Victor V. Prasolov – författare

This book offers a concise yet thorough introduction to the notion of moduli spaces of complex algebraic curves. Over the last few decades, this notion has become central not only in algebraic geometry, but in mathematical physics, including string theory, as well.The book begins by studying individual smooth algebraic curves, including the most beautiful ones, before addressing families of curves. Studying families of algebraic curves often proves to be more efficient than studying individual curves: these families and their total spaces can still be smooth, even if there are singular curves among their members. A major discovery of the 20th century, attributed to P. Deligne and D. Mumford, was that curves with only mild singularities form smooth compact moduli spaces. An unexpected byproduct of this discovery was the realization that the analysis of more complex curve singularities is not a necessary step in understanding the geometry of the moduli spaces.Thebook does not use the sophisticated machinery of modern algebraic geometry, and most classical objects related to curves – such as Jacobian, space of holomorphic differentials, the Riemann-Roch theorem, and Weierstrass points – are treated at a basic level that does not require a profound command of algebraic geometry, but which is sufficient for extending them to vector bundles and other geometric objects associated to moduli spaces. Nevertheless, it offers clear information on the construction of the moduli spaces, and provides readers with tools for practical operations with this notion.Based on several lecture courses given by the authors at the Independent University of Moscow and Higher School of Economics, the book also includes a wealth of problems, making it suitable not only for individual research, but also as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate coursework

This book offers a concise yet thorough introduction to the notion of moduli spaces of complex algebraic curves. Over the last few decades, this notion has become central not only in algebraic geometry, but in mathematical physics, including string theory, as well.

The book begins by studying individual smooth algebraic curves, including the most beautiful ones, before addressing families of curves. Studying families of algebraic curves often proves to be more efficient than studying individual curves: these families and their total spaces can still be smooth, even if there are singular curves among their members. A major discovery of the 20th century, attributed to P. Deligne and D. Mumford, was that curves with only mild singularities form smooth compact moduli spaces. An unexpected byproduct of this discovery was the realization that the analysis of more complex curve singularities is not a necessary step in understanding the geometry of the moduli spaces.

Thebook does not use the sophisticated machinery of modern algebraic geometry, and most classical objects related to curves – such as Jacobian, space of holomorphic differentials, the Riemann-Roch theorem, and Weierstrass points – are treated at a basic level that does not require a profound command of algebraic geometry, but which is sufficient for extending them to vector bundles and other geometric objects associated to moduli spaces. Nevertheless, it offers clear information on the construction of the moduli spaces, and provides readers with tools for practical operations with this notion.

Based on several lecture courses given by the authors at the Independent University of Moscow and Higher School of Economics, the book also includes a wealth of problems, making it suitable not only for individual research, but also as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate coursework

This book combines the classical and contemporary approaches to differential geometry. An introduction to the Riemannian geometry of manifolds is preceded by a detailed discussion of properties of curves and surfaces.The chapter on the differential geometry of plane curves considers local and global properties of curves, evolutes and involutes, and affine and projective differential geometry. Various approaches to Gaussian curvature for surfaces are discussed. The curvature tensor, conjugate points, and the Laplace-Beltrami operator are first considered in detail for two-dimensional surfaces, which facilitates studying them in the many-dimensional case. A separate chapter is devoted to the differential geometry of Lie groups.

This book combines the classical and contemporary approaches to differential geometry. An introduction to the Riemannian geometry of manifolds is preceded by a detailed discussion of properties of curves and surfaces.

The chapter on the differential geometry of plane curves considers local and global properties of curves, evolutes and involutes, and affine and projective differential geometry. Various approaches to Gaussian curvature for surfaces are discussed. The curvature tensor, conjugate points, and the Laplace-Beltrami operator are first considered in detail for two-dimensional surfaces, which facilitates studying them in the many-dimensional case. A separate chapter is devoted to the differential geometry of Lie groups.

This book combines the classical and contemporary approaches to differential geometry. An introduction to the Riemannian geometry of manifolds is preceded by a detailed discussion of properties of curves and surfaces.The chapter on the differential geometry of plane curves considers local and global properties of curves, evolutes and involutes, and affine and projective differential geometry. Various approaches to Gaussian curvature for surfaces are discussed. The curvature tensor, conjugate points, and the Laplace-Beltrami operator are first considered in detail for two-dimensional surfaces, which facilitates studying them in the many-dimensional case. A separate chapter is devoted to the differential geometry of Lie groups.

From the reviews:"... Despite the appearance [...] in a series titled Algorithms and Computation of Mathematics, computation occupies only a small part of the monograph. It is best described as a useful reference for one's personal collection and a text for a full-year course given to graduate or even senior undergraduate students. [...] the book under review is worth purchasing for the library and possibly even for one's own collection. The author's interest in the history and development of this area is evident, and we have pleasant glimpses of progress over the last three centuries [...] the reader gains a synopsis of and guide to the literature ..." E.Barbeau, SIAM Review 47:3, 2005."This is an exposition of polynomial theory and results, both classical and modern. [...] the volume is packed with results and proofs that are well organised thematically [...] What is unusual is to have a text that embraces and intermingles both analytic and algebraic aspects of the theory…" S.D.Cohen, Math.Reviews 2005

From the reviews:"... Despite the appearance [...] in a series titled Algorithms and Computation of Mathematics, computation occupies only a small part of the monograph. It is best described as a useful reference for one's personal collection and a text for a full-year course given to graduate or even senior undergraduate students. [...] the book under review is worth purchasing for the library and possibly even for one's own collection. The author's interest in the history and development of this area is evident, and we have pleasant glimpses of progress over the last three centuries [...] the reader gains a synopsis of and guide to the literature ..." E.Barbeau, SIAM Review 47:3, 2005."This is an exposition of polynomial theory and results, both classical and modern. [...] the volume is packed with results and proofs that are well organised thematically [...] What is unusual is to have a text that embraces and intermingles both analytic and algebraic aspects of the theory…" S.D.Cohen, Math.Reviews 2005