Research Catalog

Title

Spinors in four-dimensional spaces / Gerardo F. Torres del Castillo.

Author

Torres del Castillo, G. F. (Gerardo Francisco), 1956-

Publication

New York : Springer/Birkhäuser, c2010.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

viii, 177 p.; 24 cm.

Summary

Without using the customary Clifford algebras frequently studied in connection with the representations of orthogonal groups, this book gives an elementary introduction to the two-component spinor formalism for four-dimensional spaces with any signature. Some of the useful applications of four-dimensional spinors, such as Yang-Mills theory, are derived in detail using illustrative examples. Key topics and features: • Uniform treatment of the spinor formalism for four-dimensional spaces of any signature, not only the usual signature (+ + + −) employed in relativity • Examples taken from Riemannian geometry and special or general relativity are discussed in detail, emphasizing the usefulness of the two-component spinor formalism • Exercises in each chapter • The relationship of Clifford algebras and Dirac four-component spinors is established • Applications of the two-component formalism, focusing mainly on general relativity, are presented in the context of actual computations Spinors in Four-Dimensional Spaces is aimed at graduate students and researchers in mathematical and theoretical physics interested in the applications of the two-component spinor formalism in any four-dimensional vector space or Riemannian manifold with a definite or indefinite metric tensor. This systematic and self-contained book is suitable as a seminar text, a reference book, and a self-study guide. Reviews from the author's previous book, 3-D Spinors, Spin-Weighted Functions and their Applications: In summary...the book gathers much of what can be done with 3-D spinors in an easy-to-read, self-contained form designed for applications that will supplement many available spinor treatments. The book...should be appealing to graduate students and researchers in relativity and mathematical physics. --Mathematical Reviews The present book provides an easy-to-read and unconventional presentation of the spinor formalism for three-dimensional spaces with a definite or indefinite metric...Following a nice and descriptive introduction...the final chapter contains some applications of the formalism to general relativity. --Monatshefte für Mathematik.

Series Statement

Progress in mathematical physics ; v. 59

Uniform Title

• Progress in mathematical physics v. 59.
• Progress in Mathematical Physics ; 59

Subjects

• Applications of Mathematics
• Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory
• Mathematical Methods in Physics
• Topological Groups, Lie Groups
• Mathematical physics
• Topological groups
• Mathematics
• Spinor analysis

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-174) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Spinor algebra -- Connection and curvature -- Applications to general relativity -- Further applications -- Bases induced by coordinate systems.

ISBN

• 0817649832
• 9780817649838

OCLC

• 646113634
• SCSB-10289457

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library