The geometry of Minkowski spacetime : an introduction to the mathematics of the special theory of relativity
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The geometry of Minkowski spacetime : an introduction to the mathematics of the special theory of relativity
（Applied mathematical sciences, 92）
Springer-Verlag, c1992
- : us
- : gw
Available at / 72 libraries
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Library, Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto University数研
: usNAB||1||292032358
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Hokkaido University, Library, Graduate School of Science, Faculty of Science and School of Science図書
dc20:530.1/n1122070230087
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Note
Bibliographical references: p. [240]-242
Includes index
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
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: us ISBN 9780387978482
Description
This book offers a presentation of the special theory of relativity that is mathematically rigorous and yet spells out in considerable detail the physical significance of the mathematics. It treats, in addition to the usual menu of topics one is accustomed to finding in introductions to special relativity, a wide variety of results of more contemporary origin. These include Zeeman's characterization of the causal automorphisms of Minkowski spacetime, the Penrose theorem on the apparent shape of a relativistically moving sphere, a detailed introduction to the theory of spinors, a Petrov-type classification of electromagnetic fields in both tensor and spinor form, a topology for Minkowski spacetime whose homeomorphism group is essentially the Lorentz group, and a careful discussion of Dirac's famous Scissors Problem and its relation to the notion of a two-valued representation of the Lorentz group. This second edition includes a new chapter on the de Sitter universe which is intended to serve two purposes.
The first is to provide a gentle prologue to the steps one must take to move beyond special relativity and adapt to the presence of gravitational fields that cannot be considered negligible. The second is to understand some of the basic features of a model of the empty universe that differs markedly from Minkowski spacetime, but may be recommended by recent astronomical observations suggesting that the expansion of our own universe is accelerating rather than slowing down. The treatment presumes only a knowledge of linear algebra in the first three chapters, a bit of real analysis in the fourth and, in two appendices, some elementary point-set topology. The first edition of the book received the 1993 CHOICE award for Outstanding Academic Title. Reviews of first edition: "! a valuable contribution to the pedagogical literature which will be enjoyed by all who delight in precise mathematics and physics." (American Mathematical Society, 1993) "Where many physics texts explain physical phenomena by means of mathematical models, here a rigorous and detailed mathematical development is accompanied by precise physical interpretations." (CHOICE, 1993) "! his talent in choosing the most significant results and ordering them within the book can't be denied.
The reading of the book is, really, a pleasure." (Dutch Mathematical Society, 1993)
Table of Contents
Geometrical Structure of M.- Skew-Symmetric Linear Transformations and Electromagnetic Fields.- The Thoery of Spinors.- Prologue and Epilogue: The de Sitter Universe.- References.- Symbols.- Index.
- Volume
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: gw ISBN 9783540978480
Description
It is the intention of this book to provide an introduction to the special theory of relativity that is mathematically rigorous and yet spells out in considerable detail the physical significance of the mathematics. In addition to the material on kinematics, particle dynamics and electronmagnetic fields that one would expect to find in any introduction to special relativity, the book contains careful treatment of many topics not ordinarily discussed at the elementary level. These include the Reversed Triangle Inequality, Zeeman's Theorem characterizing causal automorphisms as compositions of translations, ddilations and orthochronous orthogonal transformations, Penrose's Theorem on the apparent shape of a relativistically moving sphere, the purely algebraic characterization of null and regular electromagnetic fields and an elementary introduction to the theory of spinors. The only prerequisite for the material is a solid course in linear algebra.
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