Aspects Behind the Concept of Dimension in Various Fields

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the evolution of the concept of dimension, particularly through the works of Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer and Tatjana Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa in the early 20th century. Brouwer's 1913 paper, "On the Natural Concept of Dimension," redefined mathematical dimensions, while Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa's 1916 work, "The Concept of Dimension and the Analytical Construction of Physical Equations," explored the physical implications of dimensions. The conversation highlights the dependence of dimensionality on the system of units, particularly in physics, where dimensions such as time, length, mass, and temperature are discussed.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Euclidean geometry and its limitations
  • Familiarity with topology, particularly Brouwer's contributions
  • Knowledge of statistical mechanics as related to Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa's work
  • Basic grasp of dimensional analysis in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of Brouwer's topology on modern mathematics
  • Study the role of dimensions in statistical mechanics and Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa's contributions
  • Explore various systems of units and their impact on dimensional analysis
  • Investigate the concept of infinite-dimensional spaces in mathematics
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Mathematicians, physicists, and students of science interested in the historical and theoretical aspects of dimensionality across various fields.

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Abstract
It took until the last century for physicists and mathematicians in the Netherlands to question the Euclidean concept of dimension as length, width, and height. Luitzen Egbertus Jan Brouwer published a ground-breaking paper On the Natural Concept of Dimension (Amsterdam, [2]) in 1913 about the mathematical definition of dimension picking up a thought from Poincaré, and Tatjana Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa published a paper The Concept of Dimension and the Analytical Construction of Physical Equations (Leiden, [3]) in 1916 about the physical meaning of dimensions in which she approached the problem by logical methods. Brouwer worked in the new field of topology, and Ehrenfest-Afanassjewa in statistical mechanics and for Klein’s Encyclopedia of Mathematical Sciences (1898-1935). This article is meant to summarize the many aspects behind the concept of dimension in various fields.
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Dimensions in physics are time, length, mass, current, and to cover the borders, too, temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity.

This is highly dependent on your system of units. It is true in your typical SI units, but many unit systems, such as any set of natural units, time and length have the same physical dimension as inverse energy or mass.
 
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iven Brouwer was a finitist, I assume he did not buy into function spaces or any other infinite-dimensional spaces?
 

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