Mathematical Physics (Dover Books on Physics)

ISBN: 0486600564

Author: Menzel, Donald H.

Condition: Used

This is a thorough treatment in one volume of the mathematical techniques vital in classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, quantum theory, and relativity. Designed for junior, senior, and graduate courses in mathematical physics, it presents full explanations of function theory, vectors, matrices, dyadics, tensors, partial differential equations, and other advanced mathematical techniques in their logical order during the presentation of the various physical theories. The completeness of the derivations makes the book especially useful for self-study.Several topics seldom presented, such as electron theory and relativity, appear in considerable detail, because an understanding of them is increasingly vital to the student of atomic physics. But the author's treatment of his chosen subjects in classical physics is no way slighted, and his book has proved valuable to students in all fields of physics.The opening section provides scores of definitions, conversion factors, dimensional constants, and electromagnetic quantities for ready reference later on. There follows a full treatment of the main branches of classical physics: potential theory, spherical harmonics, vector analysis, dyadics, matrices, tensors, hydrodynamics, advanced dynamics, waves and vibrations, quantum mechanics, electromagnetic theory, and radiation theory. The book concludes with a discussion from first principles of the theory of relativity.Nearly 200 problems ranging over a wide level of difficulty and selected from many different fields of physics are included, with answers, at ends of chapters."The treatment is more detailed than normal for an advanced text . . . excellent set of sections on Dyadics, Matrices, and Tensors. . . . The part on waves and vibrations is well done . . . problems well varied in difficulty." Journal of the Franklin Institute.