8,882 research outputs found
Quaternions and Special Relativity
We reformulate Special Relativity by a quaternionic algebra on reals. Using
{\em real linear quaternions}, we show that previous difficulties, concerning
the appropriate transformations on the space-time, may be overcome. This
implies that a complexified quaternionic version of Special Relativity is a
choice and not a necessity.Comment: 17 pages, latex, no figure
Right eigenvalue equation in quaternionic quantum mechanics
We study the right eigenvalue equation for quaternionic and complex linear
matrix operators defined in n-dimensional quaternionic vector spaces. For
quaternionic linear operators the eigenvalue spectrum consists of n complex
values. For these operators we give a necessary and sufficient condition for
the diagonalization of their quaternionic matrix representations. Our
discussion is also extended to complex linear operators, whose spectrum is
characterized by 2n complex eigenvalues. We show that a consistent analysis of
the eigenvalue problem for complex linear operators requires the choice of a
complex geometry in defining inner products. Finally, we introduce some
examples of the left eigenvalue equations and highlight the main difficulties
in their solution.Comment: 24 pages, AMS-Te
The octonionic eigenvalue problem
By using a real matrix translation, we propose a coupled eigenvalue problem
for octonionic operators. In view of possible applications in quantum
mechanics, we also discuss the hermiticity of such operators. Previous
difficulties in formulating a consistent octonionic Hilbert space are solved by
using the new coupled eigenvalue problem and introducing an appropriate scalar
product for the probability amplitudes.Comment: 21 page
Solitons in a double pendulums chain model, and DNA roto-torsional dynamics
It was first suggested by Englander et al to model the nonlinear dynamics of
DNA relevant to the transcription process in terms of a chain of coupled
pendulums. In a related paper [q-bio.BM/0604014] we argued for the advantages
of an extension of this approach based on considering a chain of double
pendulums with certain characteristics. Here we study a simplified model of
this kind, focusing on its general features and nonlinear travelling wave
excitations; in particular, we show that some of the degrees of freedom are
actually slaved to others, allowing for an effective reduction of the relevant
equations
Quaternionic potentials in non-relativistic quantum mechanics
We discuss the Schrodinger equation in presence of quaternionic potentials.
The study is performed analytically as long as it proves possible, when not, we
resort to numerical calculations. The results obtained could be useful to
investigate an underlying quaternionic quantum dynamics in particle physics.
Experimental tests and proposals to observe quaternionic quantum effects by
neutron interferometry are briefly reviewed.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures (ps), AMS-Te
Axial dependence of optical weak measurements in the critical region
The interference between optical beams of different polarizations plays a
fundamental role in reproducing the optical analog of the electron spin weak
measurement. The extraordinary point in optical weak measurements is
represented by the possibility to estimate with great accuracy the
Goos-Haenchen (GH) shift by measuring the distance between the peak of the
outgoing beams for two opposite rotation angles of the polarizers located
before and after the dielectric block. Starting from the numerical calculation
of the GH shift, which clearly shows a frequency crossover for incidence near
to the critical angle, we present a detailed study of the interference between
s and p polarized waves in the critical region. This allows to determine in
which conditions it is possible to avoid axial deformations and reproduce the
GH curves. In view of a possible experimental implementation, we give the
expected weak measurement curves for Gaussian lasers of different beam waist
sizes propagating through borosilicate (BK7) and fused silica dielectric
blocks.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure
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