Smooth Manifolds and Observables (Electronic book text, 2003 ed.)

This book is a self-contained introduction to fiber spaces and differential operators on smooth manifolds that is accessible to graduate students specializing in mathematics and physics. Over the last 20 years the authors developed an algebraic approach to the subject and they explain in this book why differential calculus on manifolds can be considered as an aspect of commutative algebra. This new approach is based on the fundamential notion of observable which is used by physicists and it will further the understanding of the mathematics underlying quantum field theory. The prerequisites for this book are a standard advanced calculus course as well as courses in linear algebra and algebraic structures.