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An Introduction to Matrix Lie Groups

By Prof. Krishnendu Gongopadhyay   |   Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali
Learners enrolled: 362   |  Exam registration: 18
ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course offers an introduction to the theory of matrix Lie groups which are groups of invertible matrices that act as geometric transformations of space. We explore their geometric structures, focusing on key examples of matrix groups. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between group theory, geometry, and linear algebra. The course is designed to build foundational tools for further study in Lie groups, differential geometry, and mathematical physics.The course assumes minimal prerequisites and should be accessible to anyone with basic knowledge of group theory, linear algebra, and calculus.


PREREQUISITES: Calculus, basic linear algebra and basic group theory. Basic knowledge on general topology can be useful, but not necessary.


INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Any industry that deal with Quantum computations, Robotics and Control theory should recognize this course.
Summary
Course Status : Ongoing
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Mathematics
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 19 Jan 2026
End Date : 10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends : 02 Feb 2026
Exam Registration Ends : 20 Feb 2026
Exam Date : 19 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


Page Visits



Course layout

Week 1:  Geometry of complex numbers. The quaternions. Motivating examples: Space rotations and Rotations of a sphere.

Week 2: The general linear groups. Conjugation and Change of basis. . All matrix groups are real matrix groups.

Week 3: The Unitary groups. The Euclidean isometry group. Low dimensional examples.

Week 4: Topology of matrix groups. Open sets. Continuity. Connected sets. Compact sets.

Week 5: Lie algebras. Examples. Lie algebras as vector fields. The Lie algebras of orthogonal groups

Week 6: Matrix Exponentiation. Properties of Matrix Exponentiation. One parameter subgroups

Week 7: Analysis background. Differentiation. Chain rules. Inverse and Implicit function theorems.

Week 8: Restriction of exponential map to Lie algebras. Realization of matrix groups as smooth manifolds

Week 9: The Lie bracket. Adjoint representation. Example of Adjoint representation

Week 10: The double cover Sp(1) → SO(3), Some other double covers. Sketch of the Lie group-Lie algebra correspondence.

Week 11: Maximal torus. Center of compact matrix groups. Conjugates of maximal tori

Week 12: Introduction to smooth manifolds and Lie groups. Example that not all Lie groups are matrix groups. Applications of Lie groups in Natural sciences.

Books and references

1. Kristopher tapp, Matrix groups for undergraduates. Second edition, Stud. Math. Libr., 79, American Mathematical Society, Providence, RI, 2016.
2. M. L. Curtis, Matrix Groups, Universitext, Springer-Verlag, 1984.
3. Lie Groups, Physics and Geometry - Robert Gilmore, Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Instructor bio

Prof. Krishnendu Gongopadhyay

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali
Prof. Krishnendu Gongopadhyay is a professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research(IISER) Mohali. He is known for his work in geometry and its connections with group theory.Gongopadhyay earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2009under the supervision of Professor Ravi S. Kulkarni. Prior to this, he was a research scholar at the Harish Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Allahabad. He also held postdoctoral fellowships at the Tata Institute ofFundamental Research (TIFR) and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Kolkata. He is serving as a faculty at the IISER Mohali since 2010.

He has supervised 8 completed Ph.D. students and guided over 20 MS theses. He has also mentored several postdoctoral researchers. Gongopadhyay is actively involved in organizing research schools,teacher training workshops, and national outreach programs in mathematics. He has developed courses for several of these workshops and has delivered lectures on topics ranging from classical geometry tocontemporary developments in group theory and geometry.

He was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) in 2023. In the same year, heheld the Simon Visiting Professorship at the Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (MFO) in Germany. He was awarded the INSA Indo-Australia Early and Mid Career Fellowship for 2016–17 and held Junior Associateship at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste,from 2014 to 2019. He has been awarded numerous research grants from DST, SERB and NBHM,including some bilateral research projects.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: April 19, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IISER Mohali. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team
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