Geometric Methods In Mathematical Physics

In recent years the methods of modern differential geometry have become of considerable importance in theoretical physics and have found application in relativity and cosmology, high-energy physics and field theory, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and mechanics. This textbook provides an introduction to these methods - in particular Lie derivatives, Lie groups and differential forms - and covers their extensive applications to theoretical physics. The reader is assumed to have some familiarity with advanced calculus, linear algebra and a little elementary operator theory. The advanced physics undergraduate should therefore find the presentation quite accessible. This account will prove valuable for those with backgrounds in physics and applied mathematics who desire an introduction to the subject. Having studied the book, the reader will be able to comprehend research papers that use this mathematics and follow more advanced pure-mathematical expositions.

A monograph on some of the ways geometry and analysis can be used in mathematical problems of physical interest. The roles of symmetry, bifurcation and Hamiltonian systems in diverse applications are explored.

The following pages represent the Proceedings of the XI Annual Conference on Differential Geometric Methods in Mathematical Physics which was held in Jerusalem from August 5 through 11, 1982 under the auspices of the Tel Aviv University and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. In addition to the above mentioned institutions, partial financial support was received form the Bank Leumi Lelsrael Fund for International Conferences, the American Friends of the Tel Aviv Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the Mathematics and Physics Branch of the United States Army Research, Development and Standardization Group (UK). We are grateful to all of these organizations for their financial support. GAUGE THEORY AND NUCLEAR STRUCTURE K. Bleuler Institut fur Theoretische Kernphysik der Universitat Bonn NuBallee 14-16, D-5300 Bonn, West-Germany I. INTRODUCTION The recent, most impressive verification of the Salam­ -Weinberg theory of electro-weak interactions through the experimental discovery of the so-called inter­ mediate bosons represents, at the same time, a success of the general gauge theoretical viewpoints in modern particle physics (quantum chromodynamics, 0CD). This theory leads to a deeper and by far more natural inter­ pretation of particle interaction and induces, as we shall see, also a profound change in our understanding of nuclear structure.

After several decades of reduced contact, the interaction between physicists and mathematicians in the front-line research of both fields recently became deep and fruit ful again. Many of the leading specialists of both fields became involved in this devel opment. This process even led to the discovery of previously unsuspected connections between various subfields of physics and mathematics. In mathematics this concerns in particular knots von Neumann algebras, Kac-Moody algebras, integrable non-linear partial differential equations, and differential geometry in low dimensions, most im portantly in three and four dimensional spaces. In physics it concerns gravity, string theory, integrable classical and quantum field theories, solitons and the statistical me chanics of surfaces. New discoveries in these fields are made at a rapid pace. This conference brought together active researchers in these areas, reporting their results and discussing with other participants to further develop thoughts in future new directions. The conference was attended by SO participants from 15 nations. These proceedings document the program and the talks at the conference. This conference was preceded by a two-week summer school. Ten lecturers gave extended lectures on related topics. The proceedings of the school will also be published in the NATO-AS[ volume by Plenum. The Editors vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to thank the many people who have made the conference a success. Furthermore, ·we appreciate the excellent talks. The active participation of everyone present made the conference lively and stimulating. All of this made our efforts worth while.

For too many students, mathematics consists of facts in a vacuum, to be memorized because the instructor says so, and to be forgotten when the course of study is completed. In this all-too-common scenario, young learners often miss the chance to develop skills-specifically, reasoning skills-that can serve them for a lifetime. The elegant pages of Teaching Mathematical Reasoning in Secondary School Classrooms propose a more positive solution by presenting a reasoning- and discussion-based approach to teaching mathematics, emphasizing the connections between ideas, or why math works. The teachers whose work forms the basis of the book create a powerful record of methods, interactions, and decisions (including dealing with challenges and impasses) involving this elusive topic. And because this approach shifts the locus of authority from the instructor to mathematics itself, students gain a system of knowledge that they can apply not only to discrete tasks relating to numbers, but also to the larger world of people and the humanities. A sampling of the topics covered: Whole-class discussion methods for teaching mathematics reasoning. Learning mathematical reasoning through tasks. Teaching mathematics using the five strands. Classroom strategies for promoting mathematical reasoning. Maximizing student contributions in the classroom. Overcoming student resistance to mathematical conversations. Teaching Mathematical Reasoning in Secondary School Classrooms makes a wealth of cutting-edge strategies available to mathematics teachers and teacher educators. This book is an invaluable resource for researchers in mathematics and curriculum reform and of great interest to teacher educators and teachers.

The focal topic of the 14th International Conference on Differential Geometric Methods was that of mathematical problems in classical field theory and the emphasis of the resulting proceedings volume is on superfield theory and related topics, and classical and quantized fields.

Proceedings of the Kaciveli Summer School, Crimea, Ukraine, 1993