Group Theory by Dresselhaus, Mildred S.; Dresselhaus, Gene; Jorio, Ado;

Long description:

Every process in physics is governed by selection rules that are the consequence of symmetry requirements. The beauty and strength of group theory resides in the transformation of many complex symmetry operations into a very simple linear algebra. This concise and class-tested book has been pedagogically tailored over 30 years MIT and 2 years at the University Federal of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil. The approach centers on the conviction that teaching group theory in close connection with applications helps students to learn, understand and use it for their own needs. For this reason, the theoretical background is confined to the first 4 introductory chapters (6-8 classroom hours). From there, each chapter develops new theory while introducing applications so that the students can best retain new concepts, build on concepts learned the previous week, and see interrelations between topics as presented. Essential problem sets between the chapters also aid the retention of the new material and for the consolidation of material learned in previous chapters. The text and problem sets have proved a useful springboard for the application of the basic material presented here to topics in semiconductor physics, and the physics of carbon-based nanostructures.

Here is a unique pedagogical textbook by the gifted Professor Mildred Dresselhaus. It first provides a quick introduction to the theoretical background, the first four chapters which can be covered in six to eight classroom hours. From there, each chapter develops new theory while introducing applications so that students can best retain new concepts, build on concepts learned the previous week, and see interrelations between topics as presented. Essential problem sets between the chapters also aid the retention of the new material and for the consolidation of material learned in previous chapters. The text and problem sets provide a useful springboard for the application of the basic material presented here to topics in semiconductor physics and the physics of carbon-based nanostructures.

Table of Contents:

Basic Mathematics.- Basic Mathematical Background: Introduction.- Representation Theory and Basic Theorems.- Character of a Representation.- Basis Functions.- Introductory Application to Quantum Systems.- Splitting of Atomic Orbitals in a Crystal Potential.- Application to Selection Rules and Direct Products.- Molecular Systems.- Electronic States of Molecules and Directed Valence.- Molecular Vibrations, Infrared, and Raman Activity.- Application to Periodic Lattices.- Space Groups in Real Space.- Space Groups in Reciprocal Space and Representations.- Electron and Phonon Dispersion Relation.- Applications to Lattice Vibrations.- Electronic Energy Levels in a Cubic Crystals.- Energy Band Models Based on Symmetry.- Spin?Orbit Interaction in Solids and Double Groups.- Application of Double Groups to Energy Bands with Spin.- Other Symmetries.- Time Reversal Symmetry.- Permutation Groups and Many-Electron States.- Symmetry Properties of Tensors.