The unitary irreducible representations of a Lie group defines the Hilbert space on which the representations act. If this Lie group is a physical quantum dynamical symmetry group, this Hilbert space is identified with the physical quantum state space. The eigenvalue equations for the representation of the set of Casimir invariant operators define the field equations of the system. The Poincare group is the archetypical example with the unitary representations defining the Hilbert space of relativistic particle states and the Klein-Gordon, Dirac, Maxwell equations are obtained from the representations of the Casimir invariant operators eigenvalue equations. The representation of the Heisenberg group does not appear in this derivation. The unitary representations of the Heisenberg group, however, play a fundamental role in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, defining the Hilbert space and the basic momentum and position commutation relations. Viewing the Heisenberg group as a generalized non-abelian "translation" group, we look for a semidirect product group with it as the normal subgroup that also contains the Poincare group. The quaplectic group, that is derived from a simple argument using Born's orthogonal metric hypothesis, contains four Poincare subgroups as well as the normal Heisenberg subgroup. The general set of field equations are derived using the Mackey representation theory for general semidirect product groups.
The Hilbert space of the unitary irreducible representations of a Lie group that is a quantum dynamical group are identified with the quantum state space. Hermitian representation of the algebra are observables. The eigenvalue equations for the representation of the set of Casimir invariant operators define the field equations of the system. A general class of dynamical groups are semidirect products K *s N for which the representations are given by Mackey's theory. The homogeneous group K must be a subgroup of the automorphisms of the normal group N. The archetype dynamical group is the Poinc…
A classical deformation procedure, based on universal enveloping algebras, Casimirs and curvatures of symmetrical homogeneous spaces, is applied to several cases of physical relevance. Starting from the (3+1)D Galilei algebra, we describe at the level of representations the process leading to its two physically meaningful deformed neighbours. The Poincare algebra is obtained by introducing a negative curvature in the flat Galilean phase space (or space of worldlines), while keeping a flat spacetime. To be precise, starting from a representation of the Galilei algebra with both Casimirs differe…
The nonrelativistic limit of the centrally extended Poincaré group is considered and their consequences in the modal Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics are discussed [ O. Lombardi and M. Castagnino, Stud. Hist. Philos. Mod. Phys 39, 380 (2008) ; J. Phys, Conf. Ser. 128, 012014 (2008) ]. Through the assumption that in quantum field theory the Casimir operators of the Poincaré group actualize, the nonrelativistic limit of the latter group yields to the actualization of the Casimir operators of the Galilei group, which is in agreement with the actualization rule of previous versions …
The general aim of this paper is to extend the Modal-Hamiltonian interpretation of quantum mechanics to the case of relativistic quantum mechanics with gauge U(1) elds. In this case we propose that the actual- valued observables are the Casimir operators of the Poincaré group and of the group U(1) of the internal symmetry of the theory. Moreover, we also show that the magnitudes that acquire actual values in the relativistic and in the non-relativistic cases are correctly related through the adequate limit.
We study the massless irreducible representations of the Poincaré group in the six-dimensional Minkowski space. The Casimir operators are constructed and their eigenvalues are found. It is shown that the finite spin (helicity) representation is defined by two integer or half-integer numbers while the infinite spin representation is defined by the real parameter $μ^2$ and one integer or half-integer number.
We present the world-line quantisation of a system invariant under the symmetries of reciprocal relativity (pseudo-unitary transformations on ``phase space coordinates" $(x^μ(τ),p^μ(τ))$ which preserve the Minkowski metric and the symplectic form, and global shifts in these coordinates, together with coordinate dependent transformations of an additional compact phase coordinate, $θ(τ)$). The action is that of free motion over the corresponding Weyl-Heisenberg group. Imposition of the first class constraint, the generator of local time reparametrisations, on physical states enforces identificat…
Noninertial transformations on time-position-momentum-energy space {t,q,p,e} with invariant Born-Green metric ds^2=-dt^2+dq^2/c^2+(1/b^2)(dp^2-de^2/c^2) and the symplectic metric -de/\dt+dp/\dq are studied. This U(1,3) group of transformations contains the Lorentz group as the inertial special case. In the limit of small forces and velocities, it reduces to the expected Hamilton transformations leaving invariant the symplectic metric and the nonrelativistic line element ds^2=dt^2. The U(1,3) transformations bound relative velocities by c and relative forces by b. Spacetime is no longer an inva…
Conservation laws in ideal gas dynamics and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) associated with fluid relabelling symmetries are derived using Noether's first and second theorems. Lie dragged invariants are discussed in terms of the MHD Casimirs. A nonlocal conservation law for fluid helicity applicable for a non-barotropic fluid involving Clebsch variables is derived using Noether's theorem, in conjunction with a fluid relabelling symmetry and a gauge transformation. A nonlocal cross helicity conservation law involving Clebsch potentials, and the MHD energy conservation law are derived by the same met…
Analytical perturbations of the Euler top are considered. The perturbations are based on the Poisson structure for such a dynamical system, in such a way that the Casimir invariants of the system remain invariant for the perturbed flow. By means of the Poincaré-Pontryagin theory, the existence of limit cycles on the invariant Casimir surfaces for the perturbed system is investigated up to first order of perturbation, providing sharp bounds for their number. Examples are given.
The Lorentz covariance of a non-linear, time-dependent relativistic wave equation is demonstrated; the equation has recently been shown to have highly interesting and significant empirical consequences. It is established here that an operator already exists which ensures the relativistic properties of the equation. Furthermore, we show that the time-dependent equation is gauge invariant. The equation however, breaks Poincare symmetry via time translation in a way consistent with its physical interpretation. It is also shown herein that the Casimir invariant PmuPmu of the Poincare group, which …
The contraction of the Poincare group with respect to the space trans- lations subgroup gives rise to a group that bears a certain duality relation to the Galilei group, that is, the contraction limit of the Poincare group with respect to the time translations subgroup. In view of this duality, we call the former the dual Galilei group. A rather remarkable feature of the dual Galilei group is that the time translations constitute a central subgroup. Therewith, in unitary irreducible representations (UIR) of the group, the Hamiltonian appears as a Casimir operator proportional to the identity H…
In this paper, we study a linearized two-dimensional Euler equation. This equation decouples into infinitely many invariant subsystems. Each invariant subsystem is shown to be a linear Hamiltonian system of infinite dimensions. Another important invariant besides the Hamiltonian for each invariant subsystem is found, and is utilized to prove an ``unstable disk theorem'' through a simple Energy-Casimir argument. The eigenvalues of the linear Hamiltonian system are of four types: real pairs ($c,-c$), purely imaginary pairs ($id,-id$), quadruples ($\pm c\pm id$), and zero eigenvalues. The eigenva…
We formulate Euler-Poincaré and Lagrange-Poincaré equations for systems with broken symmetry. We specialize the general theory to present explicit equations of motion for nematic systems, ranging from single nematic molecules to biaxial liquid crystals. The geometric construction applies to order parameter spaces consisting of either unsigned unit vectors (directors) or symmetric matrices (alignment tensors). On the Hamiltonian side, we provide the corresponding Poisson brackets in both Lie-Poisson and Hamilton-Poincaré formulations. The explicit form of the helicity invariant for uniaxial nem…
Born proposed a unification of special relativity and quantum mechanics that placed position, time, energy and momentum on equal footing through a reciprocity principle and extended the usual position-time and energy-momentum line elements to this space by combining them through a new fundamental constant. Requiring also invariance of the symplectic metric yields U(1,3) as the invariance group, the inhomogeneous counterpart of which is the canonically relativistic group CR(1,3) = U(1,3) *s H(1,3) where H(1,3) is the Heisenberg Group in 4 dimensions and "*s" is the semidirect product. This is t…
We consider a region of Minkowski spacetime bounded either by one or by two parallel, infinitely extended plates orthogonal to a spatial direction and a real Klein-Gordon field satisfying Dirichlet boundary conditions. We quantize these two systems within the algebraic approach to quantum field theory using the so-called functional formalism. As a first step we construct a suitable unital *-algebra of observables whose generating functionals are characterized by a labelling space which is at the same time optimal and separating and fulfils the F-locality property. Subsequently we give a defini…
We prove that the helicity is the only regular Casimir function for the coadjoint action of the volume-preserving diffeomorphism group $\text{SDiff}(M)$ on smooth exact divergence-free vector fields on a closed three-dimensional manifold $M$. More precisely, any regular $C^1$ functional defined on the space of $C^\infty$ (more generally, $C^k$, $k\ge 4$) exact divergence-free vector fields and invariant under arbitrary volume-preserving diffeomorphisms can be expressed as a $C^1$ function of the helicity. This gives a complete description of Casimirs for adjoint and coadjoint actions of $\text…
Algebra of quantum mechanics via classical phonons. II: Klein-Gordon dynamics, the Heisenberg formalism, the Dirac canonical commutation rule and the Poincare algebra through the continuous Poisson bracket formalism
We analyze basic relativistic wave equations for the classical fields, such as Dirac's equation, Weyl's two-component equation for massless neutrinos, and the Proca, Maxwell, and Fierz-Pauli equations, from the viewpoint of the Pauli-Lubanski vector and the Casimir operators of the Poincare group. In general, in this group-theoretical approach, the above wave equations arise in certain overdetermined forms, which can be reduced to the conventional ones by a Gaussian elimination. A connection between the spin of a particle/field and consistency of the corresponding overdetermined system is emph…
We study the Lie algebras of the covariant representations transforming the matter fields under the de Sitter isometries. We point out that the Casimir operators of these representations can be written in closed forms and we deduce how their eigenvalues depend on the field's rest energy and spin. For the scalar, vector and Dirac fields, which have well-defined field equations, we express these eigenvalues in terms of mass and spin obtaining thus the principal invariants of the theory of free fields on the de Sitter spacetime. We show that in the flat limit we recover the corresponding invarian…
The quantum duality principle is used to obtain explicitly the Poisson analogue of the kappa-(A)dS quantum algebra in (3+1) dimensions as the corresponding Poisson-Lie structure on the dual solvable Lie group. The construction is fully performed in a kinematical basis and deformed Casimir functions are also explicitly obtained. The cosmological constant $Λ$ is included as a Poisson-Lie group contraction parameter, and the limit $Λ\to 0$ leads to the well-known kappa-Poincaré algebra in the bicrossproduct basis. A twisted version with Drinfel'd double structure of this kappa-(A)dS deformation i…
The space-time symmetry group of a model of a relativistic spin 1/2 elementary particle, which satisfies Dirac's equation when quantized, is analyzed. It is shown that this group, larger than the Poincare group, also contains space-time dilations and local rotations. It has two Casimir operators, one is the spin and the other is the spin projection on the body frame. Its similarities with the standard model are discussed. If we consider this last spin observable as describing isospin, then, this Dirac particle represents a massive system of spin 1/2 and isospin 1/2. There are two possible irre…
The unitary irreducible representations of the covering group of the Poincare group P define the framework for much of particle physics on the physical Minkowski space P/L, where L is the Lorentz group. While extraordinarily successful, it does not provide a large enough group of symmetries to encompass observed particles with a SU(3) classification. Born proposed the reciprocity principle that states physics must be invariant under the reciprocity transform that is heuristically {t,e,q,p}->{t,e,p,-q} where {t,e,q,p} are the time, energy, position, and momentum degrees of freedom. This implies…
