An introduction to symmetric spaces

Abstract

Recently, the theory of symmetric spaces has come to play an increased role in the physics of integrable systems and in quantum transport problems. In addition, it provides a classification of random matrix theories. In this paper we give a self--contained introduction to symmetric spaces and their main characteristics. We take an algebraic approach; therefore it is not necessary to know almost anything about differential geometry to be able to follow the outline.

65 pages, no figures