Braids: Introductory Lectures On Braids, Configurations And Their Applications

This book is an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to familarize themselves with research in braid groups, configuration spaces and their applications. Starting at the beginning, and assuming only basic topology and group theory, the volume''s noted expositors take the reader through the fundamental theory and on to current research and applications in fields as varied as astrophysics, cryptog...