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This book covers the basics of Clifford algebras and spinor modules, with applications to the theory of Lie groups. Topics include Petracci´s proof of the Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt theorem, quantized Weil algebras, Duflo´s theorem for quadratic Lie algebras and more.

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This monograph provides an introduction to the theory of Clifford algebras, with an emphasis on its connections with the theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras. The book starts with a detailed presentation of the main results on symmetric bilinear forms and Clifford algebras. It develops the spin groups and the spin representation, culminating in Cartan´s famous triality automorphism for the group Spin(8). The discussion of enveloping algebras includes a presentation of Petracci´s proof of the Poincaré-Birkhoff-Witt theorem.

This is followed by discussions of Weil algebras, Chern--Weil theory, the quantum Weil algebra, and the cubic Dirac operator. The applications to Lie theory include Duflo´s theorem for the case of quadratic Lie algebras, multiplets of representations, and Dirac induction. The last part of the book is an account of Kostant´s structure theory of the Clifford algebra over a semisimple Lie algebra. It describes his "Clifford algebra analogue" of the Hopf-Koszul-Samelson theorem, and explains his fascinating conjecture relating the Harish-Chandra projection for Clifford algebras to the principal sl(2) subalgebra.

Aside from these beautiful applications, the book will serve as a convenient and up-to-date reference for background material from Clifford theory, relevant for students and researchers in mathematics and physics.

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Preface.- Conventions.- List of Symbols.- 1 Symmetric bilinear forms.- 2 Clifford algebras.- 3 The spin representation.- 4 Covariant and contravariant spinors.- 5 Enveloping algebras.- 6 Weil algebras.- 7 Quantum Weil algebras.- 8 Applications to reductive Lie algebras.- 9 D(g; k) as a geometric Dirac operator.- 10 The Hopf-Koszul-Samelson Theorem.- 11 The Clifford algebra of a reductive Lie algebra.- A Graded and filtered super spaces.- B Reductive Lie algebras.- C Background on Lie groups.- References.- Index.

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Main areas of research are symplectic geometry, with applications to Lie theory and mathematical physics.

Professor at the University of Toronto since 1998.

Honors include: Fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada (since 2008), Steacie Fellowship (2007), McLean Award (2003), Andre Aisenstadt Prize (2001).

Invited speaker at the 2002 ICM in Beijing.

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