Undergrad What Are the Best Reading Recommendations for Understanding Spinors in Physics?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on recommended readings for understanding spinors in physics, particularly in the context of Minkowski space and the Dirac field. Participants suggest resources that balance mathematical formalism with physical applications, emphasizing the need for texts that avoid excessive abstraction. Notable recommendations include Van Proeyen's supergravity lectures, which provide insights into the construction of spinors and their Lie Algebra generators. The goal is to deepen the understanding of spinors without delving into overly complex proofs.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of Minkowski space and its implications for physics.
  • Familiarity with the Dirac field and its significance in quantum mechanics.
  • Knowledge of Lie Algebra and its role in theoretical physics.
  • Basic mathematical skills to comprehend the formalism of spinors.
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore Van Proeyen's supergravity lectures for practical applications of spinors.
  • Research the mathematical foundations of spinors in higher dimensions.
  • Study the construction and properties of Lie Algebras relevant to spinors.
  • Investigate other texts that bridge the gap between mathematics and physics in the context of spinors.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, theoretical physicists, and mathematicians interested in the applications and mathematical structures of spinors in quantum field theory.

Silviu
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Hello! Can someone recommend me some good readings about spinors in physics? I know some basics (i.e. how they work in Minkowski space for Dirac field), but I would like to understand more of the mathematical formalism behind them (how can you build them, in a general number of dimensions, how do you build the generators of their Lie Algebra etc.). I would honestly prefer a book that doesn't go too deep into the formalism (i.e. complete proofs of any small details, and extreme abstractisations), but something at the boundary between math and physics. Thank you!
 
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Van Proeyen's supergravity lectures could be helpful.
 

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