3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/45
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item The algebra and geometry of continued fractions with integer quaternion coefficients(2015-05-06) Mennen, Carminda MargarethaWe consider continued fractions with coe cients that are in K, the quaternions. In particular we consider coe cients in the Hurwitz integers H in K. These continued fractions are expressed as compositions of M¨obius maps in M R4 1 that act, by Poincar´e extension, as isometries on H5. This dissertation explores groups of 2 2 matrices over K and two particular determinant type functions acting on these groups. On the one hand we find M R4 1 , the group of orientation preserving M¨obius transformations acting on R4 1 in terms of a determinant D [19],[38]. On the other hand K may be considered as a Cli ord algebra C3 based on two generators i and j, or more generally i1 and i2, where i j = k or i1i2 = k. It is shown this group of matrices over C4 defined in terms of a pseudo-determinant [1],[37] can also be used to establish M R4 1 . Through this relationship we are able to connect the determinant D to the pseudo-determinant when acting on the matrices that generate M R4 1 . We explore and build on the results of Schmidt [30] on the subdivision of a Farey simplex into 31 Farey simplices. These results are reinterpreted in H5 with boundary K1 using the group of M¨obius transformations on R4 1 [19], [38]. We investigate the unimodular group G = PS DL(2;K) with its generators and derive a fundamental domain for this group in H5. We relate this domain to the 24-cells PU and r that tessellate K. We define the concepts of Farey neighbours, Farey geodesics and Farey simplices in the Farey tessellation of H5. This tessellation of H5 by a Farey pentacross under a discrete subgroup G of M R4 1 is analogous to the Farey tessellation by Farey triangles of H2 under the modular group [31]. The result in Schmidt [30], that for each quaternion there is a chain of Farey simplices that converge to , is reinterpreted as a continued fraction, with entries from H, that converges to . We conclude with a review of Pringsheim’s theorem on convergence of continued fractions in higher dimensions [5].Item An analysis of the symmetries and conservation laws of some classes of nonlinear wave equations in curved spacetime geometry(2013-08-08) Jamal, SThe (1+3) dimensional wave and Klein-Gordon equations are constructed using the covariant d'Alembertian operator on several spacetimes of interest. Equations on curved geometry inherit the nonlinearities of the geometry. These equations display interesting properties in a number of ways. In particular, the number of symmetries and therefore, the conservation laws reduce depending on how curved the manifold is. We study the symmetry properties and conservation laws of wave equations on Freidmann-Robertson-Walker, Milne, Bianchi, and de Sitter universes. Symmetry structures are used to reduce the number of unknown functions, and hence contribute to nding exact solutions of the equations. As expected, properties of reduction procedures using symmetries, variational structures and conservation laws are more involved than on the well known at (Minkowski) manifold.