INTRODUCTION TO COMPACT LIE GROUPS

There are two approaches to compact lie groups: by computation as matrices or theoretically as manifolds with a group structure. The great appeal of this book is the blending of these two approaches. The theoretical results are illustrated by computations and the theory provides a commentary on the computational work. Indeed, there are extensive computations of the structure and representation theory for the classical groups SU(n), SO(n) and Sp(n). A second exciting feature is that the differential geometry of a compact Lie group, both the classical curvature studies and the more recent heat equation methods, are treated. A large number of formulas for the connection and curvature are conveniently gathered together.This book provides an excellent text for a first course in compact Lie groups.