Oxford Classic Texts in the Physical Sciences – serie

Kepler's essay, On the Six-Cornered Snowflake, provides the first published evidence of the ideas of regular arrangements and close-packing which have proved fundamental to crystallography. In it, Kepler ponders on the problem of why snowflakes are hexagonal, two centuries before the first successful steps were taken towards its solution. The purpose of this volume is to display the historical, literary, scientific, and philosophical treasures of Kepler's essay. The book includes the modernized text of the 1611 Latin edition, with an English translation by Colin Hardie on the opposite pages. The text is accompanied by an introduction giving details of the history of the work, and two essays; Professor B. J. Mason's discussion of the scientific meaning and validity of Kepler's arguments and their relation to the history of crystallography and of space filling, and L. L. Whyte's examination of Kepler's facultas formatrix in relation to the history of philosophical and scientific ideas on the genesis of forms.

Reissued in the Oxford Classic Texts in the Physical Sciences series, and first published in 1952, this book has been recommended to generations of students. It provides a clear and systematic introduction to projective geometry, building on concepts from linear algebra." [Topics are] presented with a simplicity and clarity of treatment ... This interesting book may be warmly recommended."Mathematical Gazette

First published in 1950, this important book details the mathematical theory underlying the behaviour of plastic materials, especially metals.'the author has done his work so well that it is difficult to see how it could be bettered. The book should rank for many years as an authoritative source of reference.' Engineering 'In the reviewer's opinion this book should be in the possession of all those who wish to undertake study and research in the theory of plasticity' Mathematical Gazette'the many examples in the book relating to the shaping of metals should be of considerable value ... The book is well-written ... and a pleasure to read.' J.F. Nye in Research

Another title in the reissued Oxford Classic Texts in the Physical Sciences series, Jeffrey's Theory of Probability, first published in 1939, was the first to develop a fundamental theory of scientific inference based on the ideas of Bayesian statistics. His ideas were way ahead of their time and it is only in the past ten years that the subject of Bayes' factors has been significantly developed and extended. Until recently the two schools of statistics (Bayesian and Frequentist) were distinctly different and set apart. Recent work (aided by increased computer power and availability) has changed all that and today's graduate students and researchers all require an understanding of Bayesian ideas. This book is their starting point.

Part of the reissued Oxford Classic Texts in the Physical Sciences series, this book was first published in 1983, and has swiftly become one of the great modern classics of relativity theory. It represents a personal testament to the work of the author, who spent several years writing and working-out the entire subject matter.The theory of black holes is the most simple and beautiful consequence of Einstein's relativity theory. At the time of writing there was no physical evidence for the existence of these objects, therefore all that Professor Chandrasekhar used for their construction were modern mathematical concepts of space and time. Since that time a growing body of evidence has pointed to the truth of Professor Chandrasekhar's findings, and the wisdom contained in this book has become fully evident.

Originally published in 1891, and now part of the Oxford Classic Texts in the Physical Sciences series, this celebrated treatise details Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism that underpins much of modern physics. The theory inspired both Lorentz's theories on the electron and Einstein's theory of relativity.

This celebrated treatise details Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism which underpins much modern physics. The theory elaborated here inspired both Lorentz's theories on the electron and Einstein's theory of relativity. This volume copntains Parts III and IV of the treatise dealing respectively with magnetism and finally with electromagnetism itself.

This book is an attempt to explain hardness measurements of metals in terms of some of their more basic physical properties. It does not deal with the atomic and crystalline mechanism of elastic or plastic deformation, but starting with the elastic and plastic characteristics it shows that the hardness behaviour of metals may be expressed in terms of these characteristics. It is hoped that this presentation will provide, for physicists, engineers, and metallurgists, a better understanding of what hardness means and what hardness measurements imply. The book places an emphasis on the physical concepts involved, so that the non-mathematical reader may grasp and appreciate the general physical picture without needing to follow the more detailed treatment. From reviews: 'This book is clearly written and illustrated and can be warmly recommended to all those who are interested in the hardness of metals. It is without doubt the most important work on the subject to have appeared for many years.' Nature 'It is in its fresh and unusual approach to the subject that this book will appeal most. Work from a very wide field is collected and critically discussed, and the author is to be congratulated on a volume which should appeal to metallurgists, engineers and physicists.' Research '...this is a book which the mechanical testing engineer will wish to have ready to hand.' British Journal of Applied Physics 'The story makes fascinating reading, not only because of the wealth of new explanations it contains, but also because of the author's skill in presenting his arguments so clearly and simply. It is extraordinary how far he is able to go on the most elementary of mathematics.' Institute of Metals Metallurgical Abstracts 'Has succeeded in raising the subject of hardness from its background of empiricism to that of scientific theory....This book is recommended for the scientist who...is concerned with the indentation of solids....The mathematics is simple and the style is easy to read.' Applied Mechanics Reviews

This classic work, originally published in 1950, was a landmark in the development of the subject of tribology. When it was first published, one reviewer wrote that it 'marks the beginning of a new epoch in the study of friction and lubrication .... The most interesting and comprehensive work on a single branch of physics I have ever read.' For the 1986 reprint David Tabor wrote a new preface, reviewing developments in the subject in the 36 years since the book first appeared. He has also added an appreciation of the life and work of F.P. Bowden, who died in 1968.

The book develops the modern theory of ferroelectricity in terms of soft modes and lattice dynamics and also describes modern techniques of measurement, including X-ray, optic, and neutron scattering, infra-red absorption, and magnetic resonance. It includes a discussion of the related phenomena of antiferroelectricity, pyroelectricity, and ferroelasticity and seconds on domains, thin films, ceramics, and polymers, leading on to a comprehensive survey of potential and actual device capabilities for pyroelectric detection, memories, display, and modulation. It should provide an authoritative account for those engaged in research or graduate ferroelectric or pyroelectric devices.

This study of the theory of electrical and thermal conduction in metals, semiconductors, and insulators is written at a level appropriate to graduate students and research workers and assumes some knowledge of wave mechanics in its reader. The basic ideas of crystal lattice dynamics, electron zone structure, and transport theory are developed from first principles, and formulae for the macroscopic coefficients are deduced by self-contained mathematical arguments. Interpretation in terms of electronic structure, chemical purity, crystal structure, and crystal perfection is emphasized as a tool for further investigation but detailed discussion of individual means or alloys is avoided.

This book develops the subject from the basic principles of quantum mechanics. The emphasis is on a single statement of the ideas underlying the various approximations that have to be used and care is taken to separate sound arguments from conjecture. This book is written for the student of theoretical physics who wants to work in the field of solids and for the experimenter with a knowledge of quantum theory who is not content to take other people's arguments for granted. The treatment covers the electron theory of metals as well as the dynamics of crystals, including the author's work on the thermal conductivity of crystals which has been previously published in English.

This book, first published in 1956, represents a notable contribution to the literature of atomic and molecular structure. As the title implies, the contents are limited to an account of beams of electrically neutral particles. The use of molecular-beam resonance techniques encouraged an increasingly precise study of radio-frequency spectra of atoms and molecules. These measurements have led to a wealth of precise data. The introductory section of the book gives us a preliminary survey of experimental apparatus and the kinds of quantities that can be measured. Subsequent chapters give comprehensive accounts of gas kinetics, chemical equilibria, and atomic and nuclear magnetic moments are included, as well as detailed accounts of nuclear and molecular interactions. Finally there are sections on atomic fine and hyperfine structure, and the design of experimental apparatus.

Physical Chemistry is a difficult and diversified subject. Based on a good long spell of university teaching, this book lays emphasis on the structure and continuity of the whole subject and tries to show the relation of its various parts to one another. Certain themes or, one might almost say, leitmotifs run through physical chemistry, and these have been used to unify the composition. The treatment is neither historical nor formally deductive, but at each stage the author tries to indicate the route by which an inquiring mind might most simply and naturally proceed in its attempt to understand that part of the nature of things included in physical chemistry.

The authors have correlated many experimental observations and theoretical discussions from the scientific literature on water. Topics covered include the water molecule and forces between water molecules; the thermodynamic properties of steam; the structures of the ices; the thermodynamic, electrical, spectroscopic, and transport properties of the ices and of liquid water; hydrogen bonding in ice and water; and models for liquid water. The main emphasis of the book is on relating the properties of ice and water to their structures. Some background material in physical chemistry has been included in order to ensure that the material is accessible to readers in fields such as biology, biochemistry, and geology, as well as to chemists and physicists.

This book provides a critical review of the equilibrium elastic properties of rubber, together with the kinetic-theory background. It is suitable for the non-specialist and the emphasis is on the physical reality embodied in the mathematical formulations. Polymer science had developed greatly since the second edition of this text in 1958, and the two main advances - the refinements of the network theory and associated thermodynamic analysis, and the development of the phenomenological or non-molecular approach to the subject - are both reflected in the structure of this third edition.

This reissued classic text is the acclaimed second edition of Professor Ian Macdonald's groundbreaking monograph on symmetric functions and Hall polynomials.The first edition was published in 1979, before being significantly expanded into the present edition in 1995. This text is widely regarded as the best source of information on Hall polynomials and what have come to be known as Macdonald polynomials, central to a number of key developments in mathematics and mathematical physics in the 21st centuryMacdonald polynomials gave rise to the subject of double affine Hecke algebras (or Cherednik algebras) important in representation theory. String theorists use Macdonald polynomials to attack the so-called AGT conjectures. Macdonald polynomials have been recently used to construct knot invariants. They are also a central tool for a theory of integrable stochastic models that have found a number of applications in probability, such as random matrices, directed polymers in random media, driven lattice gases, and so on. Macdonald polynomials have become a part of basic material that a researcher simply must know if (s)he wants to work in one of the above domains, ensuring this new edition will appeal to a very broad mathematical audience.Featuring a new foreword by Professor Richard Stanley of MIT.

This well known and widely used landmark text explores the universal spontaneous generation of magnetic fields in astronomical bodies and the agitation of the bodies by those fields. The general properties of magnetic fields, their appearance throughout the astronomical universe, and the havoc they wreak are described in simple physical terms so as to define the broad scientific problem presented by magnetic fields. Then, with the physical problems clearly in mind, the theoretical effects are demonstrated with formal mathematical illustrations from the basic electromagnetic equations. Oxford Classic Texts in the Physical SciencesFrom James Clerk Maxwell's towering achievement Treatise on electricity and magnetism, to today's ground-breaking research, Oxford University Press has often been regarded as the publisher of first choice for generations of scientists. The legacy of this long publishing tradition is an unrivalled catalogue of past publications, some of which have been unavailable from us for many years.By popular demand, Oxford University Press is now reissuing some of its most celebrated science classics in the Oxford Classic Texts series. The titles to be included have been selected not only for their historic significance, but also for their enduring eloquence and clarity of presentation. Individually, each book in this collection represents a milestone in the development of scientific thought and pedagogy; collectively these books amount to an unparalleled scientific library for the enjoyment of a new generation of readers.

The study of interfaces within and between materials is a central field which is relevant to almost all aspects of materials science. For example, interfaces play a role in many of the mechanical and electrical properties of materials, phase transformations, and microstructure of materials.This book is intended to serve as a graduate text consisting of four inter-related parts spanning the structure, thermodynamics, kinetics, and properties of interfaces in crystalline materials. Throughout the book emphasis is placed on the conceptual foundations of the subject through the exposition of simple models and descriptions of key experimental observations. In this way the reader is gradually taken to the forefront of the subject. The first four chapters deal with structural aspects of interfaces - interfacial geometry, dislocation models, interatomic forces, and atomic structure. There are three chapters dealing with thermodynamic aspects of interfaces; the thermodynamics of interfaces; interfacial phases and phase transitions, and segregation of solute atoms. The kinetics of interfaces are covered in three chapters concerned with diffusion, conservative motion, and non-conservative motion. Finally there are two chapters which cover the electrical and mechanical properties of interfaces.This book is a unique introduction to the field of interfaces in crystalline materials spanning the subject in a coherent and pedagogical style.

Is the universe infinite, or does it have an edge beyond which there is, quite literally, nothing? Do we live in the only possible universe? Why does it have one time and three space dimensions - or does it? What is it made of? What does it mean when we hear that a new particle has been discovered? Will quantum mechanics eventually break down and give way to a totally new description of the world, one whose features we cannot even begin to imagine?This book aims to give the non-specialist reader a general overview of what physicists think they do and do not know in some representative frontier areas of contemporary physics. After sketching out the historical background, A. J. Leggett goes on to discuss the current situation and some of the open problems of cosmology, high-energy physics, and condensed-matter physics. Unlike most other accounts, this book focuses not so much on recent achievements as on the fundamental problems at the heart of the subject, and emphasizes the provisional nature of our present understanding of things.

This book discusses many advances in optical physic, and is aimed at advanced undergraduates taking courses in atomic physics, or graduate students in the fields of lasers, astrophysics, and physical chemistry. The book is intended mainly for experimentalists, and the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with free atoms is introduced using classical or semi-classical calculations wherever possible. Topics discussed include the spontaneous emission of radiation, stimulated transitions and the properties of gas and turnable dye lasers, and the physics and applications of resonance fluorescence, optical double resonance, optical pumping, and atomic beam magnetic resonance experiments.

This book gives the complete theory of the irreducible representations of the crystallographic point groups and space groups. This is important in the quantum-mechanical study of a particle or quasi-particle in a molecule or crystalline solid because the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a system belong to the irreducible representations of the group of symmetry operations of that system. The theory is applied to give complete tables of these representations for all the 32 point groups and 230 space groups, including the double-valued representations. For the space groups, the group of the symmetry operations of the k vector and its irreducible representations are given for all the special points of symmetry, lines of symmetry and planes of symmetry in the Brillouin zone. Applications occur in the electronic band structure, phonon dispersion relations and selection rules for particle-quasiparticle interactions in solids. The theory is extended to the corepresentations of the Shubnikov (black and white) point groups and space groups.

This classic monograph provided the first comprehensive account of the physics and chemistry of ice, and remains authoritative and relevant today. Informed by research from physicists, chemists, glaciologists, meteorologists, geophysicists, and molecular biologists, the book places emphasis on the basic physical properties of ice (electrical, optical, mechanical, and thermal), the modes of nucleation and growth of ice, and the interpretation of these phenomena in terms of molecular structure. Applied aspects of ice physics are also discussed. The book should serve both as a reference on ice physics for research workers and as a unified survey of the subject for those new to the field.

Cloud physics is concerned with those processes which are responsible for the formation of clouds and the release of precipitation. This classic book gives a comprehensive and detailed account of experimental and theoretical research on the microphysical processes of nucleation, condensation, droplet growth, initiation and growth of snow crystals, and the mechanisms of precipitation release. As a textbook it is designed to give the student the necessary background to carry out independent work. As a reference book for the research worker, it provides an integrated account of the major developments in this field. Although written primarily for the atmospheric physicist, it contains much of interest for those in the fields of nucleation phenomena, crystal growth, and aerosol physics.

This book is devoted to the static properties of flexible polymers in solution. It presents the progress made by both theory and experiment in the years up to its original publication in 1990, and remains one of the most advanced books available on this subject. Despite the variety in the chemical composition and physical properties of long polymer chains, when in solution they show a universality in their behaviour. On the experimental side, the use of photon and neutron scattering has led to a better understanding, while the use of computer simulation has also produced interesting results. This work is the result of a collaboration between a theoretician and an experimentalist, who have both worked for many years on polymer solutions.

Since the first edition of this highly successful book the field saw many great developments both in experimental and theoretical studies of electrical properties of non-crystalline solids. It became necessary to rewrite nearly the whole book, while the aims of the second edition remained the same: to set out the theoretical concepts, to test them by comparison with experiment for a wide variety of phenomena, and to apply them to non-crystalline materials. Sir Nevill Mott shared the 1977 Nobel Prize for Physics, awarded for his research work in this field. The reissue of this book as part of the Oxford Classic Texts in the Physical Sciences is a reprint of the second edition which was published in 1979.

This book is a reissue of the third and last edition of a classic text providing the reader with a comprehensive account at first degree or introductory graduate level of the principles and experimental aspects of electricity and magnetism, together with an elementary account of the underlying atomic theory.The book is available in a two-volume format. This first volume contains what is needed for a first course in electromagnetism, including electrostatics, electric circuits, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, and electromagnetic waves.SI units are used throughout and there are problems at the end of each chapter.

This book is a reissue of the third and last edition of a classic text providing the reader with a comprehensive account at first degree or introductory graduate level of the principles and experimental aspects of electricity and magnetism, together with an elementary account of the underlying atomic theory.The book is available in a two-volume format. This second volume includes coverage of electrical and magnetic properties of matter, dielectrics, conduction in metals, magnetic materials, semiconductors and their applications in electronics, superconductors, electronic devices and circuits, magnetic resonance.SI units are used throughout and there are problems at the end of each chapter.

This book is a reissue of a classic Oxford text, and provides a comprehensive treatment of electron paramagnetic resonance of ions of the transition groups. The emphasis is on basic principles, with numerous references to publications containing further experimental results and more detailed developments of the theory. An introductory survey gives a general understanding, and a general survey presents such topics as the classical and quantum resonance equations, the spin-Hamiltonian, Endor, spin-spin and spin-lattice interactions, together with an outline of the known behaviour of ions of each of the five transition groups, at the experimentalist's level. Finally a theoretical survey, using group theory and symmetry properties, discusses the fundamentals of the theory of paramagnetism.