Table of Contents

1. A primer on symmetry
2. The elements of group theory
3. The axial rotation group
4. The SO(2) group
5. The SO(3) group
6. Scholium I
7. The SU(3) group
8. SU(2) and electron spin
9. The SO(4) group
10. Scholium II
11. The SO(2,1) group
12. The SO(4,2) group
13. The periodic table
14. SO(4,2) and the rules of atomic chess

About the Author

Pieter Thyssen is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Catholic University of Leuven. He completed his PhD in Theoretical Chemistry in 2013, and is currently working on a second PhD in the Philosophy and Foundations of Physics.

Arnout Ceulemans is Professor of Theoretical Chemistry at the Catholic University of Leuven. His research is devoted to the development and application of group theory and topology to chemistry.

Reviews

"It is a most fascinating story marrying mathematics, physics and chemistry that is a joy to read about, or work in." -- European Mathematical Society Reviews
"Shattered Symmetry is a well-done textbook suitable for science students interested in learning the power and beauty of group theory and its applicationsâvery useful also to experienced researchers looking for a comprehensive overview of the subject, till its latest applications, which, according to the authors, will 'open the gate to new challenges'". -- Contemporary Physics
"The subtitle of this marvellous book could have been: âAll you always wanted to know about Lie groups, but were too afraid to askâ. Most of the time, books dealing with such a subject propose a mathematical treatment that goes well beyond the basic calculus knowledge of physicists and chemists. This one uses simple calculus and takes the reader by the hand through all chapters in a step-by-step way; difficulties are handled gradually in a very
pedagogical presentation." -- Xavier Assfeld, Acta Cryst