Vector Spaces And Matrics in Physics

The theory of vector spaces and matrices is an essential part of the mathematical background required by physicists. This book is written primarily as a text for the undergraduate and postgraduate students and as a reference for physicists. Special emphasis is given to topics relevant to physics, e.g., linear independence and dependence of vectors, inner product, orthonormality, matrices as representations of linear transformations on vector spaces, similarity, eigenvalues, eigenvectors and diagonalization of matrices etc. The role of orthogonal, Hermitian and unitary matrices in physics is highlighted. A large number of solved problems and exercises, with enough hints/solutions, are provided to make the book self sufficient.