Clifford Algebras and Possible Kinematics

Alan S. McRae

Symmetry, integrability and geometry: methods and applications, Tome 3 (2007)

Résumé

We review Bacry and Lévy–Leblond's work on possible kinematics as applied to 2-dimensional spacetimes, as well as the nine types of 2-dimensional Cayley–Klein geometries, illustrating how the Cayley–Klein geometries give homogeneous spacetimes for all but one of the kinematical groups. We then construct a two-parameter family of Clifford algebras that give a unified framework for representing both the Lie algebras as well as the kinematical groups, showing that these groups are true rotation groups. In addition we give conformal models for these spacetimes.

Détail

Keywords: Cayley–Klein geometries; Clifford algebras; kinematics.

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