UG Group Theory Notes
Dear physicists,
This is a copy of a question I asked in the maths forum, but has relevance here as I am actually in need of these notes with a view to using group theory to do physics.
Anyhow, copy and pasted:
I have need of a solid and concise resource for what I would say is fairly basic group theory as the notes and slides I have from my professor are riddled with mistakes and otherwise incomprehensible.
Any recommendations? To give you more of an idea about the level, I'm currently a third year physicist at Imperial, somehow on the theoretical stream.
I've tried using wikipedia but I find it is too steep a learning curve given what little I know at this point about groups (which, beyond their defining properties, isn't a great deal).
Things I particularly struggle to understand in the notes I have are the concepts of a semi-direct product group, (the point of) cosets, quotient groups and matrix representation of a group.
Things I think I understand are the definition of a group, how to construct a direct product group, Cayley tables.
Help with any of the above is appreciated! Anything else you think might be worthwhile also appreciated!
This is a copy of a question I asked in the maths forum, but has relevance here as I am actually in need of these notes with a view to using group theory to do physics.
Anyhow, copy and pasted:
I have need of a solid and concise resource for what I would say is fairly basic group theory as the notes and slides I have from my professor are riddled with mistakes and otherwise incomprehensible.
Any recommendations? To give you more of an idea about the level, I'm currently a third year physicist at Imperial, somehow on the theoretical stream.
I've tried using wikipedia but I find it is too steep a learning curve given what little I know at this point about groups (which, beyond their defining properties, isn't a great deal).
Things I particularly struggle to understand in the notes I have are the concepts of a semi-direct product group, (the point of) cosets, quotient groups and matrix representation of a group.
Things I think I understand are the definition of a group, how to construct a direct product group, Cayley tables.
Help with any of the above is appreciated! Anything else you think might be worthwhile also appreciated!
If you could post some of your notes this would help as I can then gauge the level. Anyway, the link I have attached is an excellent book on the connection of group theory with physics. It is aimed at a advanced undergraduate/graduate level. Hopefully this helps a bit.
http://mural.uv.es/rusanra/Lie%20Algebras%20in%20Particle%20Physics%202%C2%AA%20ed%20-%20From%20Isospin%20to%20Unified%20Theories%20%28Georgi,%201999%29.pdf
http://mural.uv.es/rusanra/Lie%20Algebras%20in%20Particle%20Physics%202%C2%AA%20ed%20-%20From%20Isospin%20to%20Unified%20Theories%20%28Georgi,%201999%29.pdf
Original post by WishingChaff
If you could post some of your notes this would help as I can then gauge the level. Anyway, the link I have attached is an excellent book on the connection of group theory with physics. It is aimed at a advanced undergraduate/graduate level. Hopefully this helps a bit.
http://mural.uv.es/rusanra/Lie%20Algebras%20in%20Particle%20Physics%202%C2%AA%20ed%20-%20From%20Isospin%20to%20Unified%20Theories%20%28Georgi,%201999%29.pdf
http://mural.uv.es/rusanra/Lie%20Algebras%20in%20Particle%20Physics%202%C2%AA%20ed%20-%20From%20Isospin%20to%20Unified%20Theories%20%28Georgi,%201999%29.pdf
That looks brilliant, thank you.
I've attached the course syllabus if that is any help (the notes are just slides with proofs on, they're not very insightful at all, which is why I think I'm struggling to understand what I'm actually doing/seeing).
Looks like a very interesting course. I notice the book I sent is recommended to you anyway. There is a lesser known book that has lots of examples throughout tied to physics.
Here is a link to the book on amazon. (You may be able to find a copy online if you look)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Tensors-Group-Theory-Physicists/dp/0817647147
A great book to read that discusses symmetries is the following.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Noethers-Wonderful-Theorem-Dwight-Neuenschwander/dp/0801896940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425145114&sr=1-1&keywords=noethers+theorem
Will send you a private message with some notes in. Do you know how to attach a pdf in a private message?
Here is a link to the book on amazon. (You may be able to find a copy online if you look)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introduction-Tensors-Group-Theory-Physicists/dp/0817647147
A great book to read that discusses symmetries is the following.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Noethers-Wonderful-Theorem-Dwight-Neuenschwander/dp/0801896940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425145114&sr=1-1&keywords=noethers+theorem
Will send you a private message with some notes in. Do you know how to attach a pdf in a private message?
Original post by Astronomical
That looks brilliant, thank you.
I've attached the course syllabus if that is any help (the notes are just slides with proofs on, they're not very insightful at all, which is why I think I'm struggling to understand what I'm actually doing/seeing).
I've attached the course syllabus if that is any help (the notes are just slides with proofs on, they're not very insightful at all, which is why I think I'm struggling to understand what I'm actually doing/seeing).
(edited 9 years ago)
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