The Geometry of Physics (Paperback)

Theodore Frankel

ISBN 10: 1107602602 / ISBN 13: 9781107602601

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2011

About this Item

Paperback. This book provides a working knowledge of those parts of exterior differential forms, differential geometry, algebraic and differential topology, Lie groups, vector bundles and Chern forms that are essential for a deeper understanding of both classical and modern physics and engineering. Included are discussions of analytical and fluid dynamics, electromagnetism (in flat and curved space), thermodynamics, the Dirac operator and spinors, and gauge fields, including YangMills, the AharonovBohm effect, Berry phase and instanton winding numbers, quarks and quark model for mesons. Before discussing abstract notions of differential geometry, geometric intuition is developed through a rather extensive introduction to the study of surfaces in ordinary space. The book is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students of physics, engineering or mathematics as a course text or for self study. This third edition includes an overview of Cartan's exterior differential forms, which previews many of the geometric concepts developed in the text. Theodore Frankel explains those parts of exterior differential forms, differential geometry, algebraic and differential topology, Lie groups, vector bundles and Chern forms that are essential for a deeper understanding of both classical and modern physics and engineering. It can be used as a course text or for self study. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781107602601

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Geometry of Physics (Paperback)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1107602602
• ISBN 13: 9781107602601
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 3rd Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

This book provides a working knowledge of those parts of exterior differential forms, differential geometry, algebraic and differential topology, Lie groups, vector bundles, and Chern forms that are helpful for a deeper understanding of both classical and modern physics and engineering. It is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students of physics, engineering or mathematics as a course text or for self study.

A main addition introduced in this Third Edition is the inclusion of an Overview, which can be read before starting the text. This appears at the beginning of the text, before Chapter 1. Many of the geometric concepts developed in the text are previewed here and these are illustrated by their applications to a single extended problem in engineering, namely the study of the Cauchy stresses created by a small twist of an elastic cylindrical rod about its axis.

About the Author

Theodore Frankel received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of California, San Diego.