The geometry of Minkowski spacetime. An introduction to the mathematics of the special theory of relativity (Q5905505): Difference between revisions

This monograph is a good introduction to the mathematical foundations of special relativity, distinguishing strictly between doing mathematics and appealing to physical arguments to motivate or interpret mathematics. It consists of three chapters and two appendices. The first chapter is concerned with the basic geometrical aspects of a 4-dimensional real vector space endowed with a nondegenerate, symmetric, bilinear form of index one and its associated group of orthogonal transformations. In the second chapter the reader can enjoy the beautiful interactions between the mathematics of skew-symmetric linear transformations and the physics of electromagnetic fields. The final chapter gives a readable introduction to the algebraic theory of spinors. The first appendix deals with the topology devised by \textit{S. W. Hawking, A. R. King} and \textit{P. J. McCarthy} [J. Math. Phys. 17, 174-181 (1976; Zbl 0319.54005)]. The second appendix elaborates upon the essential 2-valuedness of spinors and its physical significance. Familiarity with linear algebra and general topology will do to read this rewarding monograph.