Adv. appl. Clifford alg.

Online First


c 2010 Birkhäuser / Springer Basel AG, Switzerland Advances in
DOI 10.1007/s00006-010-0209-9 Applied Clifford Algebras

Hyperbolic Quaternion Formulation

of Electromagnetism
Süleyman Demir, Murat Tanışlı and Nuray Candemir

Abstract. In this paper, after presenting the hyperbolic quaternion formalism,

an alternative representational method is proposed for the formulation of clas-
sical and generalized electromagnetism in the case of the existence of magnetic
monopoles and massive photons. Maxwell’s equations and relevant field equa-
tions are derived in compact, simpler and elegant forms. These equations are
compared with their vectorial, complex quaternionic, dual quaternionic and
octonionic representations.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2000). 00A79, 8A25, 17D99.
Keywords. Hyperbolic quaternion, electromagnetism, magnetic monopole.

1. Introduction
Recent papers in literature have been demonstrated that the hypercomplex num-
ber systems with nonreal square root +1 have a wide potential to investigate the
physical theories in different areas. Generally, in these papers hypernumber con-
cepts invented by Charles Musés (1919-2000) are used. Musés also showed in his
works how hypernumbers interface with the physical word, specially the quantum
field theory [1]-[3]. A special case of the hypernumber arithmetic is the 16- di-
mensional conic sedenions which were studied by Carmody [4, 5]. Köplinger has
used this special hypernumber system to investigate the theories in other areas
of physics. For example, the hyperbolic octonions as a subalgebra of the conic
sedenions have been used to express the Dirac equation in a simple form [6]. The
potential applicability of this structure has been examined in the relativity [7],
gravity and electromagnetism [8, 9], as well. Similarly, Candemir et al. [10] have
expressed the differential operator, the Proca-Maxwell equations and relevant field
equations in terms of the hyperbolic octonions. The Musés hyperbolic octonions
are isomorphic to the split octonions and Gogberashvili [11] showed that the Dirac
equation can be written by using the algebra of the split octonions. As distinct
2 S. Demir, M. Tanışlı and N. Candemir AACA

from similar formulations [12]-[16] Gogberashvili did not use any complex numbers
or bi-spinors.
In general, the hyperbolic numbers are also known as paracomplex, unipo-
dal, duplex or split-complex numbers [17, 18]. A larger list of references regarding
applications of this mathematical structure has been given in Ulrych’s papers on
Clifford algebra [19]-[23]. The paravectors used in these works have been intro-
duced originally by Sobczyk in the spacetime vector analysis [24]. Similar to the
Hestenes space-time formulation [25], Baylis showed that the theory of electro-
dynamics can be fully expressed in terms of this algebra [26]. By inserting the
hyperbolic unit j (j 2 = 1) into the Baylis formulations, Ulrych has generalized
this structure to obtain the complex Clifford algebra C̄ 3,0 and proposed to use
this algebra to represent the Poincaré mass operator [19, 20] and the spinors [21].
Ulrych has also proved that the complex Clifford algebra with the hyperbolic num-
bers is rich enough in structure to investigate the relativistic quantum physics [22]
and the gravitoelectromagnetism [23]. Similarly, by introducing hyperbolic virtual
unit j into Clifford algebra, Xuegang et al. have discussed the hyperbolic spherical
harmonics [27], the Dirac wave equation [28], the four dimensional Lorentz trans-
formations [29], the hyperbolic Schrödinger equation [30] and the relative transfor-
mation equations of velocity and acceleration in the four dimensional hyperbolic
complex space [31]. As closely related to the context of this paper, Cafaro and
Ali [32] have used the hyperbolic number concept in spacetime algebra to formu-
late the classical electrodynamics with massive photons and magnetic monopoles.
Maxwell’s equations which are the cornerstones of classical electromagnetism
have been formulated in many forms since their discovery in 1873. Although, in
his famous book Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism [33], Maxwell used 3-
dimensional vector representation to formulate electromagnetism, he also gave
their quaternionic forms in a number of places. Maxwell used the V Q and SQ
symbols to refer to the vector part and the scalar part of quaternion Q, respec-
tively [34]. The classical electromagnetic theory related to quaternions can be for-
mulated very efficiently in different forms. The complex quaternions, also named
biquaternions and composed of two real quaternions, were used frequently to refor-
mulate the classical electrodynamics and so Maxwell’s equations were reduced to a
simple and compact form [35]-[45]. Similarly, the quaternion analysis of the time-
dependent Maxwells equations in the presence of electric and magnetic charges
and the solutions for the classical problem of moving sources were obtained by
Singh et al. [46] in a unique, simpler and consistent manner. The similarities in
Maxwell and Dirac equations have been investigated by Rodrigues and Capelas
de Oliveira [47, 48]. In their approach, how to write the Dirac and the generalized
Maxwell equations (including monopoles) have also been described in the Clifford
and spin-Clifford bundles over space-time.
Dual quaternions that are in the similar structure to complex quaternions
are used generally to investigate spatial screw motion of a rigid body. In the paper
by Demir and Özdaş [49], the classical electromagnetism has been reformulated
by using this type quaternions. Maxwell’s equations have been rewritten in terms
 Hyperbolic Quaternion Formulation of Electromagnetism 3

of the dual quaternions and these four equations have been combined in a sin-
gle equation. Recently, a new representational model based on dual quaternionic
matrices has been proposed for classical electromagnetism [50], as well.
As the largest of the four normed division algebras, the classical octonions
share many attractive mathematical properties with the quaternions. In spite of
their nonassociativity, this mathematical structure enables us to derive alternative
formulations in electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. By introducing left-
right barred operators, De Leo and Abdel-Khalek have overcome the problems
due to the nonassociativity of the octonionic algebra and obtained a consistent
formulation of octonionic quantum mechanics [51]–[53]. In the paper by Tolan et
al. [54], the field equations and Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetism have
been investigated with new octonionic equations, and these equations have been
compared with their vectorial representations. As a distinction in structure from
classical octonions, both the split octonions and the hyperbolic octonions have
hyperbolic basis instead of the complex ones. The Dirac operator and Maxwell
equations in vacuum have been derived in the algebra of split octonions by Gog-
berashvili [55]. Similarly, Bisht and Negi have reformulated electrodynamics and
the dyonic field equations in terms of the split octonion and its Zorn’s vector
matrix realization along with the corresponding field equations and the equation
of motion in a unique and consistent manner [56]. In their work with Dangwal,
the split octonion formalism has also been extented to cover the unified theory of
linear gravity and electromagnetism with the simultaneous existence of electric,
magnetic, gravitational and Heavisidian charges [57].
The hyperbolic quaternions are one of the non-associative hyperbolic number
systems that are very suitable for the investigation of space-time theories. Unfor-
tunately, this system is 4-dimensional. Therefore, by using the same idea on the
construction of the complex quaternions, we combined two hyperbolic quaternion
to express up to 8-dimensional physical quantities. Although the obtained math-
ematical structure is 8-dimensional, the number of basis elements are still four.
Therefore, manipulating of this new hypernumber system is simpler than similar
structures such as the octonions.
Furthermore, this paper also aims to contribute the potential applications of
non-associative algebras in the description of physical laws. The hyperbolic quater-
nion formulation of electromagnetism was absent in literature. Therefore, this pa-
per fills a gap and contains useful results. Maxwell’s equations and relevant field
equations are investigated with the hyperbolic quaternions, and these equations
have been given in compact, simpler and elegant forms. The derived equations
are compared with their vectorial, complex quaternionic, dual quaternionic and
octonionic representations, as well.
The layout of the paper is as follows. In section 2, a brief introduction to the
hyperbolic quaternion algebra is given. In section 3, the classical electromagnetism
theory is reformulated in the absence of magnetic monopoles and massive photons.
Similarly, in section 4, a compact formulation of Maxwell’s equations with photon
mass in the absence of magnetic monopoles is presented. In sections 5 and 6, the
4 S. Demir, M. Tanışlı and N. Candemir AACA

general theory is considered in two limiting cases; i) with magnetic monopoles

in the absence of photon mass and ii) massive electromagnetism with magnetic
monopoles. Finally, the hyperbolic quaternions are proposed as a non-associative
algebric tool for obtaining the Proca-Maxwell equations with magnetic monopoles.

2. Preliminaries
Quaternions were discovered by Hamilton in 1843 during his attempt to generalize
complex numbers to three dimensions as the following form [58]:
q = (q0 + q1 e1 ) + (q2 + q3 e1 )e2 = q0 + q1 e1 + q2 e2 + q3 (e1 e2 ). (2.1)
If the basis elements e1 and e2 are chosen as imaginary = e21 e22
= −1, similar to
an ordinary complex unit i, we get Hamilton’s real quaternions. Although these
quantities are most often called Hamilton’s quaternions, actually a few years before
Hamilton’s discovery, in 1840, French mathematician Olinde Rodrigues developed
his parameters of rotation which are equivalent to quaternions [59]-[61].
A real quaternion with four components can be written as
q = q0 e0 + q1 e1 + q2 e2 + q3 e3 (2.2)
where q0 , q1 , q2 , q3 are real numbers. e0 and e1 , e2 , e3 are quaternion basis
elements that obey the following noncommutative multiplication rules
e20 = 1, e21 = e22 = e23 = −1, (2.3a)
e1 e2 = −e2 e1 = e3 , e3 e1 = −e1 e3 = e2 , e2 e3 = −e3 e2 = e1 . (2.3b)
Real quaternions have the positively defined norm as
Nq = qq̄ = q̄q = q02 + q12 + q22 + q32 (2.4)
where q̄ = q0 − q1 e1 − q2 e2 − q3 e3 is conjugate of q.
In the other case in the eq.(2.1), that is e21 = e22 = +1, we obtain the split-
quaternions. The basis elements of the split quaternions do not satisfy the same
relations for Hamilton’s real quaternions given by eq.(2.3):
e20 = e21 = e22 = 1, e23 = −1, (2.5a)
e1 e2 = −e2 e1 = e3 , e3 e1 = −e1 e3 = −e2 , e2 e3 = −e3 e2 = −e1 . (2.5b)
The norm equation, then becomes
Nq = qq̄ = q̄q = q02 − q12 − q22 + q32 . (2.6)
Both real quaternion and split quaternion products are associative but not com-
mutative.
On the other hand, if all of the quaternion basis elements are chosen as
e20 = e21 = e22 = e23 = +1, (2.7)
we obtain the hyperbolic quaternions which was first suggested by Alexander Mac-
Farlane in 1891 [62]. The products of basis elements of the hyperbolic quaternions
satisfy the same relations for real quaternions given in eq.(2.3b).
 Hyperbolic Quaternion Formulation of Electromagnetism 5

However, unlike the real and the split quaternions, the hyperbolic quaternion
product is not associative, (pq)r
= p(qr). MacFarlane’s hyperbolic quaternions
are different from Musés’ hyperbolic quaternions (1, ε1 , ε2 , i) which are isomorphic
to split quaternions. Similarly, the hyperbolic quaternion term which was used by
Gödel [63] refers also to split quaternions.
The norm of the hyperbolic quaternion is
Nq = qq∗ = q∗ q = q02 − q12 − q22 − q32 . (2.8)
An eight dimensional quantity, we called hyperbolic biquaternion, can be
obtained as an extension of the hyperbolic quaternions. The Hyperbolic biquater-
nions are formed by complex combinatination of two hyperbolic quaternions;
Q = q + iq = (q0 + iq0 )e0 + (q1 + iq1 )e1 + (q2 + iq2 )e2 + (q3 + iq3 )e3
= Q0 e0 + Q1 e1 + Q2 e2 + Q3 e3 . (2.9)
Here Q0 , Q1 , Q2 and Q3 are complex numbers. A hyperbolic biquaternion can be
represented in terms of its scalar and vector parts as
P = P0 + P (2.10)
where scalar and vector parts, respectively, are
PS = P0 = P0 e0 , (2.11)
PV = P = P1 e1 + P2 e2 + P3 e3 . (2.12)
The product of two hyperbolic biquaternions P and Q is
PQ = (P0 + P )(Q0 + Q) = P0 Q0 + P0 Q+Q0 P + P · Q + P × Q (2.13)
where the dot and cross indicate, respectively, the usual three-dimensional scalar
and vector products. As in familiar case of the complex numbers, conjugation
is accomplished by changing the sign of the components of the imaginary basis
elements,
Q̄ = Q0 − Q = Q0 e0 − Q1 e1 − Q2 e2 − Q3 e3 . (2.14)
Similarly, the complex conjugate of Q is also defined as
Q∗ = (q0 − iq0 )e0 + (q1 − iq1 )e1 + (q2 − iq2 )e2 + (q3 − iq3 )e3 . (2.15)
The norm of a hyperbolic biquaternion in general is a complex number and given
by
NQ = QQ̄ = Q̄Q = Q20 − Q21 − Q22 − Q23 . (2.16)
The hyperbolic biquaternions with unit norm are called as unit hyperbolic bi-
quaternions.
After this brief summary about algebra of the hyperbolic quaternions, in
next sections we will utilize this useful mathematical structure in the classical and
generalized electromagnetism.
6 S. Demir, M. Tanışlı and N. Candemir AACA

3. Hyperbolic Quaternions and Classical Electromagnetism

We would like to propose this alternative formulation of electromagnetism as an
example of possible applications of the hyperbolic quaternions in physics. The hy-
perbolic biquaternions, which are complex combination of hyperbolic quaternions,
allow us to express up to 8-dimensional physical quantities in a compact and sim-
ple form. The hyperbolic biquaternion representation of the differential operator
can be defined as following
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂

= i e0 + e1 + e2 + e3 = i + ∇ (3.1)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t
which is analogous to eq.(2.9), with q0 = 0, q1 = ∂/∂x, q2 = ∂/∂y, q3 = ∂/∂z and
q0 = ∂/∂t, q1 = q2 = q3 = 0. Its conjugate and complex conjugate, respectively,
are

¯ = i ∂ e0 − ∂ e1 − ∂ e2 − ∂ e3 = i ∂ − ∇, (3.2)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂

∗ = −i e0 + e1 + e2 + e3 = −i + ∇. (3.3)
∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ∂t
In order to reformulate the classical field equations of electromagnetism in
terms of the hyperbolic biquaternions, we will assume that  = µ = c = 1. Then,
Maxwell’s equations can be expressed as the following vectorial notation,
∂H
∇×E =− , ∇.E = ρ, (3.4a)
∂t
∂E
∇×H = J + , ∇.H = 0, (3.4b)
∂t
where
E = E1 i + E2 j + E3 k, H = H1 i + H2 j + H3 k (3.5)
represent, respectively, the electric and magnetic fields of an electrically charged
particle, while ρ is the electric charge source density and J = J1 i + J2 j + J3 k is
the electric current source density.
The magnetic and electric fields can be combined in the following hyperbolic
biquaternion,
F = H + iE = (H1 + iE1 )e1 + (H2 + iE2 )e2 + (H3 + iE3 )e3
= F1 e1 + F2 e2 + F3 e3 (3.6)
where
1 ∗
H= (F + F) (3.7)
2
and
i ∗
E= (F − F). (3.8)
2
In this representation, H and E are regarded as the hyperbolic quaternions in the
vector form:
H = H1 e 1 + H 2 e 2 + H 3 e 3 , E = E1 e1 + E2 e2 + E3 e3 . (3.9)
 Hyperbolic Quaternion Formulation of Electromagnetism 7

The product of F with its complex conjugate F ∗ gives


F F ∗ = [H + iE][H − iE] = E 2 + H 2 + 2i [E × H] . (3.10)
If we define new hyperbolic biquaternion as
1
S = F F ∗ = ε + iS, (3.11)
2
the scalar part of S
1
2 
SS = ε = E + H2 (3.12)
2
gives energy density while its vector part
SV = S = E × H (3.13)
yields the energy-current density, known as the Poynting vector.
A very useful application of the hyperbolic biquaternionic differential opera-
tor occurs in the description of the electromagnetic fields. If we operate
on F ,
then the following vector product like equation can be written
 
∂

F = i + ∇ [H + iE]
∂t
   
∂H ∂E
= i ∇.E + ∇ × E + + − + ∇.H + ∇ × H . (3.14)
∂t ∂t
According to the definitions in eq.(3.4), the imaginary scalar part of (3.14) gives
Gauss’ law, whereas the imaginary vector part is Ampere’s law. Similarly, the real
scalar part yields the condition for the nonexistence of magnetic monopoles, and
real vector part is Faraday’s law of induction. By using the definitions in eq.(3.4),
then we get the hyperbolic biquaternion valued four current:

F = J (3.15)
where
J = iρ + J = iρ + J1 e1 + J2 e2 + J3 e3 . (3.16)
In this notation, J = J1 e1 + J2 e2 + J3 e3 is the hyperbolic quaternion in vector
form which corresponds to electric current source density. Eq.(3.15) is equivalent
to the old quaternion form of Maxwell’s equations [64]. Furthermore, with vector
like elements, the hyperbolic quaternions should give easier and more successful
generalization of the classical electromagnetism than the other non-associative
algebras such as octonions.
We can also describe the electromagnetic fields E and H in terms of a scalar
potential φ and a vector potential A = A1 i + A2 j + A3 k as
∂A
E = −∇φ − , H = ∇×A. (3.17)
∂t
Then, it is possible to introduce a new hyperbolic biquaternion quantity which
expresses the scalar and vector potentials together,
A = iφ − A = iφ − A1 e1 − A2 e2 − A3 e3 . (3.18)
8 S. Demir, M. Tanışlı and N. Candemir AACA

The dependency of E and H on the hyperbolic biquaternion potential A can

be written as a single equation
 
∂

A =
¯ i − ∇ [iφ − A]
∂t
   
∂φ ∂A
= − + ∇.A + ∇ × A + i −∇φ − . (3.19)
∂t ∂t
According to the definitions of electric and magnetic fieds in eq.(3.17), the vector
part of first parenthesis gives the magnetic field H while the second paranthesis
yields the electric field E. At this point, another usefulness of hyperbolic quater-
nion formulation elegantly comes out. As defined in eq.(3.6), the vector part of
this equation is F . Therefeore, eq.(3.19) can be represented in a more compact
and elegant form as  

A
¯
V
= F. (3.20)

4. Massive Classical Electromagnetism

It is well known that Maxwells equations and Maxwell’s Lagrangian are based on
the hypothesis that the photon has zero mass. If there is any deviation from zero,
Maxwell’s Lagrangian need to be modified by adding mass term. This modified
Lagrangian is known as the Maxwell-Proca Lagrangian. In CGS unit system, it is
given by
1 m2γ 1
L = − Fµv F µv + Aµ Aµ − Jµ Aµ (4.1)
16 8π c
where mγ is the inverse of Compton wavelength associated with the photon’s mass,
Jµ is the four-current (ρ, J ), A is the four-vector potential (φ, A) and Fµv =
∂µ Av − ∂v Aµ represents the electromagnetic field tensor [32]. The Euler-Lagrange
equation is expressed as
 
∂L ∂L
− ∂v = 0. (4.2)
∂Aµ ∂(∂v Aµ )
Then, the Proca equation is defined by
4π v
∂µ F µv + m2γ Av = J . (4.3)
c
After eliminating all constants except the photon mass, the Proca-Maxwell equa-
tions can be written in following vectorial formalism:
∇.E = ρ − m2γ φ, (4.4a)
∂H
∇×E =− , (4.4b)
∂t
∇.H = 0, (4.4c)
∂E
∇×H =J + − m2γ A. (4.4d)
∂t
 Hyperbolic Quaternion Formulation of Electromagnetism 9

Similar to eq.(3.14), we can get

 
∂

F = i + ∇ [H + iE]
∂t
   
∂H ∂E
= i ∇.E + ∇ × E + + − + ∇.H + ∇ × H
∂t ∂t

2

2

= i ρ − mγ φ + J − mγ A
= [iρ + J] − m2γ [iφ + A] (4.5)
Using the definitions in (3.16) and (3.18), then the Proca equation can be expressed
as the following hyperbolic quaternion form,

F + m2γ Ā = J. (4.6)
In standard electrodynamics, as it is seen from eq.(3.4), the magnetic cur-
rent is absent. Therefore, in the next section we will investigate the generalized
electromagnetism in the presence of magnetic monopole.

5. Generalized Electromagnetism
The concept of symmetry plays an important role in the electromagnetism. The
exchange of the electric and magnetic fields in eq.(3.4), E −→ H and H −→ −E,
is known as duality transformation. Maxwell’s equations are not symmetric under
the duality transformation. Although so far no experiments have revealed such
particles, the existence of magnetic monopoles is postulated as a consequence of
this concept. The idea of a magnetic monopole was put forward originally by Dirac
in 1931 [65]. Dirac has also shown that the magnetic monopole theory requires the
quantization of electric charge. By the introduction of two potentials, Cabibbo
and Ferrari have first formulated Dirac monopole theory in a manifestly covariant
and symmetrical way in 1962 [66]. Similarly, an algebraic derivation of Dirac’s
quantization condition [67] and the first use of two potentials in a Clifford algebra
approach to describe generalized electrodynamics were given by Rodrigues, Rosa,
Maia and Recami [68, 69].
As pointed by Kühne [70], with the concept of the magnetic monopoles,
the electric and magnetic fields can be described equivalently and the quantum
electrodynamics models of the monopoles are able to explain the quantization of
electric charge. Therefore, modification of Maxwell’s equations is done by putting
in the magnetic charge ρm and the magnetic current density J m :
∇.E = ρe , (5.1a)
∂H
∇ × E = −J m − , (5.1b)
∂t
∇.H = ρm , (5.1c)
∂E
∇ × H = Je + . (5.1d)
∂t
10 S. Demir, M. Tanışlı and N. Candemir AACA

Here, ρe and J e are the charge source density and the current source density due
to electric charge, respectively [71]. With the assumption of existence magnetic
monopoles the expressions of the electric and magnetic fields also need modification
in the following manner:
∂Ae
E = −∇φe − − ∇ × Am , (5.2a)
∂t
∂Am
H = −∇φm − + ∇ × Ae , (5.2b)
∂t
where φe and φm are scalar potentials associated, respectively, with electric and
magnetic charges. Am is the extra magnetic potential obtained due to the rota-
tion of the electric charge in the field of the magnetic monopole, while Ae is the
well-known vector potential responsible for the magnetic field. The symmetrized
Maxwell’s equations satisfy the following duality transformations:
E −→ H ; H −→ −E, (5.3a)
e m m e
J −→ J ; J −→ −J , (5.3b)
ρe −→ ρm ; ρm −→ −ρe , (5.3c)
φe −→ φm ; φm −→ −φe , (5.3d)
Ae −→ Am ; Am −→ −Ae . (5.3e)
If the well-known classical scalar and vectoral product are used, four sym-
metric Maxwell’s equations in eq.(5.1) are reduced to the following two differential
equations:
∇.F = ρm + iρe , (5.4a)
   
∂E ∂H
∇×F = Je + + i −J m −
∂t ∂t
∂F
= −i[J m + iJ e ] − i . (5.4b)
∂t
However, a more compact and simpler representation of eq.(5.4) can be obtained
by using the hyperbolic biquaternion notation as the following
 
∂

F = i + ∇ [H + iE]
∂t
   
∂E ∂H
= − + ∇.H + ∇ × H + i + ∇.E + ∇ × E
∂t ∂t
= [ρm + iρe ] + [J e − iJ m ]. (5.5)
Upon introduction of a new hyperbolic biquaternion quantity, the generalized
source density, is given
Jg = ρg + J g = [ρm + iρe ]e0 + (J1e − iJ1m)e1 + (J1e − iJ1m )e2 + (J1e − iJ1m )e3 (5.6)
where
ρg = ρm + iρe (5.7)
 Hyperbolic Quaternion Formulation of Electromagnetism 11

is the generalized charge density and

J g = J e − iJ m = (J1e − iJ1m )e1 + (J1e − iJ1m )e2 + (J1e − iJ1m )e3 (5.8)
is the generalized current source density. Then the generalized Maxwell equa-
tions (5.1) can be represented in a single equation,

F = Jg . (5.9)
In order to reformulate the generalized electromagnetism in terms of the hy-
perbolic quaternion variable, the generalized potential can be defined in a following
manner:
Ag = φg + Ag (5.10)
= (φm + iφe )e0 + (−Ae1 + iAm
1 )e1 + (−Ae2 + iAm
2 )e2 + (−Ae3 + iAm
3 )e3 ,

Here,
φg = φm + iφe (5.11)
is the generalized scalar potential and
Ag = −Ae + iAm = (−Ae1 + iAm e m e m
1 )e1 + (−A2 + iA2 )e2 + (−A3 + iA3 )e3 (5.12)

is the generalized vector potential. Operating
¯ given by eq.(3.2) on Ag , the

following hyperbolic biquaternion equation can be derived:
 
∂
¯ g =

A i − ∇ [(φm − Ae ) + i(φe + Am )]
∂t
 
∂φe ∂Am
= − + ∇.Ae + ∇ × Ae − ∇φm −
∂t ∂t
 
∂φm ∂Ae
+i − ∇.Am − ∇ × Am − ∇φe − . (5.13)
∂t ∂t
Using the definitions in eq.(5.2), the vectoral parts in the first and the second
parenthesis yield, respectively, the magnetic field H and the electric field E. There-
fore, eq.(5.13) can be written in a more compact and elegant manner:
 
¯ g

A = F. (5.14)
V
This equation is also in the same form with eq.(3.20).

6. Generalized Electromagnetism with Massive Photons

By adding the Proca terms to eq.(5.1), we arrive at the generalized Maxwell equa-
tions in the presence of massive photons and magnetic monopoles in the vector
algebra formalism:
∇.E = ρe − m2γ φ, (6.1a)
∂H
∇ × E = −J m − , (6.1b)
∂t
∇.H = ρm , (6.1c)
12 S. Demir, M. Tanışlı and N. Candemir AACA

∂E
∇ × H = Je + − m2γ A. (6.1d)
∂t
Here, the vector potential (φ, A) is associated with the magnetic charge of the
monopole [32]. So, the following hyperbolic quaternion equation can be easily
written,
 
∂

F = i + ∇ [H + iE]
∂t
   
∂E ∂H
= − + ∇.H + ∇ × H + i + ∇.E + ∇ × E
∂t ∂t



= ρm + J e − m2γ A + i ρe − m2γ φ − J m
= [ρm + iρe ] + [J e − iJ m ] − m2γ [iφ + A] . (6.2a)
Using the definitions (5.7) and (5.8), a more compact form can be obtained:

F = ρg + J g − m2γ Ā. (6.2b)
This expression is the generalized formulation of the fundamental equations of
massive classical electrodynamics in the presence of the magnetic monopoles. Thus,
the Proca equation can be rewritten as the following form,

F + m2γ Ā = Jg . (6.3)

7. Conclusions
In the example of octonions, non-associative algebras have not been used fre-
quently in physical applications as they deserve. The octonions are known as the
widest normed algebra after the algebras of real numbers, complex numbers and
quaternions [11]. Because of eight parameters, it is slightly harder to manipulate
octonions than quaternions.
The hyperbolic quaternions are 4-dimensional and non-associative mathemat-
ical structures. Therefore, we combined two hyperbolic quaternions to express up
to 8-dimensional physical quantities. Although the obtained mathematical struc-
ture is 8-dimensional, the number of basis elements did not increase and remained
as four. Therefore, manipulating of this new hypernumber system is simpler than
the classical octonions, hyperbolic octonions and split octonions. Furthermore, this
paper contributes potential applications of non-associative hypernumber systems
in the description of physical laws. Maxwell’s equations and the relevant field equa-
tions are investigated with new hyperbolic biquaternions and these equations have
been given in compact, simpler and elegant forms. By using hyperbolic number for-
malism, we have combined Maxwell’s classical four vectorial equations in a single
equation (3.15). Furthermore, we also derived the generalized electromagnetism
equations in the existence of the magnetic monopoles and massive photons. For
this aim, we have defined 8-dimensional generalized source density Jg which com-
posed of the generalized charge density ρg = ρm + iρe and the generalized current
 Hyperbolic Quaternion Formulation of Electromagnetism 13

source density J g = J e − iJ m . This structure provided us to express the gener-

alized Maxwell equations in a compact and simple form. After defining another
8-dimensional quantity, the generalized potential Ag , we have obtained similar
equations for the generalized and the classical electromagnetism, as well. In this
work, the hyperbolic quaternions are proposed as a useful tool to formulate the
Proca-Maxwell equations. The obtained equations (4.6) and (6.3) are the same as
usual the Proca-Maxwell equations.
The expressions of hyperbolic biquaternion equations related with the classi-
cal electromagnetism are similar to the complex quaternionic [35]-[46], dual quater-
nionic [49, 50], octonionic [54, 55] and Clifford algebra formulations [25, 26, 32, 71].
But, because of their associative algebraic properties, the complex quaternion
and Clifford algebra formalism give more successful generalization than the non-
associative hyperbolic quaternions. However, the hyperbolic quaternionic formu-
lation can be preferable to the octonionic representations. The advantages of this
formalism can be summarized as following. Firstly, as mentioned before, if the
octonion formalism is used, in this case eight basis elements must be used instead
of four. Therefore, manipulating of this system is easier than the octonions. Sec-
ondly, the hyperbolic biquaternion formalism of the generalized electromagnetism
enhances the dimension of magnetic monopole equations from 4-D to 8-D. These
equations can be represented either in complex 4-dimensional vector space or 8-
dimensional real space. In other words, the foregoing formalism serves two different
ways to formulate generalized electromagnetism. Thirdly, in contrast to the octo-
nionic formalism, because of having useful symbol i, the hyperbolic biquaternions
provide us to separate quantities in different physical nature explicitly. Thus, it
can be seen easily how to relate independent results after a mathematical opera-
tion. For example, after operation
on F , real parts of eqs.(3.15) and (5.9) are
associated with components of magnetic field H while complex parts with symbol
i are related to components of electric field E. Finally, the hyperbolic biquaternion
algebra facilitates to connect the derived equations with vectors. The products of
hyperbolic biquaternions as in eq.(2.13) can be written in terms of scalar and vecto-
rial products. Therefore, correlation between the derived hyperbolic biquaternion
equations and vectors is also very easy.
Furthermore, this paper also contributes the potential applications of hyper-
numbers in the description of physical laws. Hyperbolic biquaternion formulation
of electromagnetism was absent in literature. Consequently, this paper fills a gap
and the hyperbolic biquaternion version of the electromagnetism appears to be a
fruitful choice.

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Acknowledgment
We kindly thank to the anonymous referee for his/her valuable comments.

Süleyman Demir, Murat Tanışlı and Nuray Candemir

Anadolu University
Physics Department
26470 Eskişehir
Turkey
e-mail: sudemir@anadolu.edu.tr
mtanisli@anadolu.edu.tr
ncandemi@anadolu.edu.tr

Received: June 19, 2008.

Accepted: August 10, 2008.