Covariance and gauge invariance in continuum physics. Application to mechanics, gravitation, and electromagnetism (Q1650058)

This is the companion book to [the author, A geometric approach to thermomechanics of dissipating continua. Boston, MA: Birkhäuser (2004; Zbl 1071.74001)]. Again, geometric methods are applied to explain the formulas of several classes of physical systems. Consequently, after a general introduction, the book starts with Chapter 2: Basic concepts on manifolds, spacetimes, and calculus of variations. Besides the usual topics, also twisted spacetimes, tetrads, torsion and affine connections are discussed at length. Chapter 3, Covariance of Lagrange density function, starts from Hilbert (1905) and covers e.g. the mathematics behind the proverb of ``the universality of the Einstein equation''. Chapter 4 is on gauge invariance and its consequences, Chapter 5 gives applications to continuum mechanics and gravitation, the latter includes also non-Einsteinian theories, and Chapter 6 deals with electromagnetism. The appendix deduces the Lorentz transformation, and the reference list cites a good deal of related papers.