Review
‘The author gives a concise but thorough introduction to spinors and Clifford algebras extending from the very beginning to present research … A very recommendable book for everyone interested in this field.’ G. Kowol, Monatschefte fur Mathematik
‘This book sets standards in the field of quality and careful notation, especially in the relation of several kinds of spinors. It is highly recommended to teachers and researchers active in this field.’ B. Fauser, Zentralblatt für Mathematik
‘This book cannot be underestimated in its current influence.’ B. Fauser, Zentralblatt für Mathematik
Product 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.
