Linear algebra and group theory for physicists
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Linear algebra and group theory for physicists
zbMATH Open document ID: 1092.00003
author: K. N. Srinivasa Rao
published in: Texts and Readings in Physical Sciences
publication date: 2006-03-07T00:00:00Z
review text: Linear algebra and group theory belong to those mathematical disciplines that also find extensive use in theoretical physics. Therefore a solid theoretical foundation in these areas of mathematics, together with their concrete applications to physics, is an indispensible prerequisite for any budding scholar in modern natural science. The book under review, taking this requirement into account, is especially directed to undergraduate and graduate students in physics, who wish to acquire a profound basic knowledge in (multi-)linear algebra and group theory as used (and specifically handled) in this realm. The author, highly experienced and acknowledged teacher in mathematical physics over decades, and well-known by a number of other textbooks in this field, provides here a comprehensive, tailor-made introduction to those aspects of linear algebra and group theory that are of particular importance in particle physics. The first edition of this textbook was published in 1996, and has gained a remarkable popularity since then, mainly due to its exceptionally clear and detailed exposition. As to the contents, the book contains eleven chapters, each of which is subdivided into numerous, sometimes up to twenty sections. Whilst the first four chapters on elementary group theory and linear algebra cover most of the very standard material, though in a physicist's understanding, terminology, and notation, and are basically included to make the book entirely self-contained, the remaining seven chapters form the heart of the text, offering partly highly special topics and applications with a view toward physics. Chapter 1 introduces the elements of group theory up to the homomorphism theorem, with a special emphasis on symmetric groups and other concrete examples. Chapter 2 very briefly discusses other algebraic structures such as rings, division rings, fields, vector spaces, associative algebras, quaternions, Lie rings, and Lie algebras. Chapter 3 is devoted to the basics of lin…
reviewed by: Werner Kleinert
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 00A06
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 15-01
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 20-01
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 00A05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 81R05
zbMATH DE Number: 5009677
zbMATH Keywords: textbook
zbMATH Keywords: group theory
zbMATH Keywords: linear algebra
zbMATH Keywords: associative algebras
zbMATH Keywords: representation theory
zbMATH Keywords: mathematical physics
zbMATH Keywords: Lie groups
MaRDI profile type: Publication
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 5009677