Advanced

Mathematical Methods
in Physics
Savita Gahlaut

SULTAN CHAND & SONS

Advanced Mathematical
Methods in Physics
 To
Maa
Naresh
Kshitiz
&
Arahan
the four pillars of my life
 Advanced
Mathematical Methods
in Physics

Savita Gahlaut

SULTAN CHAND & SONS

Educational Publishers
New Delhi
SULTAN CHAND & SONS
Educational Publishers
23, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110 002
Phones : 23281876, 23243183, 23247051, 23266105, 23277843
E-mail : [email protected]; [email protected]
Fax : 011-23266357; Website : www.sultanchandandsons.com
ISBN : 978-93-91820-04-6 (TC 1250)
Price : ` 250.00
First Edition : 2021

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Preface

The mathematical concepts are an absolute necessity for physics

students. Various mathematical methods are used to understand, study
and develop new theories in all the branches of Physics. In this book
some advanced mathematical concepts are explained with examples.
All the topics covered in the book are explained considering the
requirements of Physics students.
The book is aimed for the Honours and Post graduate syllabi of the
Indian universities. It is developed as a textbook for the undergraduate
and postgraduate students of physics. The topics covered in the book
are equally important for the engineering students too. The research
student will also find it useful as a quick reference book.
The book is a result of teaching the topics, covered in the book, for
about 10 years. Each topic is explained from the basics to make it a self
sufficient book. As the book is primarily meant for physics students, it
do not have too many theorems as are found in mathematics books
which makes the subject dull. Each concept in the book is explained
with the help of examples, solved problems and applications in physics.
At the end of each chapter more problems are given for practice.
The topics covered in the book are a part of the syllabi prescribed in
different Indian Universities. Matrices, vector Spaces, Linear
transformations and Cartesian Tensors are also a part of the syllabus
of undergraduate Engineering courses in various Technical Institutes
and Universities.
The book is based on the syllabus of the paper ’Advanced
Mathematical Physics-I’ and also covers Group theory which is a part
of the paper ’Advanced Mathematical Physics-II’ taught to the 3rd
year students of B.Sc(H) Physics, Delhi University. I have been teaching
these topics for about 10 years and found that students as well as
teachers have not been able to find a book which satisfactorily fulfills
the requirements of courses in Physics. Most of the books on these topics
are meant for Mathematics students which Physics/Engineering
students find difficult to relate to the problems of their field. Some books
meant for Physics students discuss these topics briefly and do not give
enough weightage required for applications in Physics. Moreover, there
is not a single book in the market which covers all these topics in
 vi
Preface

sufficient details and teachers/students have to refer different books

for different topics which are part of one paper.
I hope the readers will find the book helpful in understanding the
concepts. Any suggestions to improve the book are welcome from the
readers. I shall be thankful to one and all to bring to my notice any
inadvertent mistakes in the book.
Dr. Savita Gahlaut
Contents

1. Sets, Relations and Operations ................................................................... 1

1.1 Set .................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Basic Operations on Sets ................................................................ 3
1.3 Cartesian Product of Sets ............................................................... 6
1.4 Relations ......................................................................................... 6
1.5 Types of Binary Relations .............................................................. 6
1.6 Functions and Mappings .............................................................. 8
1.7 Binary Operations .......................................................................... 9
2. Matrices and Determinants ....................................................................... 13
2.1 Matrices ........................................................................................ 13
2.2 Matrix Algebra ............................................................................. 13
2.3 Transpose of a matrix ................................................................... 17
2.4 Trace of a square Matrix ............................................................... 18
2.5 Special Square Matrices .............................................................. 19
2.6 Block Matrices .............................................................................. 25
2.7 Elementary Matrices ..................................................................... 28
2.8 Echelon Matrices .......................................................................... 30
2.9 Determinant .................................................................................. 31
2.10 Rank of a Matrix ........................................................................... 35
2.11 Matrix Inversion ........................................................................... 36
3. Groups.................................................................................................... .... 43
3.1 Abstract Systems .......................................................................... 43
3.2 Semi-Group ................................................................................. 44
3.3 Group ............................................................................................ 44
3.4 Some Elementary Properties of Groups ....................................... 48
3.5 Cyclic Group ................................................................................ 49
3.6 Group of Permutations ................................................................. 52
3.7 Sub-Group .................................................................................... 60
3.7.1 Properties of Sub-groups ................................................ 61
3.8 Cosets of a Sub-Group .................................................................. 62
3.8.1 Properties of Cosets ........................................................ 62
3.9 Lagrange’s Theorem ..................................................................... 63
3.10 Normal Sub-Group ....................................................................... 64
3.10.1 Normalizer of a Group ................................................... 65
3.11 Centre of a Group ........................................................................ 65
3.11.1 Centralizer of a Group ................................................... 67
3.12 Relation of Conjugacy in a Group .............................................. 67
3.13 Conjugate Sub-group .................................................................. 68
Contents viii

4. Homomorphism and Isomorphism ........................................................... 71

4.1 Group Homomorphism ............................................................... 71
4.2 Kernel of Homomorphism .......................................................... 72
4.3 Group Isomorphism ..................................................................... 74
4.4 Cayley’s Theorem ......................................................................... 76
5. Vector Spaces .............................................................................................. 81
5.1 Fields ........................................................................................... 81
5.2 Vector Space .................................................................................. 82
5.3 Subspace ....................................................................................... 84
5.4 Linear Combination of Vectors .................................................... 87
5.5 Linear Dependence and Independence ....................................... 87
5.6 Basis and Dimensions ................................................................. 90
5.7 Coordinates ................................................................................. 94
5.8 Isomorphism of Vector Spaces ..................................................... 95
5.9 Inner Product of Vectors ............................................................... 97
5.9.1 Norm of a Vector ............................................................. 99
5.9.2 Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality ........................................... 99
5.10 Orthogonality ............................................................................. 100
5.10.1 Orthonormal Bases ....................................................... 101
6. Linear Transformations .......................................................................... 109
6.1 Definition and Examples .......................................................... 109
6.2 Range Space of a Linear Transformation ................................. 112
6.3 Kernel of a Linear Transformation ............................................. 114
6.4 Operations with Linear Transformations .................................. 116
6.5 Vector Space of Linear Transformations .................................... 119
6.6 Singular and Non-Singular Transformations ........................... 120
7. Linear Transformations and Matrices ..................................................... 127
7.1 Matrix Representation of Linear Transformations .................... 127
7.2 Algebra of Linear Transformations ........................................... 133
7.3 Change of Basis .......................................................................... 135
7.4 Similarity Transformations ........................................................ 138
7.5 Moment of Inertia Matrix ........................................................... 142
7.6 Problems ..................................................................................... 146
8. Eigenvalue Problems and Diagonalization ............................................ 149
8.1 Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors ................................................... 149
8.2 Eigenspace of an eigenvalue ...................................................... 153
8.3 Finding Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors ..................................... 155
8.4 Some Useful Results ................................................................... 160
8.5 Diagonalization ......................................................................... 164
8.6 Simultaneously Diagonalizable Matrices ................................. 169
8.7 Coupled Linear Differential Equations .................................... 174
8.8 Problems ..................................................................................... 180
9. Function of Matrices ................................................................................ 183
9.1 Cayley-Hamilton Theorem ........................................................ 183
9.2 Minimal Polynomial .................................................................. 187
9.3 Minimal Polynomial and Diagonalizability ............................. 190
ix Contents
9.4 Norm of a Matrix ........................................................................ 193
9.5 Matrix Functions ........................................................................ 194
9.6 Evaluating Matrix Functions ..................................................... 200
9.7 Problems ..................................................................................... 203
10. Cartesian Tensors .................................................................................... 205
10.1 Coordinate Transformations ..................................................... 205
10.2 Tensors of order one and zero .................................................... 207
10.3 Tensors of order two .................................................................. 208
10.4 Tensors of higher order .............................................................. 210
10.5 Fundamental Operations with Tensors ..................................... 211
10.6 Tensor Fields ............................................................................. 212
10.7 Kronecker Delta ......................................................................... 213
10.8 Alternating Tensor ..................................................................... 215
10.9 Cross-Product of Vectors ............................................................ 219
10.10 Triple products .......................................................................... 220
10.11 Pseudo Tensors ........................................................................... 221
10.12 Geometrical Applications ......................................................... 227
10.13 Rotation Tensor ......................................................................... 232
10.14 Isotropic Tensors ....................................................................... 234
11. Physical Tensors ...................................................................................... 241
11.1 Tensor of Polarizability .............................................................. 241
11.2 Moment of Inertia Tensor .......................................................... 246
11.3 Tensor of Stress .......................................................................... 248
11.4 Strain Tensor ............................................................................. 254
11.5 Elastic Constants ....................................................................... 260
 About the Book
Mathematical concepts are an absolute necessity for physics and
engineering students. Various mathematical methods are used to
study, understand and develop new theories in all the branches of
physics. In this book some advanced mathematical methods are
explained, keeping in mind the requirements of physics students. The
book is aimed for the undergraduate and postgraduate physics
students and engineering students. The research student will also
find it useful as a quick reference book.

Salient Features
m Each topic is explained from the basics to make it a self-sufficient
book.
m All the concepts are explained with the help of examples and
solved problems.
m Unsolved problems are given at the end of each chapter for more
practice.
m Applications of concepts in physics are discussed.

Dr. Savita Gahlaut is currently

an associate professor at Deen
Dayal Upadhayaya College,
University of Delhi. She has a
teaching experience of 25+
years at undergraduate level.
She received her Ph.D in
Physics from Delhi University.
Her area of specialization is
General Theory of Relativity and
Cosmology.

Sultan Chand & Sons

Publishers of Standard Educational Textbooks
ISBN 978-93-91820-04-6

e Service
TC 1250

th 23 Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002

icated to

of

Phones: 23243183, 23247051, 23277843, 23281876, 23266105

Educatio

Email: [email protected],
ed

n [email protected]; Fax: 011-23266357

• D 9 789391 820046
Website: www.sultanchandandsons.com
•
1950