Applications of the Theory of Groups in Mechanics and Physics / Edition 1

by Petre P. Teodorescu, Nicolae-A.P. Nicorovici

Overview

The notion of group is fundamental in our days, not only in mathematics, but also in classical mechanics, electromagnetism, theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, theory of elementary particles, etc. This notion has developed during a century and this development is connected with the names of great mathematicians as E. Galois, A. L. Cauchy, C. F. Gauss, W. R. Hamilton, C. Jordan, S. Lie, E. Cartan, H. Weyl, E. Wigner, and of many others. In mathematics, as in other sciences, the simple and fertile ideas make their way with difficulty and slowly; however, this long history would have been of a minor interest, had the notion of group remained connected only with rather restricted domains of mathematics, those in which it occurred at the beginning. But at present, groups have invaded almost all mathematical disciplines, mechanics, the largest part of physics, of chemistry, etc. We may say, without exaggeration, that this is the most important idea that occurred in mathematics since the invention of infinitesimal calculus; indeed, the notion of group expresses, in a precise and operational form, the vague and universal ideas of regularity and symmetry. The notion of group led to a profound understanding of the character of the laws which govern natural phenomena, permitting to formulate new laws, correcting certain inadequate formulations and providing unitary and non­ contradictory formulations for the investigated phenomena.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402020469
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	04/30/2004
Series:	Fundamental Theories of Physics , #140
Edition description:	2004
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	0.00(w) x 0.00(h) x 0.04(d)

Table of Contents

1. Elements of General Theory of Groups.- 1 Basic notions.- 2 Topological groups.- 3 Particular Abelian groups.- 2. Lie Groups.- 1 The SO(3) group.- 2 The SU(2) group.- 3 The SU(3) and GL(n,—) groups.- 4 The Lorentz group.- 3. Symmetry Groups of Differential Equations.- 1 Differential operators.- 2 Invariants and differential equations.- 3 Symmetry groups of certain differential equations.- 4 Methods of study of certain differential equations.- 4. Applications in Mechanics.- 1 Classical models of mechanics.- 2 Symmetry laws and applications.- 3 Space-time symmetries. Conservation laws.- 4 Applications in the theory of vibrations.- 5. Applications in the Theory of Relativity and Theory of Classical Fields.- 1 Theory of Special Relativity.- 2 Theory of electromagnetic field.- 3 Theory of gravitational field.- 6. Applications in Quantum Mechanics and Physics of Elementary Particles.- 1 Non-relativistic quantum mechanics.- 2 Internal symmetries of elementary particles.- 3 Relativistic quantum mechanics.- References.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"This book will be of interest for those readers aiming to have a view of the applications of group theory to several important questions in classical and quantum mechanics, as well as in the theory of differential equations. … The amount of topics treated is ample, and each one is developed in detail … so the book will be useful also for students. … The book contains a number of cross references between material in different chapters, making the text clearer and self-consistent." (Arturo Ramos, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2006 h)

"In the book a many of applications of the group theory to the solution and systematization of problems in the theory of differential equations, classical mechanics, relativity theory, quantum mechanics and elementary particle physics are presented. ... The book provides a simple introduction to the subject and requires as preliminaries only the mathematical knowledge acquired by a student in a technical university." (A. A. Bogush, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1072 (23), 2005)

From the Publisher