Jordan theory has developed rapidly in the last three decades, but very few books describe its diverse applications. Here, the author discusses some recent advances of Jordan theory in differential geometry, complex and functional analysis, with the aid of numerous examples and concise historical notes. These include: the connection between Jordan and Lie theory via the Tits-Kantor-Koecher construction of Lie algebras; a Jordan algebraic approach to infinite dimensional symmetric manifolds including Riemannian symmetric spaces; the one-to-one correspondence between bounded symmetric domains and JB*-triples; and applications of Jordan methods in complex function theory. The basic structures and some functional analytic properties of JB*-triples are also discussed. The book is a convenient reference for experts in complex geometry or functional analysis, as well as an introduction to these areas for beginning researchers. The recent applications of Jordan theory discussed in the book should also appeal to algebraists.

Jordan theory has developed rapidly in the last three decades, but very few books describe its diverse applications. Here, the author discusses some recent advances of Jordan theory in differential geometry, complex and functional analysis, with the aid of numerous examples and concise historical notes. These include: the connection between Jordan and Lie theory via the Tits–Kantor–Koecher construction of Lie algebras; a Jordan algebraic approach to infinite dimensional symmetric manifolds including Riemannian symmetric spaces; the one-to-one correspondence between bounded symmetric domains and JB*-triples; and applications of Jordan methods in complex function theory. The basic structures and some functional analytic properties of JB*-triples are also discussed. The book is a convenient reference for experts in complex geometry or functional analysis, as well as an introduction to these areas for beginning researchers. The recent applications of Jordan theory discussed in the book should also appeal to algebraists.

The geometry of Jordan and Lie structures tries to answer the following question: what is the integrated, or geometric, version of real Jordan algebras, - triple systems and - pairs? Lie theory shows the way one has to go: Lie groups and symmetric spaces are the geometric version of Lie algebras and Lie triple systems. It turns out that both geometries are closely related via a functor between them, called the Jordan-Lie functor, which is constructed in this book. The reader is not assumed to have any knowledge of Jordan theory; the text can serve as a self-contained introduction to (real finite-dimensional) Jordan theory.

The theory of Jordan algebras has played important roles behind the scenes of several areas of mathematics. Jacobson's book has long been the definitive treatment of the subject. It covers foundational material, structure theory, and representation theory for Jordan algebras. Of course, there are immediate connections with Lie algebras, which Jacobson details in Chapter 8. Of particular continuing interest is the discussion of exceptional Jordan algebras, which serve to explain the exceptional Lie algebras and Lie groups. Jordan algebras originally arose in the attempts by Jordan, von Neumann, and Wigner to formulate the foundations of quantum mechanics. They are still useful and important in modern mathematical physics, as well as in Lie theory, geometry, and certain areas of analysis.

This book describes the history of Jordan algebras and describes in full mathematical detail the recent structure theory for Jordan algebras of arbitrary dimension due to Efim Zel'manov. Jordan algebras crop up in many surprising settings, and find application to a variety of mathematical areas. No knowledge is required beyond standard first-year graduate algebra courses.