Groups, Representations and Physics hbk, - Tapa dura

The representation theory of groups is an extremely useful mathematical framework to use when considering the action of symmetry transformations on quantum systems. This book gives you a mathematically rigorous explanation of the theory, but also includes many examples and illustrations of its uses, especially in solid state and molecular physics. Also included is a chapter on gauge groups. There are problems at the end of each chapter; solutions are given.
Aimed primarily at final-year physics undergraduates with a good mathematical background, but also useful to first year postgraduates in solid state, atomic or elementary particle physics.

Aimed primarily at third-year physics undergraduates, and stressing the interplay between mathematics and physics, this text uses examples and illustrations to explain various mathematical structures and theorems, including the theory of vector spaces and the representation theory of groups. The first few chapters of the book provide a systematic development of the theory of finite groups and their representations, followed by their applications to various physical systems. The theory of the rotation groups SO(2) and SO(3) are then developed, along with the SU(N), Lorentz and Poincare groups. The text concludes with a chapter on gauge groups. Although focusing on undergraduate study, the text should also be of benefit to first-year postgraduates in solid-state, atomic or elementary particle physics. A reasonable acquaintance with quantum mechanics is assumed.