Lie Groups Lie Algebras Cohomology And Some Applications In Physics

A self-contained introduction to the cohomology theory of Lie groups and some of its applications in physics.

This book starts with the elementary theory of Lie groups of matrices and arrives at the definition, elementary properties, and first applications of cohomological induction, which is a recently discovered algebraic construction of group representations. Along the way it develops the computational techniques that are so important in handling Lie groups. The book is based on a one-semester course given at the State University of New York, Stony Brook in fall, 1986 to an audience having little or no background in Lie groups but interested in seeing connections among algebra, geometry, and Lie theory. These notes develop what is needed beyond a first graduate course in algebra in order to appreciate cohomological induction and to see its first consequences. Along the way one is able to study homological algebra with a significant application in mind; consequently one sees just what results in that subject are fundamental and what results are minor.

This book starts with the elementary theory of Lie groups of matrices and arrives at the definition, elementary properties, and first applications of cohomological induction, which is a recently discovered algebraic construction of group representations. Along the way it develops the computational techniques that are so important in handling Lie groups. The book is based on a one-semester course given at the State University of New York, Stony Brook in fall, 1986 to an audience having little or no background in Lie groups but interested in seeing connections among algebra, geometry, and Lie theory. These notes develop what is needed beyond a first graduate course in algebra in order to appreciate cohomological induction and to see its first consequences. Along the way one is able to study homological algebra with a significant application in mind; consequently one sees just what results in that subject are fundamental and what results are minor.

During the past two decades representations of noncompact Lie groups and Lie algebras have been studied extensively, and their application to other branches of mathematics and to physical sciences has increased enormously. Several theorems which were proved in the abstract now carry definite mathematical and physical sig nificance. Several physical observations which were not understood before are now explained in terms of models based on new group-theoretical structures such as dy namical groups and Lie supergroups. The workshop was designed to bring together those mathematicians and mathematical physicists who are actively working in this broad spectrum of research and to provide them with the opportunity to present their recent results and to discuss the challenges facing them in the many problems that remain. The objective of the workshop was indeed well achieved. This book contains 31 lectures presented by invited participants attending the NATO Advanced Research Workshop held in San Antonio, Texas, during the week of January 3-8, 1993. The introductory article by the editors provides a brief review of the concepts underlying these lectures (cited by author [*]) and mentions some of their applications. The articles in the book are grouped under the following general headings: Lie groups and Lie algebras, Lie superalgebras and Lie supergroups, and Quantum groups, and are arranged in the order in which they are cited in the introductory article. We are very thankful to Dr.

Polished lecture notes provide a clean and usefully detailed account of the standard elements of the theory of Lie groups and algebras. Following nineteen pages of preparatory material, Part I (seven brief chapters) treats "Lie groups and their Lie algebras"; Part II (seven chapters) treats "complex semi-simple Lie algebras"; Part III (two chapters) treats "real semi-simple Lie algebras". The page design is intimidatingly dense, the exposition very much in the familiar "definition/lemma/proof/theorem/proof/remark" mode, and there are no exercises or bibliography. (NW) Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This text introduces upper-level undergraduates to Lie group theory and physical applications. It further illustrates Lie group theory's role in several fields of physics. 1974 edition. Includes 75 figures and 17 tables, exercises and problems.

This volume, which contains a good balance of research and survey papers, presents at look at some of the current development in this extraordinarily rich and vibrant area.