The partition function of the two-dimensional Ising model with zero magnetic
field on a square lattice with m x n sites wrapped on a torus is computed
within the transfer matrix formalism in an explicit step-by-step approach
inspired by Kaufman's work. However, working with two commuting representations
of the complex rotation group SO(2n,C) helps us avoid a number of unnecessary
complications. We find all eigenvalues of the transfer matrix and therefore the
partition function in a straightforward way.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures; eqs. (101) and (102) corrected, files for fig. 2
fixed, minor beautification