An introduction to geometrical physics (Q2833692)

This book ``is intended as a first, elementary approach to geometrical physics'' understood as a part of mathematical physics. It consists of five parts: 1. Manifolds, 2. Differential structure, 3. Nature's extreme geometries, 4. Mathematical topics, 5. Physical topics.NEWLINENEWLINEIn the first part there are five sections, in the second part there are four sections, in the third part there are three sections, in the fourth part there are twelf sections, and in the fifth part there are 13 sections.NEWLINENEWLINEThe book contains a very large amount of material. The basic idea is to present definitions and mathematical results useful for the formulation of physical theories and equations. Proofs of mathematical results are not given and the derivations of the physical equations are omitted.NEWLINENEWLINEPart 1 contains some definitions of topological spaces, groups, graphs, homology and homotopy, and manifolds. In Part 2 tangent spaces, differential forms, Lie groups and algebras, vector bundles and connections are discussed. Part 3 deals with quantum groups, cosmology, and the necessity to modify special relativity at very high energies.NEWLINENEWLINEIn Part 4 a discussion is given of algebraic structures, discrete groups, braids and knots, sets, measures, probability and ergodic problem, topological linear spaces, Banach algebras, group representations, calculus of variations, exterior variational calculus, singularities and catastrophe theory, Euclidean and Riemannian spaces, non-Euclidean geometries and geodesics. In Part 5 Hamiltonian mechanics, symmetries on the phase space, statistics and elasticity, propagation of discontinuities, geometrical optics, relativistic fields, Gauge theory, general relativity, teleparallel gravity, Einstein-Cartan theory and de Sitter special relativity theory are discussed.NEWLINENEWLINEThe authors managed to squeeze in this book a material that is usually presented in several separate books. The price paid is the absence of the proofs and an informal presentation of the material: many of the definitions and facts are described rather than formally presented. Nevertheless, this book is useful for students and specialists as a reference book.NEWLINENEWLINEIn the preface to the second edition the authors point out that currently the necessity to understand the limitations of the existing theory of gravitation is urgent. This is understood and agreed upon by many researchers.NEWLINENEWLINEThere are many books in which geometry is related to physics. Some of these are cited in the book under review. One book that is not cited, [\textit{W. D. Curtis} and \textit{F. R. Miller}, Differential manifolds and theoretical physics. Orlando etc.: Academic Press, Inc. (1985; Zbl 0566.57001)], emphasizes mathematics and provides proofs, but deals with much less material.