Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Sets and structures; 2. Groups; 3. Vector spaces; 4. Linear operators and matrices; 5. Inner product spaces; 6. Algebras; 7. Tensors; 8. Exterior algebra; 9. Special relativity; 10. Topology; 11. Measure theory and integration; 12. Distributions; 13. Hilbert space; 14. Quantum theory; 15. Differential geometry; 16. Differentiable forms; 17. Integration on manifolds; 18. Connections and curvature; 19. Lie groups and lie algebras.

Promotional Information

This textbook, first published in 2004, provides an introduction to the major mathematical structures used in physics today.

About the Author

PETER SZEKERES received his PhD from King s College London in 1964, in the area of general relativity. He subsequently held research and teaching positions at Cornell University, King s College and the University of Adelaide, where he stayed from 1971 till his recent retirement. Currently he is a Visiting Research Fellow at that institution. He is well known internationally for his research in general relativity and cosmology, and has a good reputation for his teaching and lecturing.

Reviews

'This is a beautifully crafted book. ... Peter Szekeres presents in the most elegant and compelling manner a magnificent overview of how classic areas such as algebra, topology, vector spaces and differential geometry form a consistent and unified language that has enabled us to develop a description of the physical world reaching a truly profound level of comprehension. ... Szekeres's style is clear, thorough and immensely readable. His selection of topics concentrates on areas where a fully developed rigorous mathematical exposition is possible. ... One cannot help but be slightly awed by the beauty and the capability with which seemingly abstract concepts, often developed in the realms of pure mathematics, turn out to be applicable ... I recommend that you get hold of this book for yourself or for your library.' Times Higher Education Supplement 'The superb layout and an index contribute to the excellent overall impression of this book ...'. Zentralblatt MATH ' ... the book may serve as an easily accessible introductory text on a wide range of the standard and more basic topics in mathematics and mathematical physics for the beginner, with an emphasis on differential geometry. a nice feature is that a considerable number of examples and exercises is provided, together with numerous suggestions for further reading: there is also an extensive index which will be particularly helpful for beginners in the subject.' General Relativity and Gravitation Journal