The development of tensor calculus. From absolute differential calculus to relativity (Q1345407)

This volume is devoted to the history of tensor calculus. It covers the period 1884-1915, corresponding to the development of the absolute differential calculus and of Einstein's relativity theory. The author presents the evolution of those branches of mathematics and physics which have suggested or effectively used tensorial techniques. She especially examines topics from invariant theory, elasticity, absolute differential calculus, differential invariants, crystallography, vector spaces, quaternion algebra, special and general relativity theory. She discusses the tensor approaches in the work of many geometers, algebraists and physicists in \(19^{\text{th}}\) and at the beginning of \(20^{\text{th}}\) century. There are reviewed the main contributions to the development of the tensorial formalism of Gauß, Riemann, Christoffel, Lipschitz, Cauchy, Lamé, Cayley, Sylvester, Brioschi, Aronhold, Clebsch, Ricci, Saint-Venant, Voigt, Hamilton, Gibbs, F. Jung, Einstein, Sommerfeld, Minkowski, M. Abraham, Lewis, von Laue, Großmann, Levi- Civita and many others. The exposition emphasizes on the works of Gregorio Ricci (1853-1925) on absolute differential calculus and Albert Einstein (1879-1955) on relativity theory. The volume also includes an appendix on the terminology and symbolics of absolute differential calculus, a historical table of tensor calculus, a short presentation of the sections of the book, an extended bibliography and a name and subject index. In the volume there are considered many significant excerpts from primary sources. They offer new insights with the evolution of tensors. This book is an attractive, detailed, technical exposition of the development of a main subject in mathematics and physics.