The work is based on two premises: local availability of mathematics to an observer at any space time location, and the observation that number systems, as structures satisfying axioms for the number type being considered, can be scaled by arbitrary, positive real numbers. Local availability leads to the assignment of mathematical universes, Vx, to each point, x, of space time. Vx contains all the mathematics that an observer, Ox, at x, can know. Each Vx contains many types of mathematical systems. These include the different types of numbers (natural numbers, integers, rationals, and real and complex numbers), Hilbert spaces, algebras, and many other types of systems. Space time dependent scaling of number systems is used to define representations, in Vx, of real and complex number systems in Vy. The representations are scaled by a factor ry,x relative to the systems in Vx. For y a neighbor point of x,ry,x is the exponential of the scalar product of a gauge field, A(x), and the vector from x to y. For y distant from x,ry,x is a path integral from x to y. Some consequences of the two premises will be examined. Number scaling has no effect on general comparisons of numbers obtained as computations or as experimental outputs. The effect is limited to mathematical expressions that include space or space time integrals or derivatives. The effect of A on wave packets and canonical momenta in quantum theory, and some properties of A in gauge theories, is described.
Local availability of mathematics and number scaling provide an approach to a coherent theory of physics and mathematics. Local availability of mathematics assigns separate mathematical universes, x, to each space time point, x.. The mathematics available to an observer, Ox, at x is contained in x . Number scaling is based on extending the choice freedom of vector space bases in gauge theories to choice freedom of underlying number systems. Scaling arises in the description, in x, of mathematical systems in y . If ay or ψy is a number or a quantum state in y, then the corresponding number or state in x is ry,xax or ry,xψx. Here ax and ψx are the same number and state in x as ay and ψy are in y . If y = x+ μdx is a neighbor point of x, then the scaling factor is ry,x = exp( A(x) • μdx) where A is the gradient of a scalar field. The effects of scaling and local availability of mathematics on quantum theory show that scaling has two components, external and internal. External scaling is shown above for ay and ψy. Internal scaling occurs in expressions with integrals or derivatives over space time. An example is the replacement of the position expectation value, ∫ψ*(y)yψ(y)dy, by ∫x ry,ψx* x(yx)yxψx(yx)dyx. This is an integral in x . The good agreement between quantum theory and experiment shows that scaling is negligible in a space region, L, in which experiments and calculations can be done, and results compared. L includes the solar system, but the speed of light limits the size of L to a few light years. For observers in L and events outside L, at cosmological distances, scaling is not limited by theory experiment agreement requirements.
This paper is a small step towards the goal of constructing a coherent theory of physic and mathematics together. It is based on two ideas, the localization of mathematical systems in space or space time, and the separation of the concepts of number from number value. The separation of number from number value along with the freedom of choice of number values at different points of space or space time enables the introduction of a space or space time dependent number valuation field. The presence of a location dependent number value field affects theoretical descriptions of many physical and geometric quantities. A simple geometric example is worked out in detail, that of the length of a path. The localization of mathematical systems and the separation of number from number value or meaning both emphasize the role of observers. The separation of number from number value shows the role of observers in that value or meaning are conscious observer related concepts. Nothing, including numbers, has value or meaning to an unconscious observer. The localization of mathematical systems also shows the role of observers in that the mathematics that is potentially available to an observer is that at the same position as is the observer. This represents the mathematical knowledge that can reside in an observers brain. As an observer moves in space or space time, the mathematical knowledge potentially available to the observer is the collection of mathematical systems at the same location as the observer. It is hoped that this work, which was begun in 2010, will lead to a better understanding of the relation between the foundations of mathematics and physics, and the role that observers play in this relation.