An introduction to symmetric spaces
arXiv:cond-mat/0205288
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