John Dirk Walecka - Böcker

This self-contained treatment of nonrelativistic many-particle systems discusses both formalism and applications in terms of ground-state (zero-temperature) formalism, finite-temperature formalism, canonical transformations, and applications to physical systems. 149 figures. 8 tables. 1971 edition.

The scattering of high-energy electrons from nuclear and nucleon targets provides a microscope for examining the structure of these tiny objects. The best evidence we have on what nuclei and nucleons actually look like comes from electron scattering. This 2001 book examines the motivation for electron scattering and develops the theoretical analysis of the process. It discusses our theoretical understanding of the underlying structure of nuclei and nucleons at appropriate levels of resolution and sophistication, and summarizes experimental electron scattering capabilities. Only a working knowledge of quantum mechanics and special relativity is assumed, making this a suitable textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses. It will also provide a valuable summary and reference for researchers already working in electron scattering and other areas of nuclear and particle physics. This text has been reissued as an Open Access publication on Cambridge Core.

The scattering of high-energy electrons from nuclear and nucleon targets provides a microscope for examining the structure of these tiny objects. The best evidence we have on what nuclei and nucleons actually look like comes from electron scattering. This 2001 book examines the motivation for electron scattering and develops the theoretical analysis of the process. It discusses our theoretical understanding of the underlying structure of nuclei and nucleons at appropriate levels of resolution and sophistication, and summarizes experimental electron scattering capabilities. Only a working knowledge of quantum mechanics and special relativity is assumed, making this a suitable textbook for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses. It will also provide a valuable summary and reference for researchers already working in electron scattering and other areas of nuclear and particle physics. This text has been reissued as an Open Access publication on Cambridge Core.

The 1952 Nobel physics laureate Felix Bloch (1905-83) was one of the titans of twentieth-century physics. He laid the fundamentals for the theory of solids and has been called the “father of solid-state physics.” His numerous, valuable contributions include the theory of magnetism, measurement of the magnetic moment of the neutron, nuclear magnetic resonance, and the infrared problem in quantum electrodynamics.Statistical mechanics is a crucial subject which explores the understanding of the physical behaviour of many-body systems that create the world around us. Bloch's first-year graduate course at Stanford University was the highlight for several generations of students. Upon his retirement, he worked on a book based on the course. Unfortunately, at the time of his death, the writing was incomplete.This book has been prepared by Professor John Dirk Walecka from Bloch's unfinished masterpiece. It also includes three sets of Bloch's handwritten lecture notes (dating from 1949, 1969 and 1976), and details of lecture notes taken in 1976 by Brian Serot, who gave an invaluable opinion of the course from a student's perspective. All of Bloch's problem sets, some dating back to 1933, have been included.The book is accessible to anyone in the physical sciences at the advanced undergraduate level or the first-year graduate level.

The 1952 Nobel physics laureate Felix Bloch (1905-83) was one of the titans of twentieth-century physics. He laid the fundamentals for the theory of solids and has been called the “father of solid-state physics.” His numerous, valuable contributions include the theory of magnetism, measurement of the magnetic moment of the neutron, nuclear magnetic resonance, and the infrared problem in quantum electrodynamics.Statistical mechanics is a crucial subject which explores the understanding of the physical behaviour of many-body systems that create the world around us. Bloch's first-year graduate course at Stanford University was the highlight for several generations of students. Upon his retirement, he worked on a book based on the course. Unfortunately, at the time of his death, the writing was incomplete.This book has been prepared by Professor John Dirk Walecka from Bloch's unfinished masterpiece. It also includes three sets of Bloch's handwritten lecture notes (dating from 1949, 1969 and 1976), and details of lecture notes taken in 1976 by Brian Serot, who gave an invaluable opinion of the course from a student's perspective. All of Bloch's problem sets, some dating back to 1933, have been included.The book is accessible to anyone in the physical sciences at the advanced undergraduate level or the first-year graduate level.

The previously published book Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism provides a clear, calculus-based introduction to a subject that together with classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and modern physics lies at the heart of today's physics curriculum. The lectures, although relatively concise, take one from Coulomb's law to Maxwell's equations and special relativity in a lucid and logical fashion. That book contains an extensive set of accessible problems that enhances and extends the coverage. As an aid to teaching and learning, the present book provides the solutions to those problems.

This textbook aims to provide a clear and concise set of lectures that take one from the introduction and application of Newton's laws up to Hamilton's principle of stationary action and the lagrangian mechanics of continuous systems. An extensive set of accessible problems enhances and extends the coverage.It serves as a prequel to the author's recently published book entitled Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism based on an introductory course taught sometime ago at Stanford with over 400 students enrolled. Both lectures assume a good, concurrent, course in calculus and familiarity with basic concepts in physics; the development is otherwise self-contained.A good introduction to the subject allows one to approach the many more intermediate and advanced texts with better understanding and a deeper sense of appreciation that both students and teachers alike can share.

This textbook aims to provide a clear and concise set of lectures that take one from the introduction and application of Newton's laws up to Hamilton's principle of stationary action and the lagrangian mechanics of continuous systems. An extensive set of accessible problems enhances and extends the coverage.It serves as a prequel to the author's recently published book entitled Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism based on an introductory course taught sometime ago at Stanford with over 400 students enrolled. Both lectures assume a good, concurrent, course in calculus and familiarity with basic concepts in physics; the development is otherwise self-contained.A good introduction to the subject allows one to approach the many more intermediate and advanced texts with better understanding and a deeper sense of appreciation that both students and teachers alike can share.

The textbook Introduction to Classical Mechanics aims to provide a clear and concise set of lectures that take one from the introduction and application of Newton's laws up to Hamilton's principle of stationary action and the lagrangian mechanics of continuous systems. An extensive set of accessible problems enhances and extends the coverage.It serves as a prequel to the author's recently published book entitled Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism based on an introductory course taught some time ago at Stanford with over 400 students enrolled. Both lectures assume a good, concurrent course in calculus and familiarity with basic concepts in physics; the development is otherwise self-contained.As an aid for teaching and learning, and as was previously done with the publication of Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism: Solutions to Problems, this additional book provides the solutions to the problems in the text Introduction to Classical Mechanics.

The textbook Introduction to Classical Mechanics aims to provide a clear and concise set of lectures that take one from the introduction and application of Newton's laws up to Hamilton's principle of stationary action and the lagrangian mechanics of continuous systems. An extensive set of accessible problems enhances and extends the coverage.It serves as a prequel to the author's recently published book entitled Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism based on an introductory course taught some time ago at Stanford with over 400 students enrolled. Both lectures assume a good, concurrent course in calculus and familiarity with basic concepts in physics; the development is otherwise self-contained.As an aid for teaching and learning, and as was previously done with the publication of Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism: Solutions to Problems, this additional book provides the solutions to the problems in the text Introduction to Classical Mechanics.

The author has published two texts on classical physics, Introduction to Classical Mechanics and Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, both meant for initial one-quarter physics courses. The latter is based on a course taught at Stanford several years ago with over 400 students enrolled. These lectures, aimed at the very best students, assume a good concurrent course in calculus; they are otherwise self-contained. Both texts contain an extensive set of accessible problems that enhances and extends the coverage. As an aid to teaching and learning, the solutions to these problems have now been published in additional texts.The present text completes the first-year introduction to physics with a set of lectures on Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, the very successful theory of the microscopic world. The Schrödinger equation is motivated and presented. Several applications are explored, including scattering and transition rates. The applications are extended to include quantum electrodynamics and quantum statistics. There is a discussion of quantum measurements. The lectures then arrive at a formal presentation of quantum theory together with a summary of its postulates. A concluding chapter provides a brief introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics. An extensive set of accessible problems again enhances and extends the coverage.The goal of these three texts is to provide students and teachers alike with a good, understandable, introduction to the fundamentals of classical and quantum physics.

The author has published two texts on classical physics, Introduction to Classical Mechanics and Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, both meant for initial one-quarter physics courses. The latter is based on a course taught at Stanford several years ago with over 400 students enrolled. These lectures, aimed at the very best students, assume a good concurrent course in calculus; they are otherwise self-contained. Both texts contain an extensive set of accessible problems that enhances and extends the coverage. As an aid to teaching and learning, the solutions to these problems have now been published in additional texts.The present text completes the first-year introduction to physics with a set of lectures on Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, the very successful theory of the microscopic world. The Schrödinger equation is motivated and presented. Several applications are explored, including scattering and transition rates. The applications are extended to include quantum electrodynamics and quantum statistics. There is a discussion of quantum measurements. The lectures then arrive at a formal presentation of quantum theory together with a summary of its postulates. A concluding chapter provides a brief introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics. An extensive set of accessible problems again enhances and extends the coverage.The goal of these three texts is to provide students and teachers alike with a good, understandable, introduction to the fundamentals of classical and quantum physics.

The author has published two texts on classical physics, Introduction to Classical Mechanics and Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, both meant for initial one-quarter physics courses. The latter is based on a course taught at Stanford several years ago with over 400 students enrolled. These lectures, aimed at the very best students, assume a good concurrent course in calculus; they are otherwise self-contained. Both texts contain an extensive set of accessible problems that enhances and extends the coverage. As an aid to teaching and learning, the solutions to these problems have now been published in additional texts.A third published text completes the first-year introduction to physics with a set of lectures on Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, the very successful theory of the microscopic world. The Schrödinger equation is motivated and presented. Several applications are explored, including scattering and transition rates. The applications are extended to include quantum electrodynamics and quantum statistics. There is a discussion of quantum measurements. The lectures then arrive at a formal presentation of quantum theory together with a summary of its postulates. A concluding chapter provides a brief introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics. An extensive set of accessible problems again enhances and extends the coverage. The current book provides the solutions to those problems.The goal of these three texts is to provide students and teachers alike with a good, understandable, introduction to the fundamentals of classical and quantum physics.

The author has published two texts on classical physics, Introduction to Classical Mechanics and Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism, both meant for initial one-quarter physics courses. The latter is based on a course taught at Stanford several years ago with over 400 students enrolled. These lectures, aimed at the very best students, assume a good concurrent course in calculus; they are otherwise self-contained. Both texts contain an extensive set of accessible problems that enhances and extends the coverage. As an aid to teaching and learning, the solutions to these problems have now been published in additional texts.A third published text completes the first-year introduction to physics with a set of lectures on Introduction to Quantum Mechanics, the very successful theory of the microscopic world. The Schrödinger equation is motivated and presented. Several applications are explored, including scattering and transition rates. The applications are extended to include quantum electrodynamics and quantum statistics. There is a discussion of quantum measurements. The lectures then arrive at a formal presentation of quantum theory together with a summary of its postulates. A concluding chapter provides a brief introduction to relativistic quantum mechanics. An extensive set of accessible problems again enhances and extends the coverage. The current book provides the solutions to those problems.The goal of these three texts is to provide students and teachers alike with a good, understandable, introduction to the fundamentals of classical and quantum physics.

This book is a revised and updated version of the most comprehensive text on nuclear and subnuclear physics, first published in 1995. It maintains the original goal of providing a clear, logical, in-depth, and unifying treatment of modern nuclear theory, ranging from the nonrelativistic many-body problem to the standard model of the strong, electromagnetic, and weak interactions. In addition, new chapters on the theoretical and experimental advances made in nuclear and subnuclear physics in the past decade have been incorporated.Four key topics are emphasized: basic nuclear structure, the relativistic nuclear many-body problem, strong-coupling QCD, and electroweak interactions with nuclei. New chapters have been added on the many-particle shell model, effective field theory, density functional theory, heavy-ion reactions and quark-gluon plasma, neutrinos, and electron scattering.This book is designed to provide graduate students with a basic understanding of modern nuclear and hadronic physics needed to explore the frontiers of the field. Researchers will benefit from the updates on developments and the bibliography.

This book is a revised and updated version of the most comprehensive text on nuclear and subnuclear physics, first published in 1995. It maintains the original goal of providing a clear, logical, in-depth, and unifying treatment of modern nuclear theory, ranging from the nonrelativistic many-body problem to the standard model of the strong, electromagnetic, and weak interactions. In addition, new chapters on the theoretical and experimental advances made in nuclear and subnuclear physics in the past decade have been incorporated.Four key topics are emphasized: basic nuclear structure, the relativistic nuclear many-body problem, strong-coupling QCD, and electroweak interactions with nuclei. New chapters have been added on the many-particle shell model, effective field theory, density functional theory, heavy-ion reactions and quark-gluon plasma, neutrinos, and electron scattering.This book is designed to provide graduate students with a basic understanding of modern nuclear and hadronic physics needed to explore the frontiers of the field. Researchers will benefit from the updates on developments and the bibliography.

A working knowledge of Einstein's theory of general relativity is an essential tool for every physicist today. This self-contained book is an introductory text on the subject aimed at first-year graduate students, or advanced undergraduates, in physics that assumes only a basic understanding of classical Lagrangian mechanics. The mechanics problem of a point mass constrained to move without friction on a two-dimensional surface of arbitrary shape serves as a paradigm for the development of the mathematics and physics of general relativity. After reviewing special relativity, the basic principles of general relativity are presented, and the most important applications are discussed. The final special topics section guides the reader through a few important areas of current research.This book will allow the reader to approach the more advanced texts and monographs, as well as the continual influx of fascinating new experimental results, with a deeper understanding and sense of appreciation.

A working knowledge of Einstein's theory of general relativity is an essential tool for every physicist today. This self-contained book is an introductory text on the subject aimed at first-year graduate students, or advanced undergraduates, in physics that assumes only a basic understanding of classical Lagrangian mechanics. The mechanics problem of a point mass constrained to move without friction on a two-dimensional surface of arbitrary shape serves as a paradigm for the development of the mathematics and physics of general relativity. After reviewing special relativity, the basic principles of general relativity are presented, and the most important applications are discussed. The final special topics section guides the reader through a few important areas of current research.This book will allow the reader to approach the more advanced texts and monographs, as well as the continual influx of fascinating new experimental results, with a deeper understanding and sense of appreciation.

Our understanding of the physical world was revolutionized in the twentieth century — the era of “modern physics''. This book, aimed at the very best students, presents the foundations and frontiers of today's physics. It focuses on the following topics: quantum mechanics; applications in atomic, nuclear, particle, and condensed-matter physics; special relativity; relativistic quantum mechanics, including the Dirac equation and Feynman diagrams; quantum fields; and general relativity. The aim is to cover these topics in sufficient depth such that things “make sense'' to students and they can achieve an elementary working knowledge of them. Many problems are included, a great number of which take dedicated readers just as far as they want to go in modern physics. Although the book is designed so that one can, in principle, read and follow the text without doing any of the problems, the reader is urged to attempt as many of them as possible. Several appendices help bring the reader up to speed on any additional required mathematics. With very few exceptions, the reader should then find the text, together with the appendices and problems, to be self-contained.

Our understanding of the physical world was revolutionized in the twentieth century — the era of “modern physics''. This book, aimed at the very best students, presents the foundations and frontiers of today's physics. It focuses on the following topics: quantum mechanics; applications in atomic, nuclear, particle, and condensed-matter physics; special relativity; relativistic quantum mechanics, including the Dirac equation and Feynman diagrams; quantum fields; and general relativity. The aim is to cover these topics in sufficient depth such that things “make sense'' to students and they can achieve an elementary working knowledge of them. Many problems are included, a great number of which take dedicated readers just as far as they want to go in modern physics. Although the book is designed so that one can, in principle, read and follow the text without doing any of the problems, the reader is urged to attempt as many of them as possible. Several appendices help bring the reader up to speed on any additional required mathematics. With very few exceptions, the reader should then find the text, together with the appendices and problems, to be self-contained.

Statistical mechanics is concerned with defining the thermodynamic properties of a macroscopic sample in terms of the properties of the microscopic systems of which it is composed. The previous book Introduction to Statistical Mechanics provided a clear, logical, and self-contained treatment of equilibrium statistical mechanics starting from Boltzmann's two statistical assumptions, and presented a wide variety of applications to diverse physical assemblies. An appendix provided an introduction to non-equilibrium statistical mechanics through the Boltzmann equation and its extensions. The coverage in that book was enhanced and extended through the inclusion of many accessible problems. The current book provides solutions to those problems. These texts assume only introductory courses in classical and quantum mechanics, as well as familiarity with multi-variable calculus and the essentials of complex analysis. Some knowledge of thermodynamics is also assumed, although the analysis starts with an appropriate review of that topic. The targeted audience is first-year graduate students and advanced undergraduates, in physics, chemistry, and the related physical sciences. The goal of these texts is to help the reader obtain a clear working knowledge of the very useful and powerful methods of equilibrium statistical mechanics and to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the more advanced texts.

Statistical mechanics is concerned with defining the thermodynamic properties of a macroscopic sample in terms of the properties of the microscopic systems of which it is composed. The previous book Introduction to Statistical Mechanics provided a clear, logical, and self-contained treatment of equilibrium statistical mechanics starting from Boltzmann's two statistical assumptions, and presented a wide variety of applications to diverse physical assemblies. An appendix provided an introduction to non-equilibrium statistical mechanics through the Boltzmann equation and its extensions. The coverage in that book was enhanced and extended through the inclusion of many accessible problems. The current book provides solutions to those problems. These texts assume only introductory courses in classical and quantum mechanics, as well as familiarity with multi-variable calculus and the essentials of complex analysis. Some knowledge of thermodynamics is also assumed, although the analysis starts with an appropriate review of that topic. The targeted audience is first-year graduate students and advanced undergraduates, in physics, chemistry, and the related physical sciences. The goal of these texts is to help the reader obtain a clear working knowledge of the very useful and powerful methods of equilibrium statistical mechanics and to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the more advanced texts.

It is important for every physicist today to have a working knowledge of Einstein's theory of general relativity. Introduction to General Relativity published in 2007 was aimed at first-year graduate students, or advanced undergraduates, in physics. Only a basic understanding of classical lagrangian mechanics is assumed; beyond that, the reader should find the material to be self-contained.The mechanics problem of a point mass constrained to move without friction on a two-dimensional surface of arbitrary shape serves as a paradigm for the development of the mathematics and physics of general relativity. Special relativity is reviewed. The basic principles of general relativity are then presented, and the most important applications are discussed. The final special topics section takes the reader up to a few areas of current research. An extensive set of accessible problems enhances and extends the coverage.As a learning and teaching tool, this current book provides solutions to those problems. This text and solutions manual are meant to provide an introduction to the subject. It is hoped that these books will allow the reader to approach the more advanced texts and monographs, as well as the continual influx of fascinating new experimental results, with a deeper understanding and sense of appreciation.

'It is an excellent, concise introduction to the topic. It presents mathematical treatments of abstract concepts in a clear and straightforward way. I think it will be most effective as a companion to other excellent introductory texts, but readers who want to review the material will find the author’s treatment of electricity and magnetism refreshing.'Physics TodayThese lectures provide an introduction to a subject that together with classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and modern physics lies at the heart of today's physics curriculum. This introduction to electricity and magnetism assumes only a good course in calculus, and familiarity with vectors and Newton's laws; it is otherwise self-contained. Furthermore, these lectures, although relatively concise, take one from Coulomb's law to Maxwell's equations and special relativity in a lucid and logical fashion.An extensive set of accessible problems enhances and extends the coverage. Review chapters spaced throughout the text summarize the material. Clear departure points for further study are indicated along the way. The principles of electromagnetism, as synthesized in Maxwell's equations and the Lorentz force, have such an astonishing range of applicability. A good introduction to this subject, even at the cost of some repetition, allows one to approach the many more advanced texts and monographs with better understanding and a deeper sense of appreciation that both students and teachers can share alike.

'It is an excellent, concise introduction to the topic. It presents mathematical treatments of abstract concepts in a clear and straightforward way. I think it will be most effective as a companion to other excellent introductory texts, but readers who want to review the material will find the author’s treatment of electricity and magnetism refreshing.'Physics TodayThese lectures provide an introduction to a subject that together with classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and modern physics lies at the heart of today's physics curriculum. This introduction to electricity and magnetism assumes only a good course in calculus, and familiarity with vectors and Newton's laws; it is otherwise self-contained. Furthermore, these lectures, although relatively concise, take one from Coulomb's law to Maxwell's equations and special relativity in a lucid and logical fashion.An extensive set of accessible problems enhances and extends the coverage. Review chapters spaced throughout the text summarize the material. Clear departure points for further study are indicated along the way. The principles of electromagnetism, as synthesized in Maxwell's equations and the Lorentz force, have such an astonishing range of applicability. A good introduction to this subject, even at the cost of some repetition, allows one to approach the many more advanced texts and monographs with better understanding and a deeper sense of appreciation that both students and teachers can share alike.