Spinors in Physics

Spinors in Physics
Author: Jean Hladik
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461214882

Invented by Dirac in creating his relativistic quantum theory of the electron, spinors are important in quantum theory, relativity, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular physics, and condensed matter physics. Essentially, they are the mathematical entities that correspond to electrons in the same way that ordinary wave functions correspond to classical particles. Because of their relations to the rotation group SO(n) and the unitary group SU(n), this discussion will be of interest to applied mathematicians as well as physicists.

Theory of Spinors and Its Application in Physics and Mechanics

Theory of Spinors and Its Application in Physics and Mechanics
Author: Vladimir A. Zhelnorovich
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 392
Release: 2019-10-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030278360

This book contains a systematic exposition of the theory of spinors in finite-dimensional Euclidean and Riemannian spaces. The applications of spinors in field theory and relativistic mechanics of continuous media are considered. The main mathematical part is connected with the study of invariant algebraic and geometric relations between spinors and tensors. The theory of spinors and the methods of the tensor representation of spinors and spinor equations are thoroughly expounded in four-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces. Very useful and important relations are derived that express the derivatives of the spinor fields in terms of the derivatives of various tensor fields. The problems associated with an invariant description of spinors as objects that do not depend on the choice of a coordinate system are addressed in detail. As an application, the author considers an invariant tensor formulation of certain classes of differential spinor equations containing, in particular, the most important spinor equations of field theory and quantum mechanics. Exact solutions of the Einstein–Dirac equations, nonlinear Heisenberg’s spinor equations, and equations for relativistic spin fluids are given. The book presents a large body of factual material and is suited for use as a handbook. It is intended for specialists in theoretical physics, as well as for students and post-graduate students of physical and mathematical specialties.

The Theory of Spinors

The Theory of Spinors
Author: Élie Cartan
Publisher: Courier Corporation
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2012-04-30
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0486137325

Describes orthgonal and related Lie groups, using real or complex parameters and indefinite metrics. Develops theory of spinors by giving a purely geometric definition of these mathematical entities.

Theory Of Spinors: An Introduction

Theory Of Spinors: An Introduction
Author: Moshe Carmeli
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2000-04-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9813102764

Spinors are used extensively in physics. It is widely accepted that they are more fundamental than tensors, and the easy way to see this is through the results obtained in general relativity theory by using spinors — results that could not have been obtained by using tensor methods only.The foundation of the concept of spinors is groups; spinors appear as representations of groups. This textbook expounds the relationship between spinors and representations of groups. As is well known, spinors and representations are both widely used in the theory of elementary particles.The authors present the origin of spinors from representation theory, but nevertheless apply the theory of spinors to general relativity theory, and part of the book is devoted to curved space-time applications.Based on lectures given at Ben Gurion University, this textbook is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics and mathematics, as well as being a reference for researchers.

Spinors In Physics And Geometry

Spinors In Physics And Geometry
Author: Giuseppe Furlan
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 368
Release: 1988-11-01
Genre:
ISBN: 9814644447

This conference brought together physicists and mathematicians working on spinors, which have played an important role in recent research on supersymmetry, Kaluza-Klein theories, twistors and general relativity.

Spinors and Space-Time: Volume 2, Spinor and Twistor Methods in Space-Time Geometry

Spinors and Space-Time: Volume 2, Spinor and Twistor Methods in Space-Time Geometry
Author: Roger Penrose
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 516
Release: 1984
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780521347860

In the two volumes that comprise this work Roger Penrose and Wolfgang Rindler introduce the calculus of 2-spinors and the theory of twistors, and discuss in detail how these powerful and elegant methods may be used to elucidate the structure and properties of space-time. In volume 1, Two-spinor calculus and relativistic fields, the calculus of 2-spinors is introduced and developed. Volume 2, Spinor and twistor methods in space-time geometry, introduces the theory of twistors, and studies in detail how the theory of twistors and 2-spinors can be applied to the study of space-time. This work will be of great value to all those studying relativity, differential geometry, particle physics and quantum field theory from beginning graduate students to experts in these fields.

An Introduction to Spinors and Geometry with Applications in Physics,

An Introduction to Spinors and Geometry with Applications in Physics,
Author: Ian M. Benn
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 368
Release: 1990-01-01
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 9780852742617

There is now a greater range of mathematics used in theoretical physics than ever. The aim of this book is to introduce theoretical physicists, of graduate student level upwards, to the methods of differential geometry and Clifford algebras in classical field theory. Recent developments in particle physics have elevated the notion of spinor fields to considerable prominence, so that many new ideas require considerable knowledge of their properties and expertise in their manipulation. It is also widely appreciated now that differential geometry has an important role to play in unification schemes which include gravity. All the important prerequisite results of group theory, linear algebra, real and complex vector spaces are discussed. Spinors are approached from the viewpoint of Clifford algebras. This gives a systematic way of studying their properties in all dimensions and signatures. Importance is also placed on making contact with the traditional component oriented approach. The basic ideas of differential geometry are introduced emphasising tensor, rather than component, methods. Spinor fields are introduced naturally in the context of Clifford bundles. Spinor field equations on manifolds are introduced together with the global implications their solutions have on the underlying geometry. Many mathematical concepts are illustrated using field theoretical descriptions of the Maxwell, Dirac and Rarita-Schwinger equations, their symmetries and couplings to Einsteinian gravity. The core of the book contains material which is applicable to physics. After a discussion of the Newtonian dynamics of particles, the importance of Lorentzian geometry is motivated by Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. A description of gravitation is motivated by Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. A description of gravitation in terms of the curvature of a pseudo-Riemannian spacetime is used to incorporate gravitational interactions into the language of classical field theory. This book will be of great interest to postgraduate students in theoretical physics, and to mathematicians interested in applications of differential geometry in physics.

An Introduction to Spinors and Geometry with Applications in Physics

An Introduction to Spinors and Geometry with Applications in Physics
Author: Ian M. Benn
Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing (GB)
Total Pages: 376
Release: 1987
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN:

"...The aim of this book is to introduce theoretical physicists, of graduate student level upwards, to the methods of differential geometry and Clifford algebras in classical field theory..."--back cover.

Introduction to 2-spinors in General Relativity

Introduction to 2-spinors in General Relativity
Author: Peter J. O'Donnell
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 205
Release: 2003
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9812383077

This book deals with 2-spinors in general relativity, beginning by developing spinors in a geometrical way rather than using representation theory, which can be a little abstract. This gives the reader greater physical intuition into the way in which spinors behave. The book concentrates on the algebra and calculus of spinors connected with curved space-time. Many of the well-known tensor fields in general relativity are shown to have spinor counterparts. An analysis of the Lanczos spinor concludes the book, and some of the techniques so far encountered are applied to this. Exercises play an important role throughout and are given at the end of each chapter.

3-D Spinors, Spin-Weighted Functions and their Applications

3-D Spinors, Spin-Weighted Functions and their Applications
Author: Gerardo F. Torres del Castillo
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2012-09-07
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0817681469

This book on the theory of three-dimensional spinors and their applications fills an important gap in the literature. It gives an introductory treatment of spinors. From the reviews: "Gathers much of what can be done with 3-D spinors in an easy-to-read, self-contained form designed for applications that will supplement many available spinor treatments. The book...should be appealing to graduate students and researchers in relativity and mathematical physics." -—MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS