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W. A. Rodrigues Jr

Publications and source records attributed to W. A. Rodrigues Jr.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Locally Inertial Reference Frames in Lorentzian and Riemann-Cartan Spacetimes

In this paper we scrutinize the concept of locally inertial reference frames (LIRF) in Lorentzian and Riemann-Cartan spacetime structures. We present rigorous mathematical definitions for those objects, something that needs preliminary a clear mathematical distinction between the concepts of observers, reference frames, naturally adapted coordinate functions to a given reference frame and which properties may characterize an inertial reference frame (if any) in the Lorentzian and Riemann-Cartan structures. We hope to have clarified some eventual obscure issues associated to the concept of LIRF appearing in the literature, in particular the relationship between LIRFs in Lorentzian and Riemann-Cartan spacetimes and Einstein's most happy though, i.e., the equivalence principle.

math-ph

Some Thoughts on Geometries and on the Nature of the Gravitational Field

In this paper we show how a gravitational field generated by a given energy-momentum distribution (for all realistic cases) can be represented by distinct geometrical structures (Lorentzian, teleparallel and non null nonmetricity spacetimes) or that we even can dispense all those geometrical structures and simply represent the gravitational field as a field in the Faraday's sense living in Minkowski spacetime. The explicit Lagrangian density for this theory is given and the field equations (which are Maxwell's like equations) are shown to be equivalent to Einstein's equations. Some examples are worked in detail in order to convince the reader that the geometrical structure of a manifold (modulus some topological constraints) is conventional as already emphasized by Poincare long ago, and thus the realization that there are disctints geometrical representations (and a physical model related to a deformation of the continuum supporting Minkowski spacetime) for any realistic gravitational field strongly suggests that we must investigate the origin of its physical nature. We hope that this paper will convince readers that this is indeed the case.

math-ph

Multivector and Extensor Fields on Smooth Manifolds

The objective of the present paper (the second in a series of four) is to give a theory of multivector and extensor fields on a smooth manifold M of arbitrary topology based on the powerful geometric algebra of multivectors and extensors. Our approach does not suffer the problems of earlier attempts which are restricted to vector manifolds. It is based on the existence of canonical algebraic structures over the so-called canonical space associated to a local chart (U_{o},phi_{o}) of the maximal atlas of M. The key concepts of a-directional ordinary derivatives of multivector and extensor fields are defined and their properties studied. Also, we introduce the Lie algebra of smooth vector fields and the Hestenes derivatives whose properties are studied in details.

math.DG

Geometric Algebras and Extensors

This is the first paper in a series (of four) designed to show how to use geometric algebras of multivectors and extensors to a novel presentation of some topics of differential geometry which are important for a deeper understanding of geometrical theories of the gravitational field. In this first paper we introduce the key algebraic tools for the development of our program, namely the euclidean geometrical algebra of multivectors Cl(V,G_{E}) and the theory of its deformations leading to metric geometric algebras Cl(V,G) and some special types of extensors. Those tools permit obtaining, the remarkable golden formula relating calculations in Cl(V,G) with easier ones in Cl(V,G_{E}) (e.g., a noticeable relation between the Hodge star operators associated to G and G_{E}). Several useful examples are worked in details fo the purpose of transmitting the "tricks of the trade".

math.DG

Geometric and Extensor Algebras and the Differential Geometry of Arbitrary Manifolds

We give in this paper which is the third in a series of four a theory of covariant derivatives of representatives of multivector and extensor fields on an arbitrary open set U of M, based on the geometric and extensor calculus on an arbitrary smooth manifold M. This is done by introducing the notion of a connection extensor field gamma defining a parallelism structure on U, which represents in a well defined way the action on U of the restriction there of some given connection del defined on M. Also we give a novel and intrinsic presentation (i.e., one that does not depend on a chosen orthonormal moving frame) of the torsion and curvature fields of Cartan's theory. Two kinds of Cartan's connection operator fields are identified, and both appear in the intrinsic Cartan's structure equations satisfied by the Cartan's torsion and curvature extensor fields. We introduce moreover a metrical extensor g in U corresponding to the restriction there of given metric tensor \slg defined on M and also introduce the concept a geometric structure (U,gamma,g) for U and study metric compatibility of covariant derivatives induced by the connection extensor gamma. This permits the presentation of the concept of gauge (deformed) derivatives which satisfy noticeable properties useful in differential geometry and geometrical theories of the gravitational field. Several derivatives operators in metric and geometrical structures, like ordinary and covariant Hodge coderivatives and some duality identities are exhibit.

math.DG

Duality Products of Multivectors and Multiforms, and Extensors

In this paper we study in details the properties of the duality product of multivectors and multiforms (used in the definition of the hyperbolic Clifford algebra of multivefors) and introduce the theory of the k multivector and l multiform variables multivector (or multiform) extensors over V studying their properties with considerable detail.

math-ph

Parallelism Structure on a Smooth Manifold

Using the theory of extensors developed in a previous paper we present a theory of the parallelism structure on arbitrary smooth manifold. Two kinds of Cartan connection operators are introduced and both appear in intrinsic versions (i.e., frame independent) of the first and second Cartan structure equations. Also, the concept of deformed parallelism structures and relative parallelism structures which play important role in the understanding of geometrical theories of the gravitational field are investigated.

math-ph

Covariant Derivatives of Extensor Fields

A simple theory of the covariant derivatives, deformed derivatives and relative covariant derivatives of extensor fields is present using algebraic and analytical tools developed in previous papers. Several important formulas are derived.

math-ph

Geometric Algebras

This is the first paper in a series of eight where in the first three we develop a systematic approach to the geometric algebras of multivectors and extensors, followed by five papers where those algebraic concepts are used in a novel presentation of several topics of the differential geometry of (smooth) manifolds of arbitrary global topology. A key tool for the development of our program is the mastering of the euclidean geometrical algebra of multivectors that is detailed in the present paper.

math.DG

Metric and Gauge Extensors

In this paper, the second in a series of eight we continue our development of the basic tools of the multivector and extensor calculus which are used in our formulation of the differential geometry of smooth manifolds of arbitrary topology . We introduce metric and gauge extensors, pseudo-orthogonal metric extensors, gauge bases, tetrad bases and prove the remarkable golden formula, which permit us to view any Clifford algebra Cl(V,G) as a deformation of the euclidean Clifford algebra Cl(V,G_{E}) discussed in the first paper of the series and to easily perform calculations in Cl(V,G) using Cl(V,G_{E}).

math.DG

Extensor in Geometric Algebras

This paper, the third in a series of eight introduces some of the basic concepts of the theory of extensors needed for our formulation of the differential geometry of smooth manifolds . Key notions such as the extension and generalization operators of a given linear operator (a (1,1)-extensor) acting on a real vector space V are introduced and studied in details. Also, we introduce the notion of the determinant of a (1,1)-extensor and the concepts of standard and metric Hodge (star) operators, disclosing a non trivial and useful relation between them.

math.DG

Covariant Derivatives of Mutivector and Extensor Fields

We give in this paper which is the fifth in a series of eight a theory of covariant derivatives of multivector and extensor fields based on the geometric calculus of an arbitrary smooth manifold M, and the notion of a connection extensor field defining a parallelism structure on M. Also we give a novel and intrinsic presentation (i.e., one that does not depend on a chosen orthonormal moving frame) of the torsion and curvature fields of Cartan's theory. Two kinds of Cartan's connection fields are identified, and both appear in the intrinsic Cartan's structure equations satisfied by the Cartan's torsion and curvature extensor fields.

math.DG

Derivative Operators in Metric and Geometric Structures

This paper (the seventh paper in a series of eight) continues the development of our theory of multivector and extensor calculus on smooth manifolds. Here we deal first with the concepts of ordinary Hodge coderivatives, duality identities, and Hodge coderivative identities. Then, we recall the concept of a Levi-Civita geometric structure and the concepts of Levi-Civita and gauge derivatives. New formulas that are important in the Lagrangian theory of multivector adn extensor fields are obtained. We introduce also he concept of covariant Hodge coderivative. We detail how all these concepts are related.

math.DG

The Non Sequitur Mathematics and Physics of the 'New Electrodynamics' of the AIAS Group

We show that the AIAS group collection of papers on a "new electrodynamics" recently published in the Journal of New Energy, as well as other papers signed by that group (and also other authors) appearing in other established physical journals and in many books published by leading international publishers (see references) are full of misconceptions and misunderstandings concerning the theory of the electromagnetic field and contain fatal mathematical flaws, which invalidates almost all claims done by the authors. We prove our statement by employing a modern presentation of Maxwell Theory using Clifford bundles and also develop the basic ideas of gauge theories using principal and associated vector bundles.

physics.gen-ph

The Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian Density in a 2-dimensional Spacetime is an Exact Differential

Recently Kiriushcheva and Kuzmin claimed to have shown that the Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian cannot be written in any coordinate gauge as an exact differential in a 2-dimensional spacetime. Since this is contrary to other statements on the subject found in the literature, as e.g., by Deser and Jackiw, Jackiw, Grumiller, Kummer and Vassilevich it is necessary to do decide who has reason. This is done in this paper in a very simply way using the Clifford bundle formalism. In this version we added Section 18 which discusses a recent comment on our paper just posted by Kiriushcheva and Kuzmin.

hep-th

A Comment on "On Some Contradictory Computations in Multi-dimensional Mathematics"

In this paper we analyze the status of some `unbelievable results' presented in the paper `On Some Contradictory Computations in Multi-Dimensional Mathematics' [1] published in Nonlinear Analysis, a journal indexed in the Science Citation Index. Among some of the unbelievable results `proved' in the paper we can find statements like that: (i) a linear transformation which is a rotation in R^2 with rotation angle theta different from nphi/2, is inconsistent with arithmetic, (ii) complex number theory is inconsistent. Besides these 'results' of mathematical nature [1],offers also a `proof' that Special Relativity is inconsistent. Now, we are left with only two options (a) the results of [1] are correct and in this case we need a revolution in Mathematics (and also in Physics) or (b) the paper is a potpourri of nonsense. We show that option (b) is the correct one. All `proofs' appearing in [1] are trivially wrong, being based on a poor knowledge of advanced calculus notions. There are many examples (some of them discussed in [2,3,4,5,6]of complete wrong papers using nonsequitur Mathematics in the Physics literature. Taking into account also that a paper like [1] appeared in a Mathematics journal we think that it is time for editors and referees of scientific journals to become more careful in order to avoid the dissemination of nonsense.

math.GM

Clifford Valued Differential Forms, Algebraic Spinor Fields, Gravitation, Electromagnetism and "Unified" Theories

In this paper we show how to describe the general theory of a linear metric compatible connection with the theory of Clifford valued differential forms. This is done by realizing that for each spacetime point the algebra of Clifford bivectors is isomorphic to the Lie algebra of Sl(2,C). In that way the pullback of the linear connection under a trivialization of the bundle is represented by a Clifford valued 1-form. That observation makes it possible to realize Einstein's gravitational theory can be formulated in a way which is similar to a Sl(2,C) gauge theory. Some aspects of such approach is discussed. Also, the theory of the covariant spinor derivative of spinor fields is introduced in a novel way, allowing for a physical interpretation of some rules postulated for that covariant spinor derivative in the standard theory of these objects. We use our methods to investigate some polemical issues in gravitational theories and in particular we scrutinize a supposedly "unified" field theory of gravitation and electromagnetism proposed by M. Sachs and recently used in a series of papers. Our results show that Sachs did not attain his objective and that recent papers based on that theory are ill conceived and completely invalid both as Mathematics and Physics.

math-ph