Elements of metrodynamics: the general setting (Q537660)

In [\textit{F. Brackx}, \textit{N. de Schepper} and \textit{F. Sommen}, in: D. Alpay (ed.), Wavelets, multiscale systems and hypercomplex analysis. Basel: Birkhäuser. Operator Theory: Advances and Applications 167, 17--67 (2006; Zbl 1152.30051)], the study of a metric dependent Clifford analysis is started. The metric used there is given by a covariant tensor \(g = [ g_{ij} ]\) (\(1 \leq i,j \leq m\)) of rank 2 which is real (\(g_{ij} \in \mathbb{R}\)), symmetric (\(g_{ij} = g_{ji}\)) and positive definite. The metric dependent Clifford algebra \(\mathbb{R}_m [ g ]\) is then the algebra over \(\mathbb{R}\) generated by the units \(e_1, \ldots , e_m\) satisfying the defining relations \(e_j e_k + e_k e_j = -2 g_{jk}\). In this paper, the more general case is considered in which the metric is given by a real, nonsingular, but not necessarily symmetric, covariant tensor of rank 2. The novelty of [loc. cit.] and this paper is that a global metric tensor is considered whereby the components \(g_{ij}\) are interpreted as variables. It is shown how the general metrodynamics case allows to derive several interesting cases: besides the symmetric case (see also [loc. cit.]), the symplectic case is studied. Moreover, the covariant standard Fischer duality versus the Hermitian Fischer duality is studied and the basics on matrix derivatives are introduced.