Bücher von Rafal Ablamowicz

Clifford algebras are at a crossing point in a variety of research areas, including abstract algebra, crystallography, projective geometry, quantum mechanics, differential geometry and analysis. For many researchers working in this field in ma- thematics and physics, computer algebra software systems have become indispensable tools in theory and applications. This edited survey book consists of 20 chapters showing application of Clifford algebra in quantum mechanics, field theory, spinor calculations, projective geometry, Hypercomplex algebra, function theory and crystallography. Many examples of computations performed with a variety of readily available software programs are presented in detail, i.e., Maple, Mathematica, Axiom, etc. A key feature of the book is that it shows how scientific knowledge can advance with the use of computational tools and software.

Advances in technology over the last 25 years have created a situation in which workers in diverse areas of computerscience and engineering have found it neces- sary to increase their knowledge of related fields in order to make further progress. Clifford (geometric) algebra offers a unified algebraic framework for the direct expression of the geometric ideas underlying the great mathematical theories of linear and multilinear algebra, projective and affine geometries, and differential geometry. Indeed, for many people working in this area, geometric algebra is the natural extension of the real number system to include the concept of direction. The familiar complex numbers of the plane and the quaternions of four dimen- sions are examples of lower-dimensional geometric algebras. During "e;The 6th International Conference on Clifford Algebras and their Ap- plications in Mathematical Physics"e; held May 20--25, 2002, at Tennessee Tech- nological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, a Lecture Series on Clifford Ge- ometric Algebras was presented. Its goal was to to provide beginning graduate students in mathematics and physics and other newcomers to the field with no prior knowledge of Clifford algebras with a bird's eye view of Clifford geometric algebras and their applications. The lectures were given by some of the field's most recognized experts. The enthusiastic response of the more than 80 partici- pants in the Lecture Series, many of whom were graduate students or postdocs, encouraged us to publish the expanded lectures as chapters in book form.

This volume is dedicated to the memory of Albert Crumeyrolle, who died on June 17, 1992. In organizing the volume we gave priority to: articles summarizing Crumeyrolle's own work in differential geometry, general relativity and spinors, articles which give the reader an idea of the depth and breadth of Crumeyrolle's research interests and influence in the field, articles of high scientific quality which would be of general interest. In each of the areas to which Crumeyrolle made significant contribution - Clifford and exterior algebras, Weyl and pure spinors, spin structures on manifolds, principle of triality, conformal geometry - there has been substantial progress. Our hope is that the volume conveys the originality of Crumeyrolle's own work, the continuing vitality of the field he influenced, and the enduring respect for, and tribute to, him and his accomplishments in the mathematical community. It isour pleasure to thank Peter Morgan, Artibano Micali, Joseph Grifone, Marie Crumeyrolle and Kluwer Academic Publishers for their help in preparingthis volume.