IOP Expanding Physics - Böcker

In this book, author Gary Wysin provides an overview of some model systems and their behaviour and effects. Intended for advanced students and researchers in physics, chemistry and engineering, which are interested in confined magnetics either to form a purely theoretical point of view or to consider properties for potential novel applications. It is also suitable as an auxiliary text in a class on magnetism or solid state physics. Some previous physics knowledge is expected, including the understanding of classical Hamiltonian mechanics, basic ideas about quantum spin, and statistical physics. Some of the later chapters consider electromagnetic effects in magnets in metals, where some basic knowledge of classical electromagnetism and electromagnetic waves is needed.

Principles ofLightning Physics presents and discusses the most up-to-date physicalconcepts that govern many lightning events in nature, including lightninginteractions with man-made structures, at a level suitable for researchers,advanced students and well-educated lightning enthusiasts. The author's approach to understanding lightning –to seek out, and show what is common to all lightning flashes – is illustratedby an analysis of each type of lightning and the multitude of lightning-relatedfeatures. The book examines the work that has gone into the development of newphysical concepts, and provides critical evaluations of the existingunderstanding of the physics of lightning and the lexicon of terms anddefinitions presently used in lightning research.

Effective Science Communication: A practical guide to surviving as a scientist is devoted to the variety of ways that scientists are expected to communicate in their day-to-day professional lives. It includes practical advice on how to publish your work in scientific journals, apply for grants, and effectively communicate your research to both scientific and non-scientific audiences. There are chapters devoted to constructing a digital footprint, dealing with the media, and influencing science policy. There are a number of useful exercises throughout the book that will help you to become a more effective communicator, providing a helping hand in your scientific journey to not only survive, but to prosper in the process.

Nuclear physics has undergone stupendous developments since its beginnings approximately a century ago. The field developed into particle and high-energy physics, culminating in the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in 2012. The study of nuclear reactions not only tells us about the nature of the forces that act within nuclei, but studying such reactions provides a basic tool used to elucidate the structure of nuclides. In this book, the author charts the developments in nuclear reaction physics since its inception by reviewing the crucial experiments that helped drive and shape our understanding of the field. It is fascinating to look at theoretical developments in the area of subatomic physics in step with the grand new ideas of the early 20th century where quantum theory and the theory of relativity opened up entirely new views of the world. Experiments had to provide answers to alternative theoretical interpretations, but also gave hints as to “new physics” and challenges to the contemporary perception of the nuclear and sub-atomic worlds. In this respect, it is enlightening to study the details of early experiments, where quite often epoch-making results were obtained with very simple means, but all those experiments were based on earlier attempts that were carefully refined to yield unambiguous evidence. Here the crucial experiments that often, but not always have been the first in a subfield, are described in some detail, often including original drawings or detailed experimental setups. A look back in time to the beginnings and key discoveries will help better understand how the often very sophisticated and complex experiments of today came about. For readers interested in questions of the history of science it is also instructive to learn how misinterpretations and prejudices prevented or delayed early fundamental breakthroughs.

This book establishes the foundations of non-equilibrium quantum statistical mechanics in order to support students and academics in developing and building their understanding. The formal theory is derived from first principles by mathematical analysis, with concrete physical interpretations and worked examples throughout. It explains the central role of entropy; its relation to the probability operator and the generalisation to transitions, as well as providing first principles derivation of the von Neumann trace form, the Maxwell-Boltzmann form and the Schrödinger equation.