Devoted to the theory of Lie algebras and algebraic groups, this book includes a large amount of commutative algebra and algebraic geometry so as to make it as self-contained as possible. The aim of the book is to assemble in a single volume the algebraic aspects of the theory, so as to present the foundations of the theory in characteristic zero. Detailed proofs are included, and some recent results are discussed in the final chapters.
A branch of ordered algebraic structures has grown, motivated by $K$-theoretic applications and mainly concerned with partially ordered abelian groups satisfying the Riesz interpolation property. This monograph is the first source in which the algebraic and analytic aspects of these interpolation groups have been integrated into a coherent framework for general reference. The author provides a solid foundation in the structure theory of interpolation groups and dimension groups (directed unperforated interpolation groups), with applications to ordered $K$-theory particularly in mind. Although interpolation groups are defined as purely algebraic structures, their development has been strongly influenced by functional analysis. This cross-cultural development has left interpolation groups somewhat estranged from both the algebraists, who may feel intimidated by compact convex sets, and the functional analysts, who may feel handicapped by the lack of scalars. This book, requiring only standard first-year graduate courses in algebra and functional analysis, aims to make the subject accessible to readers from both disciplines.High points of the development include the following: characterization of dimension groups as direct limits of finite products of copies of the integers; the double-dual representation of an interpolation group with order-unit via affine continuous real-valued functions on its state space; the structure of dimension groups complete with respect to the order-unit norm, as well as monotone sigma-complete dimension groups and dimension groups with countably infinite interpolation; and an introduction to the problem of classifying extensions of one dimension group by another. The book also includes a development of portions of the theory of compact convex sets and Choquet simplices, and an expository discussion of various applications of interpolation group theory to rings and $C DEGREES*$-algebras via ordered $K_0$. A discussion of some open problems in interpolation groups and dimension groups concludes the book.Of interest, of course, to researchers in ordered algebraic structures, the book will also be a valuable source for researchers seeking a background in interpolation groups and dimension groups for applications to such subjects as rings, operator algebras, topological Markov chains, positive polynomials, compact group actions, or other areas where ordered Grothendieck groups might be useful. This is a reprint of the 1986 original. (SUR
Describing many of the most important aspects of Lie group theory, this book presents the subject in a 'hands on' way. Rather than concentrating on theorems and proofs, the book shows the applications of the material to physical sciences and applied mathematics. Many examples of Lie groups and Lie algebras are given throughout the text. The relation between Lie group theory and algorithms for solving ordinary differential equations is presented and shown to be analogous to the relation between Galois groups and algorithms for solving polynomial equations. Other chapters are devoted to differential geometry, relativity, electrodynamics, and the hydrogen atom. Problems are given at the end of each chapter so readers can monitor their understanding of the materials. This is a fascinating introduction to Lie groups for graduate and undergraduate students in physics, mathematics and electrical engineering, as well as researchers in these fields.
The book gives a detailed account of the development of the theory of algebraic equations, from its origins in ancient times to its completion by Galois in the nineteenth century. The appropriate parts of works by Cardano, Lagrange, Vandermonde, Gauss, Abel, and Galois are reviewed and placed in their historical perspective, with the aim of conveying to the reader a sense of the way in which the theory of algebraic equations has evolved and has led to such basic mathematical notions as 'group' and 'field'. A brief discussion of the fundamental theorems of modern Galois theory and complete proofs of the quoted results are provided, and the material is organized in such a way that the more technical details can be skipped by readers who are interested primarily in a broad survey of the theory.In this second edition, the exposition has been improved throughout and the chapter on Galois has been entirely rewritten to better reflect Galois' highly innovative contributions. The text now follows more closely Galois' memoir, resorting as sparsely as possible to anachronistic modern notions such as field extensions. The emerging picture is a surprisingly elementary approach to the solvability of equations by radicals, and yet is unexpectedly close to some of the most recent methods of Galois theory.
This book is based on the notes of the authors' seminar on algebraic and Lie groups held at the Department of Mechanics and Mathematics of Moscow University in 1967/68. Our guiding idea was to present in the most economic way the theory of semisimple Lie groups on the basis of the theory of algebraic groups. Our main sources were A. Borel's paper [34], C. ChevalIey's seminar [14], seminar "Sophus Lie" [15] and monographs by C. Chevalley [4], N. Jacobson [9] and J-P. Serre [16, 17]. In preparing this book we have completely rearranged these notes and added two new chapters: "Lie groups" and "Real semisimple Lie groups". Several traditional topics of Lie algebra theory, however, are left entirely disregarded, e.g. universal enveloping algebras, characters of linear representations and (co)homology of Lie algebras. A distinctive feature of this book is that almost all the material is presented as a sequence of problems, as it had been in the first draft of the seminar's notes. We believe that solving these problems may help the reader to feel the seminar's atmosphere and master the theory. Nevertheless, all the non-trivial ideas, and sometimes solutions, are contained in hints given at the end of each section. The proofs of certain theorems, which we consider more difficult, are given directly in the main text. The book also contains exercises, the majority of which are an essential complement to the main contents.
In this new textbook, acclaimed author John Stillwell presents a lucid introduction to Lie theory suitable for junior and senior level undergraduates. In order to achieve this, he focuses on the so-called "classical groups'' that capture the symmetries of real, complex, and quaternion spaces. These symmetry groups may be represented by matrices, which allows them to be studied by elementary methods from calculus and linear algebra. This naive approach to Lie theory is originally due to von Neumann, and it is now possible to streamline it by using standard results of undergraduate mathematics. To compensate for the limitations of the naive approach, end of chapter discussions introduce important results beyond those proved in the book, as part of an informal sketch of Lie theory and its history. John Stillwell is Professor of Mathematics at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of several highly regarded books published by Springer, including The Four Pillars of Geometry (2005), Elements of Number Theory (2003), Mathematics and Its History (Second Edition, 2002), Numbers and Geometry (1998) and Elements of Algebra (1994).
The papers contained in this volume constitute the proceedings of the Special Session on Ordered Algebraic Structures which was held at the 1982 annual meeting of the American Mathematical Society in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Special Session and this volume honor Paul Conrad, whose work on the subject is noted for its depth and originality. These papers address many areas within the subject of ordered algebraic structures, including varieties, free algebras, lattice ordered groups, subgroups of ordered groups, semigroups, ordered rings, and topological properties of these structures.
This book is devoted to explaining a wide range of applications of con tinuous symmetry groups to physically important systems of differential equations. Emphasis is placed on significant applications of group-theoretic methods, organized so that the applied reader can readily learn the basic computational techniques required for genuine physical problems. The first chapter collects together (but does not prove) those aspects of Lie group theory which are of importance to differential equations. Applications covered in the body of the book include calculation of symmetry groups of differential equations, integration of ordinary differential equations, including special techniques for Euler-Lagrange equations or Hamiltonian systems, differential invariants and construction of equations with pre scribed symmetry groups, group-invariant solutions of partial differential equations, dimensional analysis, and the connections between conservation laws and symmetry groups. Generalizations of the basic symmetry group concept, and applications to conservation laws, integrability conditions, completely integrable systems and soliton equations, and bi-Hamiltonian systems are covered in detail. The exposition is reasonably self-contained, and supplemented by numerous examples of direct physical importance, chosen from classical mechanics, fluid mechanics, elasticity and other applied areas.
