Lie groups, Lie algebras, and some of their applications

Includes index

Includes bibliographical references

1. Introductory Concepts
2. The Classical Groups
3. Continuous Groups — Lie Groups
4. Lie Groups and Lie Algebras
5. Some Simple Examples
6. Classical Algebras
7. Lie Algebras and Root Spaces
8. Root Spaces and Dynkin Diagrams
9. Real Forms
10. Contractions and Expansions

Lie group theory plays an increasingly important role in modern physical theories. Many of its calculations remain fundamentally unchanged from one field of physics to another, altering only in terms of symbols and the language. Using the theory of Lie groups as a unifying vehicle, concepts and results from several fields of physics can be expressed in an extremely economical way. With rigor and clarity, this text introduces upper-level undergraduate students to Lie group theory and its physical applications.