Representations of Lie Algebras
This bold and refreshing approach to Lie algebras assumes only modest prerequisites (linear algebra up to the Jordan canonical form and a basic familiarity with groups and rings), yet it reaches a major result in representation theory: the highest-weight classification of irreducible modules of the general linear Lie algebra. The author's exposition is focused on this goal rather than aiming at the widest generality and emphasis is placed on explicit calculations with bases and matrices. The book begins with a motivating chapter explaining the context and relevance of Lie algebras and their representations and concludes with a guide to further reading. Numerous examples and exercises with full solutions are included. Based on the author's own introductory course on Lie algebras, this book has been thoroughly road-tested by advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students and it is also suited to individual readers wanting an introduction to this important area of mathematics.
- Full solutions to exercises are included in the Appendix
- First chapter explains the context and relevance of the topic
- Introduces the main ideas in their simplest context
Reviews & endorsements
"This short book develops the standard tools (special bases, duality, tensor decompositions, Killing forms, Casimir operators, etc.) and aims for a single result: the classification of integral modules over gl D[n. Requiring only basic linear algebra, this book can serve as an interesting alternative platform (to basic group theory) for introducing abstract algebra. Recommended."
D.V. Feldman, University of New Hampshire for Choice Magazine
"This book provides an introduction to the subject at the undergraduate level."
".. chapters are supplied with numerous examples and exercises for students."
Serge M. Skryabin, Mathematical Reviews
Product details
October 2012Paperback
9781107653610
168 pages
227 × 151 × 9 mm
0.25kg
10 b/w illus. 50 exercises
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Motivation: representations of Lie groups
- 2. Definition of a Lie algebra
- 3. Basic structure of a Lie algebra
- 4. Modules over a Lie algebra
- 5. The theory of sl2-modules
- 6. General theory of modules
- 7. Integral gln-modules
- 8. Guide to further reading
- Appendix: solutions to the exercises
- References
- Index.