Harmonic Maps, Loop Groups, and Integrable Systems (London Mathematical Society Student Texts, Series Number 38) (Volume 0) - Softcover

Guest, Martin A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521589320 ISBN 13: 9780521589321

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1997

Synopsis

This is an accessible introduction to some of the fundamental connections among differential geometry, Lie groups, and integrable Hamiltonian systems. The text demonstrates how the theory of loop groups can be used to study harmonic maps. By concentrating on the main ideas and examples, the author leads up to topics of current research. The book is suitable for students who are beginning to study manifolds and Lie groups, and should be of interest both to mathematicians and to theoretical physicists as well.

About this title

Book Description

This is an accessible introduction to some of the fundamental connections between differential geometry, Lie groups, and integrable Hamiltonian systems. It is suitable for students who are beginning to study manifolds and Lie groups, and should be of interest both to mathematicians and to theoretical physicists.The specific goal of the book is to show how the theory of loop groups can be used to study harmonic maps. By concentrating on the main ideas and examples, the book leads up to topics of current research.

Review

"This is an accessible and very interesting text..." Monashefte fur Mathematik

"...a very well written, easily accessible introduction to how loop group techniques are used in the description of harmonic maps from Riemann surfaces to compact Lie groups and compant symmetric spaces...The book presents in a unifying way a very nice introduction to a new part of harmonice map theory, is easily accessible, fun to read and has a modest price. It is an ideal text for a beginning graduate student and any newcomer to the field." Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521589320
• ISBN 13: 9780521589321
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 212