Split-complex number Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

In mathematics, the split-complex numbers (also called the Lorentz numbers) are an extension of the real numbers defined analogously to the complex numbers. The key difference between the two is that whereas multiplication of complex numbers respects the standand (square) Euclidean norm (x² + y²) on R², multiplication of split-complex numbers respects the (square) Minkowski norm (x² − y²).

A two-dimensional real vector space with the Minkowski inner product is called 1+1 dimensional Minkowski space, often denoted R^1,1. Just as much of the geometry of the Euclidean plane R² can be described with complex numbers, the geometry of the Minkowski plane R^1,1 can be described with split-complex numbers.

The name split comes from the fact that signaturess of the form (p,p) are called split signatures. In other words, the split-complex numbers are similiar to complex numbers but in the split signature (1,1).

Table of contents

1 Definition 1.1 Conjugate, norm, and inner product 1.2 The diagonal basis 2 Geometry 3 Algebraic properties 4 Matrix representations 5 History 6 See also 7 References and external links

Definition

A split-complex number is one of the form

z = x + j y

where x and y are real numbers and the quantity j satisfies

j² = +1.

The collection of all such z is called the split-complex plane. Addition and multiplication of split-complex numbers are defined by

(x + j y) + (u + j v) = (x + u) + j(y + v)

(x + j y)(u + j v) = (xu + yv) + j(xv + yu)

This multiplication is commutative, associative and distributes over addition.

Conjugate, norm, and inner product

Just as for complex numbers, one can define the notion of a split-complex conjugate. If

z = x + j y

the conjugate of z is defined as

z* = x − j y.

The conjugate satisfies similiar properties to usual complex conjugate. Namely,

(z + w)* = z* + w*

(zw)* = z*w*

(z*)* = z

These three properties imply that the split-complex conjugate is an automorphism of order 2.

The square norm (or quadratic form) of a split-complex number z = x + j y is given by

‖z‖ = zz* = z*z = x² − y².

Note that this norm is not positive-definite but rather has signature (1,1). An important property of this norm is that it is preserved by split-complex multiplication:

‖zw‖ = ‖z‖‖w‖

The associated (1,1) inner product is given by

<z, w> = Re(zw*) = Re(z*w) = xu − yv

where z = x + j y and w = u + j v. Note that

‖z‖ = <z, z>

Split-complex numbers z and w are said to be (hyperbolically) orthogonal if <z, w> = 0.

A split-complex number is invertible if and only if its norm is nonzero (‖z‖ ≠ 0). The inverse of such an element is given by

z⁻¹ = z* / ‖z‖.

Split-complex numbers which are not invertible are called null elements. These are all of the form (a ± j a) for some real number a.

The diagonal basis

There are two nontrivial idempotents given by e = (1 − j)/2 and e* = (1 + j)/2. Recall that idempotent means that ee = e and e*e* = e*). Note that both of these elements are null:

‖e‖ = ‖e*‖ = e*e = 0

It is often convenient to use e and e* as a alternate basis for the split-complex plane. This basis is called the diagonal basis or null basis. The split-complex number z can be written in the null basis as

z = x + j y = (x − y)e + (x + y)e*

If we denote the number z = ae + be* for real numbers a and b by (a,b) then split-complex multiplication is given by

(a₁,b₁)(a₂,b₂) = (a₁a₂, b₁b₂).

In this basis, it becomes clear that the split-complex numbers are isomorphic to the direct sum R⊕R with addition and multiplication defined pairwise.

The split-complex conjugate in the diagonal basis is given by

(a,b)* = (b,a)

and the norm by

‖(a,b)‖ = ab

Geometry

The set of points

{z : ‖z‖ = a² }

is a hyperbola for every nonzero a in R. The hyperbola consists of a right and left branch passing through a and −a. The case a = 1 is called the unit hyperbola. The conjugate hyperbola is given by

{z : ‖z‖ = −a² }

with a upper and lower branch passing through ja and −ja. The hyperbola and conjugate hyperbola are separated by two diagonal asymptotes with form the set of null elements:

{z : ‖z‖ = 0 }

These two lines (sometimes called the null cone) are perpendicular and have slopes ±1.

The analogue of Euler's formula for the split-complex numbers is

exp(jθ) = cosh(θ) + j sinh(θ)

This can be derived from a power series expansion using the fact that cosh has only even powers while that for sinh has odd powers. For all real values of θ the split-complex number λ = exp(jθ) has norm 1 and lies on the right branch of the unit hyperbola.

Since λ has norm 1, multiplying any split-complex number z by λ preserves the norm of z and represents a hyperbolic rotation (also called a Lorentz boost). Multiplying by λ preserves the geometric structure, taking hyperbolas to themselves and the null cone to itself.

The set of all transformations of the split-complex plane which preserve the norm (or equivalently, the inner product) forms a group called the generalized orthogonal group O(1,1). This group consists of the hyperbolic rotations — which form a subgroup denoted SO⁺(1,1) — combined with four discrete reflections given by

and .

The exponential map

exp : R → SO⁺(1,1)

sending θ to rotation by exp(jθ) is a group isomorphism since the usual exponential formula applies:

Algebraic properties

In abstract algebra terms, the split-complex numbers can be described as the quotient of the polynomial ring R[x] by the ideal generated by the polynomial x² − 1,

R[x]/(x² − 1).

The image of x in the quotient is imaginary unit j. With this description, it is clear that the split-complex numbers form a commutative ring with characteristic 0. Moreover if we define scalar multiplication in the obvious manner, the split-complex numbers actually form a commutative and associative algebra over the reals of dimension two. The algebra is not a division algebra or field since the null elements are not invertible. If fact, all of the nonzero null elements are zero divisors.

The split-complex numbers do not form a normed algebra in the usual sense of the word since the "norm" is not positive-definite. However, if one extends the definition to include norms of general signature, they do form such an algebra. This follows from the fact that

‖zw‖ = ‖z‖‖w‖

For an exposition of normed algebras in general signature, see the reference by Harvey.

The split-complex numbers are a special case of a Clifford algebra. Namely, they form a Clifford algebra over a one-dimensional vector space with a negative-definite quadratric form. Contrast this with the complex numbers which form a Clifford algebra over a one-dimensional vector space with a positive-definite quadratric form. (NB: some authors switch the signs in the definition of a Clifford algebra which will interchange the meaning of positive-definite and negative-definite).

Matrix representations

One can easily represent split-complex numbers by matrices. The split-complex number

z = x + j y

can be represented by the matrix

Addition and multiplication of split-complex numbers are then given by matrix addition and multiplication. The norm of z is given by the determinant of the corresponding matrix. Split-complex conjugation corresponds to multiplying on both sides by the matrix

Note that a hyperbolic rotation by exp(jθ) corresponds to multiplication by the matrix

Working in the diagonal basis leads to a diagonal matrix representation

Hyperbolic rotations in this basis correspond to multiplication by

which shows that they are squeeze mappings.

History

The use of split-complex numbers dates back to 1848 when James Cockle revealed his Tessarines. William Kingdon Clifford used split-complex numbers to represent sums of spins in 1882. Clifford called the elements "motors".

In the twentieth-century the split-complex numbers became a common platform to describe the Lorentz transformations of special relativity, in a spacetime plane because its structure is precisely that used for the physical theory.

Other authors using split-complex numbers include I.M. Yaglom, Walter Benz, and Garett Sobczyk.

See also

• Minkowski space
• Lorentz group
• Clifford algebra

References and external links

• F. Reese Harvey. Spinors and calibrations. Academic Press, San Diego. 1990. ISBN 0-12-329650-1. Contains a description of normed algebras in indefinite signature, including the Lorentz numbers.

• The Motor Plane D

• Hyperbolic Number Plane (PDF)

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