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A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Horoto, Langa
Other Authors: Scholtz, Frederik G.
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author Horoto, Langa
author2 Scholtz, Frederik G.
author_browse Horoto, Langa
Scholtz, Frederik G.
author_facet Scholtz, Frederik G.
Horoto, Langa
author_sort Horoto, Langa
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/129043
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:45:06.534Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
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spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/129043 A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory Horoto, Langa Scholtz, Frederik G. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Physics. Kaluza-Klein theories Relativity (Physics) Space and time -- Mathematical models Lagrange equations General relativity (Physics) -- Mathematical models Gauge fields (Physics) -- Measurement UCTD Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Kaluza-Klein theories are classical theories that unify fundamental forces by treating them as general relativity in more than four spacetime dimensions. The existing theories of this nature make predictions which are not consistent with experiments. In this work, we develop a variant of such theories which is free of all their shortcomings. We achieve this through introduction of a postulate regarding matter and curvature of spacetime which we utilize in con- structing the Lagrangian. The resulting Lagrangian is the simplest Lagrangian respecting all the symmetries of 4D gauge theories and naturally incorporates the Higgs mechanism. However; such a Lagrangian is at odds with the current interpretation of General Relativity. We show that it is this inconsistency of gauge theories and interpretation of general relativity that results in the incor- rect value of the cosmological constant computed from quantum theory. From the equations that follow it is clear that - contrary to the popular assumption- the Ricci flat higher dimensional spacetime can not result in the complete the- ory of fundamental forces. We construct the standard model and show that the minimum number of dimensions of spacetime encompassing all fundamental forces is 16 which is again at variance with other higher dimensional theories. We conclude by showing that the theory does not only results in unification of the fundamental forces but also that of bosons and fermions by demonstrating that spin is a consequence of isometries of spacetime in the same manner that charge is. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kaluza-Klein-teorieë is klassieke teorieë wat fundamentele kragte verenig deur ‘n Algemene Relatiwistiese beskrywing in meer as vier ruimte-tyd dimensies. Die bestaande teorieë van hierdie aard maak voorspellings wat nie ooreenstem met eksperimente nie. In hierdie werk ontwikkel ons ’n variant van sulke teo- rieë wat vry is van hierdie tekortkominge. Ons bereik dit deur middel van ’n postulaat rakende die ekwivalensie van materie en kromming van ruimte-tyd wat ons in staat stel om die Lagrange funksie te konstrueer. Hierdie Lagrange funksie is die eenvoudigste funksie wat al die simmetrieë van 4-dimensionele ykteorieë respekteer en sluit die Higgs-meganisme op ‘n natuurlike wyse in. So Lagrange beskrywing is egter in stryd met die huidige interpretasie van Algemene Relatiwiteit. Ons toon aan dat dit hierdie inkonsekwentheid van ykteorieë en die interpretasie van algemene relatiwiteit is wat lei tot die in- korrekte kosmologiese konstante wat deur kwantumteorie bereken word. Uit die vergelykings wat volg is dit duidelik dat - in teenstelling met die algemene aanname - die Ricci plat hoër dimensionele ruimte-tyd nie kan lei tot die volle- dige teorie van fundamentele kragte nie. Ons konstrueer die standaard model en toon aan dat die minimum aantal dimensies van ruimte-tyd wat alle fun- damentele kragte insluit 16 is wat verskil van ander hoër dimensionele teorieë. Ons sluit af deur aan te toon dat die teorie nie net tot vereniging van die fundamentele kragte lei nie, maar ook dié van Bosone en Fermione deur te demonstreer dat spin die gevolg is van isometrieë van ruimte-tyd op dieselfde manier as wat lading is. Masters 2023-11-27T12:03:11Z 2024-01-08T20:19:54Z 2023-11-27T12:03:11Z 2024-01-08T20:19:54Z 2023-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/129043 en_ZA en_ZA Stellenbosch University vii, 109 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Kaluza-Klein theories
Relativity (Physics)
Space and time -- Mathematical models
Lagrange equations
General relativity (Physics) -- Mathematical models
Gauge fields (Physics) -- Measurement
UCTD
Horoto, Langa
A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory
title A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory
title_full A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory
title_fullStr A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory
title_full_unstemmed A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory
title_short A new perspective on Kaluza-Klein theory
title_sort new perspective on kaluza klein theory
topic Kaluza-Klein theories
Relativity (Physics)
Space and time -- Mathematical models
Lagrange equations
General relativity (Physics) -- Mathematical models
Gauge fields (Physics) -- Measurement
UCTD
url https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/129043
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AT horotolanga newperspectiveonkaluzakleintheory