Understanding Geometric Algebra For Electromagnetic Theory

This book aims to disseminate geometric algebra as a straightforward mathematical tool set for working with and understanding classical electromagnetic theory. It's target readership is anyone who has some knowledge of electromagnetic theory, predominantly ordinary scientists and engineers who use it in the course of their work, or postgraduate students and senior undergraduates who are seeking to broaden their knowledge and increase their understanding of the subject. It is assumed that the reader is not a mathematical specialist and is neither familiar with geometric algebra or its application to electromagnetic theory. The modern approach, geometric algebra, is the mathematical tool set we should all have started out with and once the reader has a grasp of the subject, he or she cannot fail to realize that traditional vector analysis is really awkward and even misleading by comparison. Professors can request a solutions manual by email: [email protected]

The emphasis in this text is on classical electromagnetic theory and electrodynamics, that is, dynamical solutions to the Lorentz-force and Maxwell's equations. The natural appearance of the Minkowski spacetime metric in the paravector space of Clifford's geometric algebra is used to formulate a covariant treatment in special relativity that seamlessly connects spacetime concepts to the spatial vector treatments common in undergraduate texts. Baylis' geometrical interpretation, using such powerful tools as spinors and projectors, essentially allows a component-free notation and avoids the clutter of indices required in tensorial treatments. The exposition is clear and progresses systematically - from a discussion of electromagnetic units and an explanation of how the SI system can be readily converted to the Gaussian or natural Heaviside-Lorentz systems, to an introduction of geometric algebra and the paravector model of spacetime, and finally, special relativity. Other topics include Maxwell's equation(s), the Lorentz-force law, the Fresnel equations, electromagnetic waves and polarization, wave guides, radiation from accelerating charges and time-dependent currents, the Liénard-Wiechert potentials, and radiation reaction, all of which benefit from the modern relativistic approach. Numerous worked examples and exercises dispersed throughout the text help the reader understand new concepts and facilitate self-study of the material. Each chapter concludes with a set of problems, many with answers. Complete solutions are also available. An excellent feature is the integration of Maple into the text, thereby facilitating difficult calculations. To download accompanying Maple worksheets, please visit http://www.cs.uwindsor.ca/users/b/baylis

Bringing geometric algebra to the mainstream of physics pedagogy, Geometric Algebra and Applications to Physics not only presents geometric algebra as a discipline within mathematical physics, but the book also shows how geometric algebra can be applied to numerous fundamental problems in physics, especially in experimental situations. This

Clifford algebras are assuming now an increasing role in theoretical physics. Some of them predominantly larger ones are used in elementary particle theory, especially for a unification of the fundamental interactions. The smaller ones are promoted in more classical domains. This book is intended to demonstrate usefulness of Clifford algebras in classical electrodynamics. Written with a pedagogical aim, it begins with an introductory chapter devoted to multivectors and Clifford algebra for the three-dimensional space. In a later chapter modifications are presented necessary for higher dimension and for the pseudoeuclidean metric of the Minkowski space.Among other advantages one is worth mentioning: Due to a bivectorial description of the magnetic field a notion of force surfaces naturally emerges, which reveals an intimate link between the magnetic field and the electric currents as its sources. Because of the elementary level of presentation, this book can be treated as an introductory course to electromagnetic theory. Numerous illustrations are helpful in visualizing the exposition. Furthermore, each chapter ends with a list of problems which amplify or further illustrate the fundamental arguments.

This book introduces the fundamentals of geometric algebra and calculus, and applies those tools to the study of electromagnetism. Geometric algebra provides a structure that can represent oriented point, line, plane, and volume segments. Vectors, which can be thought of as a representation of oriented line segments, are generalized to multivectors. A full fledged, but non-commutative (i.e. order matters) mul- tiplication operation will be defined for products of vectors. Namely, the square of a vector is the square of its length. This simple rule, along with a requirement that we can sum vectors and their products, essentially defines geometric algebra. Such sums of scalars, vectors and vector products are called multivectors. The reader will see that familiar concepts such as the dot and cross product are related to a more general vector product, and that algebraic structures such as complex numbers can be represented as multivectors. We will be able to utilize generalized complex exponentials to do rotations in arbitrarily oriented planes in space, and will find that simple geometric algebra representations of many geometric transformations are possible. Generalizations of the divergence and Stokes' theorems are required once we choose to work with multivector functions. There is an unfortunate learning curve required to express this gen- eralization, but once overcome, we will be left with a single powerful multivector integration theorem that has no analogue in conventional vector calculus. This fundamental theorem of geo- metric calculus incorporates Green's (area) theorem, the divergence theorem, Stokes' theorems, and complex residue calculus. Multivector calculus also provides the opportunity to define a few unique and powerful Green's functions that almost trivialize solutions of Maxwell's equations. Instead of working separately with electric and magnetic fields, we will work with a hybrid multivector field that includes both electric and magnetic field contributions, and with a mul- tivector current that includes both charge and current densities. The natural representation of Maxwell's equations is a single multivector equation that is easier to solve and manipulate then the conventional mess of divergence and curl equations are familiar to the reader. This book is aimed at graduate or advanced undergraduates in electrical engineering or physics. While all the fundamental results of electromagnetism are derived from Maxwell's equations, there will be no attempt to motivate Maxwell's equations themselves, so existing familiarity with the subject is desirable.

Energy and power are fundamental concepts in electromagnetism and circuit theory, as well as in optics, signal processing, power engineering, electrical machines, and power electronics. However, in crossing the disciplinary borders, we encounter understanding difficulties due to (1) the many possible mathematical representations of the same physical objects, and (2) the many possible physical interpretations of the same mathematical entities. The monograph proposes a quantum and a relativistic approach to electromagnetic power theory that is based on recent advances in physics and mathematics. The book takes a fresh look at old debates related to the significance of the Poynting theorem and the interpretation of reactive power. Reformulated in the mathematical language of geometric algebra, the new expression of electromagnetic power reflects the laws of conservation of energy-momentum in fields and circuits. The monograph offers a mathematically consistent and a physically coherent interpretation of the power concept and of the mechanism of power transmission at the subatomic (mesoscopic) level. The monograph proves (paraphrasing Heaviside) that there is no finality in the development of a vibrant discipline: power theory.

Geometric algebra is a powerful mathematical language with applications across a range of subjects in physics and engineering. This book is a complete guide to the current state of the subject with early chapters providing a self-contained introduction to geometric algebra. Topics covered include new techniques for handling rotations in arbitrary dimensions, and the links between rotations, bivectors and the structure of the Lie groups. Following chapters extend the concept of a complex analytic function theory to arbitrary dimensions, with applications in quantum theory and electromagnetism. Later chapters cover advanced topics such as non-Euclidean geometry, quantum entanglement, and gauge theories. Applications such as black holes and cosmic strings are also explored. It can be used as a graduate text for courses on the physical applications of geometric algebra and is also suitable for researchers working in the fields of relativity and quantum theory.

This volume is an outgrowth of the 1995 Summer School on Theoretical Physics of the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP), held in Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies, from July 30 to August 12,1995. The chapters, based on lectures given at the School, are designed to be tutorial in nature, and many include exercises to assist the learning process. Most lecturers gave three or four fifty-minute lectures aimed at relative novices in the field. More emphasis is therefore placed on pedagogy and establishing comprehension than on erudition and superior scholarship. Of course, new and exciting results are presented in applications of Clifford algebras, but in a coherent and user-friendly way to the nonspecialist. The subject area of the volume is Clifford algebra and its applications. Through the geometric language of the Clifford-algebra approach, many concepts in physics are clarified, united, and extended in new and sometimes surprising directions. In particular, the approach eliminates the formal gaps that traditionally separate clas sical, quantum, and relativistic physics. It thereby makes the study of physics more efficient and the research more penetrating, and it suggests resolutions to a major physics problem of the twentieth century, namely how to unite quantum theory and gravity. The term "geometric algebra" was used by Clifford himself, and David Hestenes has suggested its use in order to emphasize its wide applicability, and b& cause the developments by Clifford were themselves based heavily on previous work by Grassmann, Hamilton, Rodrigues, Gauss, and others.