Abstract
The title of this talk has been strongly suggested by the starting paragraph in the introduction to the book Analysis, Manifolds and Physics [3] that we quote here in his entirety:
“All too often in physics familiarity is a substitute for understanding, and the beginner who lacks familiarity wonders which is at fault: physics or himself. Physical mathematics provides well defined concepts and techniques for the study of physical systems. It is more than mathematical techniques used in the solution of problems which have already been formulated; it helps in the very formulation of the laws of physical systems and brings a better understanding of physics. Thus physical mathematics includes mathematics which gives promise of being useful in our analysis of physical phenomena. Attempts to use mathematics for this purpose may fail because the mathematical tool is too crude; physics may indicate along which lines it should be sharpened. In fact, the analysis of physical systems has spurred many a new mathematical development”.
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References
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Parra, J.M. (1998). Teaching Clifford Algebra as Physical Mathematics. In: Dietrich, V., Habetha, K., Jank, G. (eds) Clifford Algebras and Their Application in Mathematical Physics. Fundamental Theories of Physics, vol 94. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5036-1_24
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