Topology and geometry for physics (Q2638159): Difference between revisions

It took nearly 60 years since the invention of the Hilbert space representation of quantum theory to realize that not every dynamical quantum observable is represented as a Hermitian operator. A phase difference of two quantum states or two classical waves can be measured if both waves are brought to interference. This happens if parts of the wave propagate along different paths between the same start and end points or, equivalently, if a wave circuits along a closed loop. In the latter case, it interferes with itself according to the phase difference, which was called Berry's phase. Nowadays, physicists are more or less familiar with the theory of Lie groups, Riemannian geometry and tensor analysis, but very little educated in algebraic topology and algebraic geometry. The book is intended as bridging material between advanced graduate textbooks of modern analysis and mathematical physics, such as \textit{L. Schwartz}'s [Analyse mathématique. Paris: Hermann \& Cie (1967; Zbl 0171.01301)] and \textit{W. Thirring}'s [Lehrbuch der mathematischen Physik. 1--4. Wien etc.: Springer-Verlag (1977--1980; Zbl 0364.70001, Zbl 0385.53026, Zbl 0408.46054, Zbl 0453.46054)] (there are marvelous Russian translations of these textbooks, see Zbl 0252.00001, Zbl 0258.00002 and Zbl 1106.00004, respectively), and the forefront of research based on the knowledge in algebraic topology and algebraic geometry. The book is basically a text in mathematics, which includes topics of topology, manifolds, tensor fields, homology and cohomology, homotopy and homology, Lie groups, bundles and connections, Riemannian geometry, etc. Physical applications are included in the book for illustration and are chosen mainly from the fields the author is familiar with: Berry-Simon connection, electrical polarization, orbital magnetism, topological charges in physics, topological insulators, gauge field theory of molecular physics, etc. So the author tries to present a rather systematic but more inductive introduction into the mathematics by avoiding the minimalistic deductive style of a sequence of theorems and proofs without much commentary or even motivating texts. The text is of high quality and has the explicit aim to summarize and communicate current knowledge in an accessible way. The book mainly addresses students in solid state and statistical physics regarding the focus and the choice of examples of application, but it can be useful for particle physicists, too. It should also be useful for the reader to start with the compendium which is meant to be an expanded glossary and is appended to the basic text for reference of some concepts used but not treated in the text.