Willard Miller - Böcker

Symmetries in various forms pervade mathematics and physics. Globally, there are the symmetries of a homogenous space induced by the action of a Lie group. Locally, there are the infinitesimal symmetries induced by differential operators, including not only those of first order but of higher order too. This three-week summer program considered the symmetries preserving various natural geometric structures. Often these structures are themselves derived from partial differential equations whilst their symmetries turn out to be contrained by overdetermined systems. This leads to further topics including separation of variables, conserved quantities, superintegrability, parabolic geometry, represantation theory, the Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand complex, finite element schemes, exterior differential systems and moving frames.There are two parts to the Proceedings. The articles in the first part are expository but all contain significant new material. The articles in the second part are concerned with original research. All articles were thoroughly refereed and the range of interrelated work ensures that this will be an extremely useful collection.

Originally published in 1977, this volume is concerned with the relationship between symmetries of a linear second-order partial differential equation of mathematical physics, the coordinate systems in which the equation admits solutions via separation of variables, and the properties of the special functions that arise in this manner. Some group-theoretic twists in the ancient method of separation of variables that can be used to provide a foundation for much of special function theory are shown. In particular, it is shown explicitly that all special functions that arise via separation of variables in the equations of mathematical physics can be studied using group theory.

Originally published in 1977, this volume is concerned with the relationship between symmetries of a linear second-order partial differential equation of mathematical physics, the coordinate systems in which the equation admits solutions via separation of variables, and the properties of the special functions that arise in this manner. Some group-theoretic twists in the ancient method of separation of variables that can be used to provide a foundation for much of special function theory are shown. In particular, it is shown explicitly that all special functions that arise via separation of variables in the equations of mathematical physics can be studied using group theory.