Modern mathematical methods of physics. Vol. 2: Operator and spectral theory -- groups and representations. (Q606444)

This book, the second in a series of two, resumes the didactic concept and style of volume one, and the general comments given in the review of [\textit{K.-H. Goldhorn, H.-P. Heinz} and \textit{M. Kraus}, Moderne mathematische Methoden der Physik. Vol. 1. Springer-Lehrbuch. Berlin: Springer (2009; Zbl 1180.00005)] apply here as well. When reading this book it is recommended to have at hand the first volume which is referred to in many definitions, proofs, or examples. Also the numbering of parts and sections continues that of volume one. The intended audience is expected to have a degree in physics, yet the book is clearly a mathematics book. This explains the authors' decision to leave the establishing of interconnections to applications of a mathematical theory to the reader (sometimes, not always). The relation to physics is reflected by the careful choice of the topics contained in this book, for example, the emphasis on Hilbert spaces in Part~III and the focus on groups of physical relevance in Part~IV. The authors strive for a clear style and mathematical precision which proved to be so beneficial for theoretical physics. This can be seen, for example, in the definitions of symmetric, self-adjoint and essentially self-adjoint operators. Proofs are given if they provide an additional value for the understanding of a theorem, for its application or for concrete calculations. This is usually the case. Every section concludes with exercises and occasional hints for their solution. Table of contents (continued from Volume one): \textit{Part~III: Unbounded operators and spectral decomposition} {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[14]Unbounded operators \item[15]Spectral measures \item[16]The spectral theorem for self-adjoint operators and dynamics of quantum mechanics \end{itemize}} \textit{Part~IV: Groups and Representations} {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[17]Fundamentals on groups \item[18]The rotation group and the Lorentz group \item[19]Lie-groups and Lie-algebras \item[20]Fundamentals of representation theory \item[21]Representation theory of compact groups \item[22]The infinitesimal method of representation theory \item[24]Some applications \end{itemize}}