Group Theory in a Nutshell for Physicists (Hardcover)

Although group theory is a mathematical subject, it is indispensable to many areas of modern theoretical physics, from atomic physics to condensed matter physics, particle physics to string theory. In particular, it is essential for an understanding of the fundamental forces. Yet until now, what has been missing is a modern, accessible, and self-contained textbook on the subject written especially for physicists.

Group Theory in a Nutshell for Physicists fills this gap, providing a user-friendly and classroom-tested text that focuses on those aspects of group theory physicists most need to know. From the basic intuitive notion of a group, A. Zee takes readers all the way up to how theories based on gauge groups could unify three of the four fundamental forces. He also includes a concise review of the linear algebra needed for group theory, making the book ideal for self-study.

• Provides physicists with a modern and accessible introduction to group theory
• Covers applications to various areas of physics, including field theory, particle physics, relativity, and much more
• Topics include finite group and character tables; real, pseudoreal, and complex representations; Weyl, Dirac, and Majorana equations; the expanding universe and group theory; grand unification; and much more
• The essential textbook for students and an invaluable resource for researchers
• Features a brief, self-contained treatment of linear algebra
• An online illustration package is available to professors
• Solutions manual (available only to professors)

儘管群組理論是一門數學科目，但它對現代理論物理的許多領域至關重要，從原子物理學到凝聚態物理學，從粒子物理學到弦理論。特別是對於理解基本力量來說，它是不可或缺的。然而，迄今為止，缺少一本現代、易於理解且自成一體的教科書，專門為物理學家撰寫。

《物理學家的群論概要》填補了這一空白，提供了一本使用者友好且經過課堂驗證的教材，重點關注物理學家最需要了解的群論方面。從對群的基本直觀概念開始，A. Zee將讀者引導到基於規範群的理論如何統一四個基本力量中的三個。他還包括了群論所需的線性代數的簡明回顧，使本書非常適合自學。

本書特點如下：
- 為物理學家提供了一本現代且易於理解的群論入門書籍
- 涵蓋了群論在各個物理領域的應用，包括場論、粒子物理學、相對論等等
- 主題包括有限群和特徵表；實、虛實和複表示；Weyl、Dirac和Majorana方程；膨脹宇宙和群論；大統一等等
- 學生的必備教科書，研究人員的寶貴資源
- 具有簡明自成一體的線性代數講解
- 提供教授們的線上插圖套件
- 解答手冊（僅提供給教授）