One reason Hestenes calls it geometric algebra is because that's what Clifford called it, but he died to soon to impose his will upon the mathematical community. Also, to me Clifford algebra as defined by mathematicians today is something significantly more abstract than Hestenes definition of geometric algebra. Hestenes also named the follow on to geometric algebra, geometric calculus!!!
Ondrej Certik wrote: > On Jan 1, 2008 6:26 PM, David Joyner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Just some ideas: For me, "geometric algebra" refers to material in the >> famous book by E Artin. Your usage of the term is apparently >> common with mathematical physicists. I would recommend changing the >> name to "clifford algebra", which seems to be used by both communities. >> Also, I think there is a large package on Clifford algebras in Maple. >> It might be worth comparing them, if there is overlap. >> > > > Yes, both terms are fine with me. But it's true Clifford algebra > means for me just the anticommutation relations of Dirac matrices (and the > algebra it generates), while geometric algebra means for me: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_algebra > > but now I learned, that the Dirac matrices algebra is actually called > "spacetime algebra": > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacetime_algebra > > so any name is fine with me. > > In any case, Clifford albegras are really cool, I discovered that just > by accident, > but it really shows me more insight into many things in physics. > > Ondrej > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sympy" group. To post to this group, send email to sympy@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sympy?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
