Some Mathematical Physics For Philosophers Michael Heller

The goal of this book is to expose the reader to the indispensable role that mathematics plays in modern physics. Starting with the notion of vector spaces, the first half of the book develops topics as diverse as algebras, classical orthogonal polynomials, Fourier analysis, complex analysis, differential and integral equations, operator theory, and multi-dimensional Green's functions. The second half of the book introduces groups, manifolds, Lie groups and their representations, Clifford algebras and their representations, and fibre bundles and their applications to differential geometry and gauge theories.

In the past decade the language and methods ofmodern differential geometry have been increasingly used in theoretical physics. What seemed extravagant when this book first appeared 12 years ago, as lecture notes, is now a commonplace. This fact has strengthened my belief that today students of theoretical physics have to learn that language-and the sooner the better. Afterall, they willbe the professors ofthe twenty-first century and it would be absurd if they were to teach then the mathematics of the nineteenth century.

Stochastic differential equations have many applications in the natural sciences. Besides, the employment of probabilistic representations together with the Monte Carlo technique allows us to reduce solution of multi-dimensional problems for partial differential equations to integration of stochastic equations. This approach leads to powerful computational mathematics that is presented in the treatise.

Sergio Albeverio gave important contributions to many fields ranging from Physics to Mathematics, while creating new research areas from their interplay. Some of them are presented in this Volume that grew out of the Random Transformations and Invariance in Stochastic Dynamics Workshop held in Verona in 2019. To understand the theory of thermo- and fluid-dynamics, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, Albeverio and his collaborators developed stochastic theories having strong interplays with operator theory and functional analysis. His contribution to the theory of (non Gaussian)-SPDEs, the related theory of (pseudo-)differential operators, and ergodic theory had several impacts to solve problems related, among other topics, to thermo- and fluid dynamics. His scientific works in the theory of interacting particles and its extension to configuration spaces lead, e.g., to the solution of open problems in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Together with Raphael Hoegh Krohn he introduced the theory of infinite dimensional Dirichlet forms, which nowadays is used in many different contexts, and new methods in the theory of Feynman path integration. He did not fear to further develop different methods in Mathematics, like, e.g., the theory of non-standard analysis and p-adic numbers.

This edition combines the earlier two volumes on Quantum Mechanics of Atoms and Molecules and on Quantum Mechanics of Large Systems, thus including in a single volume the material for a two-semester course on quantum physics. Since this volume is already quite heavy, I could not include many new results which show how lively the subject is. I just want to mention that inequality (IV:4. 1. l. 1) has been sharpened by T. Weidl by a factor 2][ and the difficult problem 1 of (III:4. 6) has been solved by A. Martin. I have to thank N. Ilieva for the devotion in preparing this new edition. Vienna, November 2001 Walter Thirring Preface to the Second Edition: Quantum Mechanics of Atoms and Molecules Ever since the first edition of this volume appeared in 1980 quantum statistical mechanics has florished. Innumerable results in many areas have been obtained and it would require a series of volumes to do justice to all of them. On the other hand the first edition was already rather crowded with many details so it would not be overburdened any more. Thus I added only one chapter on quantum ergodic theory where one can get the main notions across without too much pain. Nevertheless many subjects treated in the book had splendidely developed ever since and the only way out I could see is to add some recent references which the interested reader can consult.

Our knowledge of objects of complex and potential analysis has been enhanced recently by ideas and constructions of theoretical and mathematical physics, such as quantum field theory, nonlinear hydrodynamics, material science. These are some of the themes of this refereed collection of papers, which grew out of the first conference of the European Science Foundation Networking Programme 'Harmonic and Complex Analysis and Applications' held in Norway 2007.

Over two hundred novel and innovative computer algebra worksheets or "recipes" will enable readers in engineering, physics, and mathematics to easily and rapidly solve and explore most problems they encounter in their mathematical physics studies. While the aim of this text is to illustrate applications, a brief synopsis of the fundamentals for each topic is presented, the topics being organized to correlate with those found in traditional mathematical physics texts. The recipes are presented in the form of stories and anecdotes, a pedagogical approach that makes a mathematically challenging subject easier and more fun to learn. This is a self-contained and standalone text using MAPLE that may be used in the classroom, for self-study, as a reference, or as a text for an online course.