Clifford algebras and spinors

Description

In this book, Professor Lounesto offers a unique introduction to Clifford algebras and spinors. The initial chapters could be read by undergraduates; vectors, complex numbers and quaternions are introduced with an eye on Clifford algebras. The next chapters will also interest physicists, and include treatments of the quantum mechanics of the electron, electromagnetism and special relativity with a flavour of Clifford algebras. This book also gives the first comprehensive survey of recent research on Clifford algebras. A new classification of spinors is introduced, based on bilinear covariants of physical observables. This reveals a new class of spinors, residing between the Weyl, Majorana and Dirac spinors. Scalar products of spinors are classified by involutory anti-automorphisms of Clifford algebras. This leads to the chessboard of automorphism groups of scalar products of spinors. On the analytic side, Brauer-Wall groups and Witt rings are discussed, and Caucy's integral formula is generalized to higher dimensions.

Subjects

Series Statement

• London Mathematical Society lecture note series ;
• 286

Links

• Publisher description
• Table of contents

Other Editions

• Clifford algebras and spinorsCambridge University Press2001-01-01
• Clifford algebras and spinorsCambridge University Press1997-01-01
• Clifford Algebras and SpinorsCambridge University Press2001-01-01
• Clifford Algebras and SpinorsCambridge University Press2009-01-01
• Clifford Algebras and SpinorsCambridge University Press2011-01-01