Functional Differential Geometry - Paperback

$99.00

Functional Differential Geometry - Paperback

Name: Functional Differential Geometry - Paperback
Brand: BooksCloud
SKU: 9780262052894
Price: 99.00 USD
Availability: InStock

by Gerald Jay Sussman , Jack Wisdom

$99.00

Book Overview

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by Gerald Jay Sussman (Author), Jack Wisdom (Author), Will Farr (With)

An explanation of the mathematics needed as a foundation for a deep understanding of general relativity or quantum field theory.

Physics is naturally expressed in mathematical language. Students new to the subject must simultaneously learn an idiomatic mathematical language and the content that is expressed in that language. It is as if they were asked to read Les Misérables while struggling with French grammar. This book offers an innovative way to learn the differential geometry needed as a foundation for a deep understanding of general relativity or quantum field theory as taught at the college level.

The approach taken by the authors (and used in their classes at MIT for many years) differs from the conventional one in several ways, including an emphasis on the development of the covariant derivative and an avoidance of the use of traditional index notation for tensors in favor of a semantically richer language of vector fields and differential forms. But the biggest single difference is the authors' integration of computer programming into their explanations. By programming a computer to interpret a formula, the student soon learns whether or not a formula is correct. Students are led to improve their program, and as a result improve their understanding.

Author Biography

Gerald Jay Sussman is Panasonic Professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT.

Jack Wisdom is Professor of Planetary Science at MIT.

Number of Pages: 248

Dimensions: 0.53 x 9 x 6 IN

Publication Date: May 27, 2025

ISBN	9780262052894
Author	Gerald Jay Sussman , Jack Wisdom
Publisher	MIT Press
Genre	Education
Format	Paperback
Published	May 2025
Language	ENG- English
Pages	248
Weight	1.0 lb
Target Audience	Adults
Print Size	Standard Print