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Overview
Illustrating the fascinating interplay between physics and mathematics, Groups, Representations and Physics, Second Edition provides a solid foundation in the theory of groups, particularly group representations. For this new, fully revised edition, the author has enhanced the book's usefulness and widened its appeal by adding a chapter on the Cartan-Dynkin treatment of Lie algebras. This treatment, a generalization of the method of raising and lowering operators used for the rotation group, leads to a systematic classification of Lie algebras and enables one to enumerate and construct their irreducible representations. Taking an approach that allows physics students to recognize the power and elegance of the abstract, axiomatic method, the book focuses on chapters that develop the formalism, followed by chapters that deal with the physical applications. It also illustrates formal mathematical definitions and proofs with numerous concrete examples.Editorials
Aslib Book List
This work seems to cover virtually all the problems of physics for which group theory is helpful...strikes a good balance between mathematics and physical applications and should be valuable to researchers. It is well printed and produced and the paperback edition is good value.Australian Physicist
The author has admirably fulfilled his aims. The material is tightly packed and no phrase is wasted...I liked the succinct way in which the subject was developed in this new book. It provides a firm foundation for further reading, especially those parts which the author 'squashed down' in the interest of brevity, and is a welcome addition to my bookshelf.most group theorists would be astonished by what happens to their pets when a physicists gets his hands on them, as in Groups, Representations and Physics by H F Jones. I'm not suggesting we teach quantum field theory to every algebraist, but they could learn an awful lot from the group-theoretic treatment of the vibrational modes of the water molecule.
A course text for third-year physics students with a solid mathematical background, but also useful as a first-year graduate text in solid state, atomic, or elementary particle physics. Assumes a reasonable acquaintance with quantum mechanics, and shifts at some point from wave mechanical formulation to Dirac notation, a brief account of which is appended. The 1990 edition (corrected in 1994) has been expanded with a new chapter on the Cartan-Weyl-Dynkin approach to Lie algebras. The brief bibliography points out next more sophisticated treatments. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Book Details
Published
January 1, 1990
Publisher
Bristol, England ; A. Hilger, c1990.
Pages
304
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780852740293