Chapter 1 introduces some of the terminology and notation used later and indicates prerequisites. Chapter 2 gives a reasonably thorough account of all finite subgroups of the orthogonal groups in two and three dimensions. The presentation is somewhat less formal than in succeeding chapters. For instance, the existence of the icosahedron is accepted as an empirical fact, and no formal proof of existence is included. Throughout most of Chapter 2 we do not distinguish between groups that are "geo metrically indistinguishable," that is, conjugate in the orthogonal group. Very little of the material in Chapter 2 is actually required for the sub sequent chapters, but it serves two important purposes: It aids in the development of geometrical insight, and it serves as a source of illustrative examples. There is a discussion offundamental regions in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 provides a correspondence between fundamental reflections and funda mental regions via a discussion of root systems. The actual classification and construction of finite reflection groups takes place in Chapter 5. where we have in part followed the methods of E. Witt and B. L. van der Waerden. Generators and relations for finite reflection groups are discussed in Chapter 6. There are historical remarks and suggestions for further reading in a Post lude."

An authoritative, full-year course on both group theory and ordinary character theory—essential tools for mathematics and the physical sciences

One of the few treatments available combining both group theory and character theory, Groups and Characters is an effective general textbook on these two fundamentally connected subjects. Presuming only a basic knowledge of abstract algebra as in a first-year graduate course, the text opens with a review of background material and then guides readers carefully through several of the most important aspects of groups and characters, concentrating mainly on finite groups.

Challenging yet accessible, Groups and Characters features:

• An extensive collection of examples surveying many different types of groups, including Sylow subgroups of symmetric groups, affine groups of fields, the Mathieu groups, and symplectic groups
• A thorough, easy-to-follow discussion of Pólya-Redfield enumeration, with applications to combinatorics
• Inclusive explorations of the transfer function and normal complements, induction and restriction of characters, Clifford theory, characters of symmetric and alternating groups, Frobenius groups, and the Schur index
• Illuminating accounts of several computational aspects of group theory, such as the Schreier-Sims algorithm, Todd-Coxeter coset enumeration, and algorithms for generating character tables

As valuable as Groups and Characters will prove as a textbook for mathematicians, it has broader applications. With chapters suitable for use as independent review units, along with a full bibliography and index, it will be a dependable general reference for chemists, physicists, and crystallographers.

Chapter 1 introduces some of the terminology and notation used later and indicates prerequisites. Chapter 2 gives a reasonably thorough account of all finite subgroups of the orthogonal groups in two and three dimensions. The presentation is somewhat less formal than in succeeding chapters. For instance, the existence of the icosahedron is accepted as an empirical fact, and no formal proof of existence is included. Throughout most of Chapter 2 we do not distinguish between groups that are "geo metrically indistinguishable," that is, conjugate in the orthogonal group. Very little of the material in Chapter 2 is actually required for the sub sequent chapters, but it serves two important purposes: It aids in the development of geometrical insight, and it serves as a source of illustrative examples. There is a discussion offundamental regions in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 provides a correspondence between fundamental reflections and funda mental regions via a discussion of root systems. The actual classification and construction of finite reflection groups takes place in Chapter 5. where we have in part followed the methods of E. Witt and B. L. van der Waerden. Generators and relations for finite reflection groups are discussed in Chapter 6. There are historical remarks and suggestions for further reading in a Post lude."