An Introduction to Twistor Theory (London Mathematical Society Student Texts, Series Number 4) - Softcover

Huggett, S. A.; Tod, K. P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521313619 ISBN 13: 9780521313612

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1985

Synopsis

This book is an introduction to twistor theory and modern geometrical approaches to space-time structure at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level. The choice of material presented has evolved from graduate courses given in London and Oxford and the authors have aimed to retain the informal tone of those lectures. Topics covered include spinor algebra andcalculus; compactified Minkowski space; the geometry of null congruences; the geometry of twistor space; an informal account of sheaf cohomology sufficient to describe the twistor solution for the zero rest-mass equations; the active twistor constructions which solve the self-dual Yang-Mills and Einstein equations; and Penrose's quasi- local-mass construction. Exercises are included in the text and after most chapters. The book will provide graduate students with an introduction to the literature of twistor theory, presupposing some knowledge of special relativity and differential geometry. It would also be of use for a short course on space-time structure independent of twistor theory.

About this title

Book Description

Evolving from graduate lectures given in London and Oxford, this introduction to twistor theory and modern geometrical approaches to space-time structure will provide graduate students with the basics of twistor theory, presupposing some knowledge of special relativity and differenttial geometry.

Review

"...a quick introduction to some of the deeper problems of twistor theory....book is recommended to anyone seeking to get acquainted with the area." American Scientist

"One of the virtues of this new work is that it is concise and to the point, a property that should particularly commend it to hard-pressed graduate students. Of necessity this means that a certain amount of preliminary knowledge is assumed of the reader, but this does not extend beyond the contents of introductory courses in general relativity and difficult geometry. Anyone who has these prerequisites and who is interested in twistor theory could hardly do better than to start with this book." C.J. Isham, Contemporary Physics

"...a concise but nevertheless readable introduction to some of the main strands of twistor theory and would certainly be a suitable introduction for a graduate student with a background in general relativity or differential geometry." J. Vickers, Bulletin of London Mathematical Society

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1985
• ISBN 10: 0521313619
• ISBN 13: 9780521313612
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 155