Smooth Manifolds and Observables

by Jet Nestruev

Overview

This textbook demonstrates how differential calculus, smooth manifolds, and commutative algebra constitute a unified whole, despite having arisen at different times and under different circumstances. Motivating this synthesis is the mathematical formalization of the process of observation from classical physics. A broad audience will appreciate this unique approach for the insight it gives into the underlying connections between geometry, physics, and commutative algebra.

The main objective of this book is to explain how differential calculus is a natural part of commutative algebra. This is achieved by studying the corresponding algebras of smooth functions that result in a general construction of the differential calculus on various categories of modules over the given commutative algebra. It is shown in detail that the ordinary differential calculus and differential geometry on smooth manifolds turns out to be precisely the particular case that corresponds to the category of geometric modules over smooth algebras. This approach opens the way to numerous applications, ranging from delicate questions of algebraic geometry to the theory of elementary particles.

Smooth Manifolds and Observables is intended for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in mathematics and physics. This second edition adds ten new chapters to further develop the notion of differential calculus over commutative algebras, showing it to be a generalization of the differential calculus on smooth manifolds. Applications to diverse areas, such as symplectic manifolds, de Rham cohomology, and Poisson brackets are explored. Additional examples of the basic functors of the theory are presented alongside numerous new exercises, providing readers with many more opportunities to practice these concepts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387955438
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	10/04/2002
Series:	Graduate Texts in Mathematics , #220
Edition description:	2003
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Jet Nestruev is a collective of authors, who originally convened for a seminar run by Alexandre Vinogradov at the Mechanics and Mathematics Department of Moscow State University in 1969. In the present edition, Jet Nestruev consists of Alexander Astashov (Senior Researcher at the State Research Institute of Aviation Systems), Alexandre Vinogradov (Professor of Mathematics at Salerno University), Mikhail Vinogradov (Diffiety Institute), and Alexey Sossinsky (Professor at the Independent University of Moscow).

Table of Contents

Cutoff and Other Special Smooth Functions on—n.- Algebras and Points.- Smooth Manifolds (Algebraic Definition).- Charts and Atlases.- Smooth Maps.- Equivalence of Coordinate and Algebraic Definitions.- Spectra and Ghosts.- The Differential Calculus as a Part of Commutative Algebra.- Smooth Bundles.- Vector Bundles and Projective Modules.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"Main themes of the book are manifolds, fibre bundles and differential operators acting on sections of vector bundles. … A classical treatment of these topics starts with a coordinate description of a manifold M … . The present book is based on an alternative point of view, where calculus on manifolds is treated as a part of commutative algebra. … The book contains quite a few exercises and many useful illustrations." (EMS, September, 2004)

"The book provides a self-contained introduction to the theory of smooth manifolds and fibre bundles, oriented towards graduate students in mathematics and physics. The approach followed here, however, substantially differs from most textbooks on manifold theory. … This book is certainly quite interesting and may appeal even to people who merely want to study algebraic geometry, in the sense that they will gain extra insight here by the attention which is paid to making certain constructions in algebraic geometry physically or intuitively acceptable." (Willy Sarlet, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1021, 2003)

From the Publisher