An Introduction to Groups and their Matrices for Science Students

Robert Kolenkow

doi:10.1017/9781108923217

Group theory, originating from algebraic structures in mathematics, has long been a powerful tool in many areas of physics, chemistry and other applied sciences, but it has seldom been covered in a manner accessible to undergraduates. This book from renowned educator Robert Kolenkow introduces group theory and its applications starting with simple ideas of symmetry, through quantum numbers, and working up to particle physics. It features clear explanations, accompanying problems and exercises, and numerous worked examples from experimental research in the physical sciences. Beginning with key concepts and necessary theorems, topics are introduced systematically including: molecular vibrations and lattice symmetries; matrix mechanics; wave mechanics; rotation and quantum angular momentum; atomic structure; and finally particle physics. This comprehensive primer on group theory is ideal for advanced undergraduate topics courses, reading groups, or self-study, and it will help prepare graduate students for higher-level courses.

- Aa Reduce text
- Aa Enlarge text

View selected items
Save to my bookmarks
Export citations
Download PDF (zip)
Save to Kindle
Save to Dropbox
Save to Google Drive
Save content to
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to .

To save content items to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Please be advised that item(s) you selected are not available.
You are about to save
Your Kindle email address

Please provide your Kindle email.

@free.kindle.com @kindle.com (service fees apply)

By using this service, you agree that you will only keep content for personal use, and will not openly distribute them via Dropbox, Google Drive or other file sharing services

Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Dedication
pp v-vi
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Contents
pp vii-x
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Preface
pp xi-xiv
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

1 - Fundamental Concepts
pp 1-25
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

2 - Matrix Representations of Discrete Groups
pp 26-58
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

3 - Molecular Vibrations
pp 59-86
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

4 - Crystalline Solids
pp 87-120
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

5 - Bohr’s Quantum Theory and Matrix Mechanics
pp 121-139
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

6 - Wave Mechanics, Measurement, and Entanglement
pp 140-167
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

7 - Rotation
pp 168-188
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

8 - Quantum Angular Momentum
pp 189-225
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

9 - The Structure of Atoms
pp 226-257
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

10 - Particle Physics
pp 258-292
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix A - Character Tables from Class Sums
pp 293-295
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix B - Born–Jordan Proof of the Quantization Condition
pp 296-298
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix C - Weyl Derivation of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
pp 299-301
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix D - EPR Thought Experiment
pp 302-303
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix E - Photon Correlation Experiment
pp 304-305
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix F - Tables of Some 3-j Coefficients
pp 306-308
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Appendix G - Proof of the Wigner–Eckart Theorem
pp 309-311
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Index
pp 312-324
- - Get access
    
    Check if you have access via personal or institutional login
    
    Log in Register
- Export citation

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Total number of HTML views: 0

Total number of PDF views: 0 *

Loading metrics...

Total views: 0 *

Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Usage data cannot currently be displayed.

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.

An Introduction to Groups and their Matrices for Science Students

This Book has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref.

Book description

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Dedication
pp v-vi

Contents
pp vii-x

Preface
pp xi-xiv

1 - Fundamental Concepts
pp 1-25

2 - Matrix Representations of Discrete Groups
pp 26-58

3 - Molecular Vibrations
pp 59-86

4 - Crystalline Solids
pp 87-120

5 - Bohr’s Quantum Theory and Matrix Mechanics
pp 121-139

6 - Wave Mechanics, Measurement, and Entanglement
pp 140-167

7 - Rotation
pp 168-188

8 - Quantum Angular Momentum
pp 189-225

9 - The Structure of Atoms
pp 226-257

10 - Particle Physics
pp 258-292

Appendix A - Character Tables from Class Sums
pp 293-295

Appendix B - Born–Jordan Proof of the Quantization Condition
pp 296-298

Appendix C - Weyl Derivation of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
pp 299-301

Appendix D - EPR Thought Experiment
pp 302-303

Appendix E - Photon Correlation Experiment
pp 304-305

Appendix F - Tables of Some 3-j Coefficients
pp 306-308

Appendix G - Proof of the Wigner–Eckart Theorem
pp 309-311

Index
pp 312-324

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Book summary page views

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

Accessibility Information

An Introduction to Groups and their Matrices for Science Students

Book description

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Save Search

Contents

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Book summary page views

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

Accessibility Information