Quaternions and the heuristic role of mathematical structures in physics
Phys.Essays 6 (1993) 308-319 One of the important ways development takes place in mathematics is via a process of generalization. On the basis of a recent characterization of this process we propose a principle that generalizations of mathematical structures that are already part of successful physi...
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Zusammenfassung: | Phys.Essays 6 (1993) 308-319 One of the important ways development takes place in mathematics is via a
process of generalization. On the basis of a recent characterization of this
process we propose a principle that generalizations of mathematical structures
that are already part of successful physical theories serve as good guides for
the development of new physical theories. The principle is a more formal
presentation and extension of a position stated earlier this century by Dirac.
Quaternions form an excellent example of such a generalization, and we consider
a number of the ways in which their use in physical theories illustrates this
principle. |
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DOI: | 10.48550/arxiv.hep-ph/9208222 |