The structure of the curvature tensor of plane gravitational waves

Plane gravitational waves in the Riemann space of General Relativity is considered. The criterion of plane gravitational waves is used based on the analogy between plane gravitational and electromagnetic waves. The Theorem is proved that the action of the Lie derivative on the plane wave curvature 2-form in the direction of the vector generating the invariance group of this wave in the Riemann space is equal to zero. It is justified that the gravitational waves can be used to transmit information in the Riemann space.

Quantum fluctuations of the metric, three-geometries and conformal embeddings in four-manifolds

In this paper, connections between the path integrals for four-dimensional quantum gravity and string theory are emphasized. It is shown that there is a natural relation between these two path integrals based on the theorems on embeddings of two-dimensional surfaces in four dimensions and four-dimensional manifolds in ten dimensions. The isometry groups of the three-geometries that are spatial hypersurfaces confomally embedded in the four-manifolds are required to be subgroups of [Formula: see text], which is the invariance group of the Pfaffian differential system satisfied by one form in the cotangent bundles on the four-manifolds. Based on this and other physical conditions, the three-geometries are restricted to be [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with a boundary, which may be included in the quantum gravitational path integral over four-manifolds which are closed at initial times followed by an exponential expansion compatible with supersymmetry.

WDVV equations and invariant bi-Hamiltonian formalism

The purpose of the paper is to show that, in low dimensions, the WDVV equations are bi-Hamiltonian. The invariance of the bi-Hamiltonian formalism is proved for N = 3. More examples in higher dimensions show that the result might hold in general. The invariance group of the bi-Hamiltonian pairs that we find for WDVV equations is the group of projective transformations. The significance of projective invariance of WDVV equations is discussed in detail. The computer algebra programs that were used for calculations throughout the paper are provided in a GitHub repository.

Invariant Scalar Product and Associated Structures for Tachyonic Klein–Gordon Equation and Helmholtz Equation

Although describing very different physical systems, both the Klein–Gordon equation for tachyons (m2<0) and the Helmholtz equation share a remarkable property: a unitary and irreducible representation of the corresponding invariance group on a suitable subspace of solutions is only achieved if a non-local scalar product is defined. Then, a subset of oscillatory solutions of the Helmholtz equation supports a unirrep of the Euclidean group, and a subset of oscillatory solutions of the Klein–Gordon equation with m2<0 supports the scalar tachyonic representation of the Poincaré group. As a consequence, these systems also share similar structures, such as certain singularized solutions and projectors on the representation spaces, but they must be treated carefully in each case. We analyze differences and analogies, compare both equations with the conventional m2>0 Klein–Gordon equation, and provide a unified framework for the scalar products of the three equations.

Dynamical Symmetries of the H Atom, One of the Most Important Tools of Modern Physics: SO(4) to SO(4,2), Background, Theory, and Use in Calculating Radiative Shifts

Understanding the hydrogen atom has been at the heart of modern physics. Exploring the symmetry of the most fundamental two body system has led to advances in atomic physics, quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, and elementary particle physics. In this pedagogic review, we present an integrated treatment of the symmetries of the Schrodinger hydrogen atom, including the classical atom, the SO(4) degeneracy group, the non-invariance group or spectrum generating group SO(4,1), and the expanded group SO(4,2). After giving a brief history of these discoveries, most of which took place from 1935–1975, we focus on the physics of the hydrogen atom, providing a background discussion of the symmetries, providing explicit expressions for all of the manifestly Hermitian generators in terms of position and momenta operators in a Cartesian space, explaining the action of the generators on the basis states, and giving a unified treatment of the bound and continuum states in terms of eigenfunctions that have the same quantum numbers as the ordinary bound states. We present some new results from SO(4,2) group theory that are useful in a practical application, the computation of the first order Lamb shift in the hydrogen atom. By using SO(4,2) methods, we are able to obtain a generating function for the radiative shift for all levels. Students, non-experts, and the new generation of scientists may find the clearer, integrated presentation of the symmetries of the hydrogen atom helpful and illuminating. Experts will find new perspectives, even some surprises.

Lie symmetry analysis and reduction for exact solution of (2+1)-dimensional Bogoyavlensky–Konopelchenko equation by geometric approach

In this paper, the symmetry analysis and similarity reduction of the (2[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional Bogoyavlensky–Konopelchenko (B–K) equation are investigated by means of the geometric approach of an invariance group, which is equivalent to the classical Lie symmetry method. Using the extended Harrison and Estabrook’s differential forms approach, the infinitesimal generators for (2[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional B–K equation are obtained. Firstly, the vector field associated with the Lie group of transformation is derived. Then the symmetry reduction and the corresponding explicit exact solution of (2[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional B–K equation is obtained.