Tensors Differential Forms And Variational Principles

Incisive, self-contained account of tensor analysis and the calculus of exterior differential forms, interaction between the concept of invariance and the calculus of variations. Emphasis is on analytical techniques. Includes problems.

DIVHistorical, theoretical survey with many insights, much hard-to-find material. Hamilton’s principle, Hamilton-Jacobi equation, etc. /div

DIVProceeds from general to special, including chapters on vector analysis on manifolds and integration theory. /div

Concise, readable text ranges from definition of vectors and discussion of algebraic operations on vectors to the concept of tensor and algebraic operations on tensors. Worked-out problems and solutions. 1968 edition.

"To the reader who wishes to obtain a bird's-eye view of the theory of differential forms with applications to other branches of pure mathematics, applied mathematic and physics, I can recommend no better book." — T. J. Willmore, London Mathematical Society Journal. This excellent text introduces the use of exterior differential forms as a powerful tool in the analysis of a variety of mathematical problems in the physical and engineering sciences. Requiring familiarity with several variable calculus and some knowledge of linear algebra and set theory, it is directed primarily to engineers and physical scientists, but it has also been used successfully to introduce modern differential geometry to students in mathematics. Chapter I introduces exterior differential forms and their comparisons with tensors. The next three chapters take up exterior algebra, the exterior derivative and their applications. Chapter V discusses manifolds and integration, and Chapter VI covers applications in Euclidean space. The last three chapters explore applications to differential equations, differential geometry, and group theory. "The book is very readable, indeed, enjoyable — and, although addressed to engineers and scientists, should be not at all inaccessible to or inappropriate for ... first year graduate students and bright undergraduates." — F. E. J. Linton, Wesleyan University, American Mathematical Monthly.

For physicists and applied mathematicians working in the fields of relativity and cosmology, high-energy physics and field theory, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics and mechanics. This book provides an introduction to the concepts and techniques of modern differential theory, particularly Lie groups, Lie forms and differential forms.

This textbook is distinguished from other texts on the subject by the depth of the presentation and the discussion of the calculus of moving surfaces, which is an extension of tensor calculus to deforming manifolds. Designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, this text invites its audience to take a fresh look at previously learned material through the prism of tensor calculus. Once the framework is mastered, the student is introduced to new material which includes differential geometry on manifolds, shape optimization, boundary perturbation and dynamic fluid film equations. The language of tensors, originally championed by Einstein, is as fundamental as the languages of calculus and linear algebra and is one that every technical scientist ought to speak. The tensor technique, invented at the turn of the 20th century, is now considered classical. Yet, as the author shows, it remains remarkably vital and relevant. The author’s skilled lecturing capabilities are evident by the inclusion of insightful examples and a plethora of exercises. A great deal of material is devoted to the geometric fundamentals, the mechanics of change of variables, the proper use of the tensor notation and the discussion of the interplay between algebra and geometry. The early chapters have many words and few equations. The definition of a tensor comes only in Chapter 6 – when the reader is ready for it. While this text maintains a consistent level of rigor, it takes great care to avoid formalizing the subject. The last part of the textbook is devoted to the Calculus of Moving Surfaces. It is the first textbook exposition of this important technique and is one of the gems of this text. A number of exciting applications of the calculus are presented including shape optimization, boundary perturbation of boundary value problems and dynamic fluid film equations developed by the author in recent years. Furthermore, the moving surfaces framework is used to offer new derivations of classical results such as the geodesic equation and the celebrated Gauss-Bonnet theorem.

Fundamental introduction of absolute differential calculus and for those interested in applications of tensor calculus to mathematical physics and engineering. Topics include spaces and tensors; basic operations in Riemannian space, curvature of space, more.