The Geometry of Physics: An Introduction
Cambridge University Press
Edition: 3, 11/3/2011
EAN 9781107602601, ISBN10: 1107602602
Paperback, 748 pages, 24.7 x 17.4 x 4.3 cm
Language: English
This book provides a working knowledge of those parts of exterior differential forms, differential geometry, algebraic and differential topology, Lie groups, vector bundles and Chern forms that are essential for a deeper understanding of both classical and modern physics and engineering. Included are discussions of analytical and fluid dynamics, electromagnetism (in flat and curved space), thermodynamics, the Dirac operator and spinors, and gauge fields, including Yang–Mills, the Aharonov–Bohm effect, Berry phase and instanton winding numbers, quarks and quark model for mesons. Before discussing abstract notions of differential geometry, geometric intuition is developed through a rather extensive introduction to the study of surfaces in ordinary space. The book is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students of physics, engineering or mathematics as a course text or for self study. This third edition includes an overview of Cartan's exterior differential forms, which previews many of the geometric concepts developed in the text.
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the revised printing
Preface to the First Edition
Overview
Part I. Manifolds, Tensors, and Exterior Forms
1. Manifolds and vector fields
2. Tensors and exterior forms
3. Integration of differential forms
4. The Lie derivative
5. The Poincaré Lemma and potentials
6. Holonomic and nonholonomic constraints
Part II. Geometry and Topology
7. R3 and Minkowski space
8. The geometry of surfaces in R3
9. Covariant differentiation and curvature
10. Geodesics
11. Relativity, tensors, and curvature
12. Curvature and topology
Synge's theorem
13. Betti numbers and De Rham's theorem
14. Harmonic forms
Part III. Lie Groups, Bundles, and Chern Forms
15. Lie groups
16. Vector bundles in geometry and physics
17. Fiber bundles, Gauss–Bonnet, and topological quantization
18. Connections and associated bundles
19. The Dirac equation
20. Yang–Mills fields
21. Betti numbers and covering spaces
22. Chern forms and homotopy groups
Appendix A. Forms in continuum mechanics
Appendix B. Harmonic chains and Kirchhoff's circuit laws
Appendix C. Symmetries, quarks, and Meson masses
Appendix D. Representations and hyperelastic bodies
Appendix E. Orbits and Morse–Bott theory in compact Lie groups.
Reviews of previous editions: '… highly readable and enjoyable … The book will make an excellent course text or self-study manual for this interesting subject.' Physics Today
'This book provides a highly detailed account of the intricacies involved in considering geometrical concepts.' Contemporary Physics
'If you're looking for a well-written and well-motivated introduction to differential geometry, this one looks hard to beat.' Fernando Q. Gouvêa, MAA Online
'… a first rate introductory textbook … the style is lively and exposition is clear which make the text easy to read … This book will be beneficial to students and scientists wishing to learn the foundations of differential geometry and algebraic topology as well as geometric formulations of modern physical theories.' Pure and Applied Geophysics
'… this book should not be missing in any physics or mathematics library.' European Mathematical Society
'This book is a great read and has a lot to offer to graduate students in both mathematics and physics. I wish I had had it on my desk when I began studying geometry.' AMS Review
'The layout, the typography and the illustrations of this advanced textbook on modern mathematical methods are all very impressive and so are the topics covered in the text.' Zentralblatt für Mathematik und ihre Grenzgebiete