensions. We indeed find using this representation that a time-like dimension arises naturally within this space but also extends spacetime to eight dimensions through incorporating four spin degrees of freedom. This expanded arena of spacetime produces a generalized group of Lorentz transformations and provides a natural description of fundamental particles. Nearly all standard results are returned in this expanded structure and so its main achievement is that it provides an efficient alternative formalism to the conventional four-vector formalism but we were also able to identify several areas where new physics may be indicated.

Journal of Physics Communications, 2023

The four dimensional spacetime continuum, as first conceived by Minkowski, has become the dominant framework within which to describe physical laws. In this paper, we show how this fourdimensional structure is a natural property of physical three-dimensional space, if modeled with Clifford geometric algebra Cl(R3). We find that Minkowski spacetime can be embedded within a larger eight-dimensional structure. This then allows a generalisation of the invariant interval and the Lorentz transformations. Also, with this geometric oriented approach the fixed speed of light, the laws of special relativity and a generalised form of Maxwell's equations, arise naturally from the intrinsic properties of the algebra without recourse to physical arguments. We also find new insights into the nature of time, which can be described as two-dimensional. Some philosophical implications of this approach as it relates to the foundations of physical theories are also discussed.

arXiv: History and Philosophy of Physics, 2023

In order to ask for future concepts of relativity, one has to build upon the original concepts instead of the nowadays common formalism only, and as such recall and reconsider some of its roots in geometry. So in order to discuss 3-space and dynamics, we recall briefly Minkowski's approach in 1910 implementing the nowadays commonly used 4-vector calculus and related tensorial representations as well as Klein's 1910 paper on the geometry of the Lorentz group. To include microscopic representations, we discuss few aspects of Wigner's and Weinberg's 'boost' approach to describe 'any spin' with respect to its reductive Lie algebra and coset theory, and we relate the physical identification to objects in $P^{5}$ based on the case $(1,0)\oplus(0,1)$ of the electromagnetic field. So instead of following this -- in some aspects -- special and misleading 'old' representation theory, based on 4-vector calculus and tensors, we provide and use an alternat...

Based on previous work on the Dirac algebra and su * (4) Lie algebra generators, using Lie transfer we've associated spin to line and Complex reps. Here, we discuss the construction of a Lagrangean in terms of invariant theory using lines or linear Complex reps like F µν , its dual F αβ , or even quadratic terms like e.g. F µν F µν , or F a µν F a µν with respect to regular linear Complexe. In this context, we sketch briefly the more general framework of quadratic Complexe and show how special relativistic coordinate transformations can be obtained from (invariances with respect to) line transformations. This comprises the action of the Dirac algebra on 4 × 2 'spinors', real as well as complex. We discuss a classical picture to relate photons to linear line Complexe so that special relativity emerges naturally from a special line (or line Complex) invariance, and compare to Minkowski's fundamental paper on special relativity. Finally, we give a brief outlook on how to generalize this approach to general relativity using advanced projective and (line) Complex geometry related to P 5 and the Plücker-Klein quadric as well as transfer principles.

2015

The Minkowski formulation of special relativity reveals the essential four-dimensional nature of spacetime, consisting of three space and one time dimension. Recognizing its fundamental importance, a variety of arguments have been proposed over the years attempting to derive the Minkowski spacetime structure from fundamental physical principles. In this paper we illustrate how Minkowski spacetime follows naturally from the geometric properties of three dimensional Clifford space modeled with multivectors. This approach also generalizes spacetime to an eight dimensional space as well as doubling the size of the Lorentz group. This description of spacetime also provides a new geometrical interpretation of the nature of time.

2012

Following the development of the special theory of relativity in 1905, Minkowski proposed a unified space and time structure consisting of three space dimensions and one time dimension, with relativistic effects then being natural consequences of this spacetime geometry. In this paper, we illustrate how Clifford's geometric algebra that utilizes multivectors to represent spacetime, provides an elegant mathematical framework for the study of relativistic phenomena. We show, with several examples, how the application of geometric algebra leads to the correct relativistic description of the physical phenomena being considered. This approach not only provides a compact mathematical representation to tackle such phenomena, but also suggests some novel insights into the nature of time.