The past decade has seen a renewal in the close ties between mathematics and physics. The Chicago Summer Seminar on Applications of Group Theory in Physics and Mathematical Physics, held in July, 1982, was organized to bring together a broad spectrum of scientists from theoretical physics, mathematical physics, and various branches of pure and applied mathematics in order to promote interaction and an exchange of ideas and results in areas of common interest. This volume contains the papers submitted by speakers at the Seminar. The reader will find several groups of articles varying from the most abstract aspects of mathematics to a concrete phenomenological description of some models applicable to particle physics. The papers have been divided into four categories corresponding to the principal topics covered at the Seminar. This is only a rough division, and some papers overlap two or more of these categories.

An introductory text book for graduates and advanced undergraduates on group representation theory. It emphasizes group theory's role as the mathematical framework for describing symmetry properties of classical and quantum mechanical systems.Familiarity with basic group concepts and techniques is invaluable in the education of a modern-day physicist. This book emphasizes general features and methods which demonstrate the power of the group-theoretical approach in exposing the systematics of physical systems with associated symmetry.Particular attention is given to pedagogy. In developing the theory, clarity in presenting the main ideas and consequences is given the same priority as comprehensiveness and strict rigor. To preserve the integrity of the mathematics, enough technical information is included in the appendices to make the book almost self-contained.A set of problems and solutions has been published in a separate booklet.

This textbook, based on courses taught at Harvard University, is an introduction to group theory and its application to physics. The physical applications are considered as the mathematical theory is developed so that the presentation is unusually cohesive and well-motivated. Many modern topics are dealt with, and there is much discussion of the group SU(n) and its representations. This is of great significance in elementary particle physics. Applications to solid state physics are also considered. This stimulating account will prove to be an essential resource for senior undergraduate students and their teachers.

The Application of Group Theory in Physics is a 17-chapter text based on a course of lectures concerning the principles, concepts, and application of group theory in physics, given at the Gorki University in Kharkov. This text presents first the parts of the theory of representations of finite and continuous groups that are most important in application. Considerable chapters cover the groups of theory of interest in theoretical physics and demonstrate the principles according to which the abstract concepts and the theorems of representation theory are applied in theoretical physics. The remaining chapters provide representations of the rotation group and the Lorentz group. The closing part of this work contains tables of the detailed description of the 230 space groups and for the characters of certain groups. This book is intended primarily for physicists specializing in theoretical physics

The goal of this book is to expose the reader to the indispensable role that mathematics plays in modern physics. Starting with the notion of vector spaces, the first half of the book develops topics as diverse as algebras, classical orthogonal polynomials, Fourier analysis, complex analysis, differential and integral equations, operator theory, and multi-dimensional Green's functions. The second half of the book introduces groups, manifolds, Lie groups and their representations, Clifford algebras and their representations, and fibre bundles and their applications to differential geometry and gauge theories. This second edition is a substantial revision with a complete rewriting of many chapters and the addition of new ones, including chapters on algebras, representation of Clifford algebras, fibre bundles, and gauge theories. The spirit of the first edition, namely the balance between rigour and physical application, has been maintained, as is the abundance of historical notes and worked out examples that demonstrate the "unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" in modern physics.

An introductory text book for graduates and advanced undergraduates on group representation theory. It emphasizes group theory's role as the mathematical framework for describing symmetry properties of classical and quantum mechanical systems. Familiarity with basic group concepts and techniques is invaluable in the education of a modern-day physicist. This book emphasizes general features and methods which demonstrate the power of the group-theoretical approach in exposing the systematics of physical systems with associated symmetry. Particular attention is given to pedagogy. In developing the theory, clarity in presenting the main ideas and consequences is given the same priority as comprehensiveness and strict rigor. To preserve the integrity of the mathematics, enough technical information is included in the appendices to make the book almost self-contained. A set of problems and solutions has been published in a separate booklet. Request Inspection Copy

The Mathematical Study Of Group Theory Was Initiated In The Early Nineteenth Century By Such Mathematicians As Gauss, Cauchy, Abel, Hamilton, Galois, Cayley, And Many Others. However, The Advantages Of Group Theory In Physics Were Not Recognized Till 1925 When It Was Applied For Formal Study Of Theoretical Foundations Of Quantum Mechanics, Atomic Structures And Spectra By, To Name A Few, H A Bethe, E P Wigner, Etc. It Has Now Become Indispensable In Several Branches Of Physics And Physical Chemistry.Dr. Joshi Develops The Mathematics Of Group Theory And Then Goes On To Present Its Applications To Quantum Mechanics, Crystallography, And Solid State Physics. For Proper Comprehension Of Representation Theory, He Has Covered Thoroughly Such Diverse But Relevant Topics As Hilbert Spaces, Function Spaces, Operators, And Direct Sum And Product Of Matrices. He Often Proceeds From The Particular To The General So That The Beginning Student Does Not Have An Impression That Group Theory Is Merely A Branch Of Abstract Mathematics. Various Concepts Have Been Explained Consistently By The Use Of The C4V. Besides, It Contains An Improved And More General Proof Of The Schurs First Lemma And An Interpretation Of The Orthogonality Theorem In The Language Of Vector Spaces (Chapter 3).Throughout The Text The Author Gives Attention To Details And Avoids Complicated Notation. This Is A Valuable Book For Senior Students And Researchers In Physics And Physical Chemistry. A Thorough Understanding Of The Methodology And Results Contained In This Book Will Provide The Reader Sound Theoretical Foundations For Advanced Study Of Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics And Atomic And Particle Physics To Help Students A Flow-Chart Explaining Step By Step The Method Of Determining A Parallel-Running Example Illustrating The Procedure In Full Details Have Been Included. An Appendix On Mappings And Functions Has Also Been Added.

Not only was E.P. Wigner one of the most active creators of 20th century physics, he was also always interested in expressing his opinion in philosophical, political or sociological matters. This volume of his collected works covers a wide selection of his essays.

This new (second) edition contains a general treatment of quantum field theory (QFT) in a simple scalar field setting in addition to the modern material on the applications of differential geometry and topology, group theory, and the theory of linear operators to physics found in the first edition. All these are introduced without assuming more background on the part of the reader than a good foundation in undergraduate (junior) level mathematical physics. The new material entirely focuses on an introduction to quantum field theory, emphasizing the Feynman path (functional integral) approach to QFT and the renormalization group. With respect to the latter, the focus is on an introduction of its application to critical phenomena in statistical physics, following the outgrowth of the Callan-Symanzik equation originally developed in the context of high energy physics, and the seminal contributions of Kenneth Wilson. One of the overriding aims of the new material is also to draw students' attention to the deep connections between high energy physics and statistical mechanics. The unavoidable technical aspects are explained with a minimum of prerequisite material and jargon, and conceptual understanding is always given prominence before mastery of technical details, but the importance of the latter is never underestimated. Derivational details and motivational discussions are provided in abundance in order to ensure continuity of reading, and to avoid trying the readers' patience.