The geometry of Minkowski spacetime. An introduction to the mathematics of the special theory of relativity
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: The geometry of Minkowski spacetime. An introduction to the mathematics of the special theory of relativity
zbMATH Open document ID: 1241.83005
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-7838-7
author: Gregory L. Naber
published in: Applied Mathematical Sciences
publication date: 2011-11-30T00:00:00Z
review text: This is the second edition of the masterpiece by \textit{G. L. Naber} [The geometry of Minkowski spacetime. An introduction to the mathematics of the special theory of relativity. Applied Mathematical Sciences 92. New York etc.: Springer-Verlag (1992; Zbl 0757.53046)] which received the 1993 CHOICE award for Outstanding Academic Title with the following citation: ``Where many physics texts explain physical phenomena by means of mathematical models, here a rigorous and detailed mathematical development is accompanied by precise physical interpretations.'' Enthusiastic reviews of the first edition came also from the American Mathematical Society (1993) that defined the book ``\dots a valuable contribution to the pedagogical literature which will be enjoyed by all who delight in precise mathematics and physics'' and from the Dutch Mathematical Society (1993) which praised the author by writing ``\dots his talent in choosing the most significant results and ordering them within the book can't be denied. The reading of the book is, really, a pleasure''. According to the author's intention this monograph provides an introduction to the Special Theory of Relativity emerging from the interaction between \textit{A. Einstein} and \textit{H. Minkowski} [The principle of relativity. Original papers by A. Einstein and H. Minkowski, translated into English by M. N. Saba and S. N. Bose. Calcutta: University Press (1921; JFM 48.1059.09)] that is mathematically rigorous and yet spells out in considerable detail the physical significance of the mathematics. As correctly reported by the editorial review on its back cover, in addition to the usual menu of topics one is accustomed to finding in introductions to Special Relativity, this book treats a wide variety of results of more contemporary origin; anyway the editorial suggestion about a treatment presuming only a knowledge of linear algebra in the first three chapters, a bit of real analysis in the fourth and some elementary point-s…
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83-02
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83A05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83C60
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 53C50
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 53Z05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 53-02
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83C10
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 22E10
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 83F05
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 78A25
zbMATH DE Number: 5982717
zbMATH Keywords: Lorentz group
zbMATH Keywords: orthogonal transformations
zbMATH Keywords: electromagnetic fields
zbMATH Keywords: algebraic theory of spinors
zbMATH Keywords: de Sitter Universe
MaRDI profile type: MaRDI publication profile
full work available at URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7838-7
OpenAlex ID: W4296498751
description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 5982717