Texts and Readings in Physical Sciences – serie

The present book is an outcome of the SERC school on Computational Statistical Physics held at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, in December 2008.Numerical experimentation has played an extremely important role in statistical physics in recent years. Lectures given at the School covered a large number of topics of current and continuing interest.Based on lectures by active researchers in the field- Bikas Chakrabarti, S Chaplot, Deepak Dhar, Sanjay Kumar, Prabal Maiti, Sanjay Puri, Purusattam Ray, Sitangshu Santra and Subir Sarkar- the nine chapters comprising the book deal with topics that range from the fundamentals of the field, to problems and questions that are at the very forefront of current research.This book aims to expose the graduate student to the basic as well as advanced techniques in computational statistical physics. Following a general introduction to statistical mechanics and critical phenomena, the various chapters cover Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulation methodology, along with a variety of applications. These include the study of coarsening phenomena and diffusion in zeolites.In addition, graphical enumeration techniques are covered in detail with applications to percolation and polymer physics, and methods for optimisation are also discussed. Beginning graduate students and young researchers in the area of statistical physics will find the book useful. In addition, this will also be a valuable general reference for students and researchers in other areas of science and engineering.

Disordered systems are ubiquitous in nature and their study remains a profound and challenging subject of current research. Ideas and methods from the physics of Disordered systems have been fruitfully applied to several fields ranging from computer science to neuroscience. This book contains a selection of lectures delivered at the `SERC School on Disordered Systems', spanning topics from classic results to frontier areas of research in this field. Spin glasses, disordered Ising models, quantum disordered systems, structural glasses, dilute magnets, interfaces in random field systems and disordered vortex systems are among the topics discussed in the text, in chapters authored by active researchers in the field, including Bikas Chakrabarti, Arnab Das, Deepak Kumar, Gautam Menon, G. Ravikumar, Purusattam Ray, Srikanth Sastry and Prabodh Shukla. This book provides a gentle and comprehensive introduction to the physics of disordered systems and is aimed at graduate students and young scientists either working in or intending to enter this exciting field. It should also serve as a general reference for students and practicing researchers alike.

The book presents pedagogical reviews of important topics on high energy physics to the students and researchers in particle physics. The book also discusses topics on the Quark–Gluon plasma, thermal field theory, perturbative quantum chromodynamics, anomalies and cosmology. Students of particle physics need to be well-equipped with basic understanding of many concepts underlying the standard models of particle physics and cosmology. This is particularly true today when experimental results from colliders, such as large hadron collider (LHC) and relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC), as well as inferences from cosmological observations, are expected to further expand our understanding of particle physics at high energies. This volume is the second in the Surveys in Theoretical High Energy Physics Series (SThEP). Topics covered in this book are based on lectures delivered at the SERC Schools in Theoretical High Energy Physics at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, andthe University of Hyderabad.

This book introduces aspects of topology and applications to problems in condensed matter physics. Basic topics in mathematics have been introduced in a form accessible to physicists, and the use of topology in quantum, statistical and solid state physics has been developed with an emphasis on pedagogy. The aim is to bridge the language barrier between physics and mathematics, as well as the different specializations in physics. Pitched at the level of a graduate student of physics, this book does not assume any additional knowledge of mathematics or physics. It is therefore suited for advanced postgraduate students as well. A collection of selected problems will help the reader learn the topics on one's own, and the broad range of topics covered will make the text a valuable resource for practising researchers in the field. The book consists of two parts: one corresponds to developing the necessary mathematics and the other discusses applications to physical problems. The section on mathematics is a quick, but more-or-less complete, review of topology. The focus is on explaining fundamental concepts rather than dwelling on details of proofs while retaining the mathematical flavour. There is an overview chapter at the beginning and a recapitulation chapter on group theory. The physics section starts with an introduction and then goes on to topics in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics of polymers, knots, and vertex models, solid state physics, exotic excitations such as Dirac quasiparticles, Majorana modes, Abelian and non-Abelian anyons. Quantum spin liquids and quantum information-processing are also covered in some detail.

The book presents pedagogical reviews of important topics on high energy physics to the students and researchers in particle physics. The book also discusses topics on the Quark–Gluon plasma, thermal field theory, perturbative quantum chromodynamics, anomalies and cosmology. Students of particle physics need to be well-equipped with basic understanding of many concepts underlying the standard models of particle physics and cosmology. This is particularly true today when experimental results from colliders, such as large hadron collider (LHC) and relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC), as well as inferences from cosmological observations, are expected to further expand our understanding of particle physics at high energies. This volume is the second in the Surveys in Theoretical High Energy Physics Series (SThEP). Topics covered in this book are based on lectures delivered at the SERC Schools in Theoretical High Energy Physics at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, andthe University of Hyderabad.

This book discusses the elementary ideas and tools needed for open quantum systems in a comprehensive manner. The emphasis is given to both the traditional master equation as well as the functional (path) integral approaches. It discusses the basic paradigm of open systems, the harmonic oscillator and the two-level system in detail. The traditional topics of dissipation and tunneling, as well as the modern field of quantum information, find a prominent place in the book. Assuming a basic background of quantum and statistical mechanics, this book will help readers familiarize with the basic tools of open quantum systems.Open quantum systems is the study of quantum dynamics of the system of interest, taking into account the effects of the ambient environment. It is ubiquitous in the sense that any system could be envisaged to be surrounded by its environment which could naturally exert its influence on it. Open quantum systems allows for a systematic understanding of irreversible processes such as decoherence and dissipation, of the essence in order to have a correct understanding of realistic quantum dynamics and also for possible implementations. This would be essential for a possible development of quantum technologies.

This book discusses the elementary ideas and tools needed for open quantum systems in a comprehensive manner. The emphasis is given to both the traditional master equation as well as the functional (path) integral approaches. It discusses the basic paradigm of open systems, the harmonic oscillator and the two-level system in detail. The traditional topics of dissipation and tunneling, as well as the modern field of quantum information, find a prominent place in the book. Assuming a basic background of quantum and statistical mechanics, this book will help readers familiarize with the basic tools of open quantum systems.Open quantum systems is the study of quantum dynamics of the system of interest, taking into account the effects of the ambient environment. It is ubiquitous in the sense that any system could be envisaged to be surrounded by its environment which could naturally exert its influence on it. Open quantum systems allows for a systematic understanding of irreversible processes such as decoherence and dissipation, of the essence in order to have a correct understanding of realistic quantum dynamics and also for possible implementations. This would be essential for a possible development of quantum technologies.

This book introduces aspects of topology and applications to problems in condensed matter physics. Basic topics in mathematics have been introduced in a form accessible to physicists, and the use of topology in quantum, statistical and solid state physics has been developed with an emphasis on pedagogy. The aim is to bridge the language barrier between physics and mathematics, as well as the different specializations in physics. Pitched at the level of a graduate student of physics, this book does not assume any additional knowledge of mathematics or physics. It is therefore suited for advanced postgraduate students as well. A collection of selected problems will help the reader learn the topics on one's own, and the broad range of topics covered will make the text a valuable resource for practising researchers in the field. The book consists of two parts: one corresponds to developing the necessary mathematics and the other discusses applications to physical problems. The section on mathematics is a quick, but more-or-less complete, review of topology. The focus is on explaining fundamental concepts rather than dwelling on details of proofs while retaining the mathematical flavour. There is an overview chapter at the beginning and a recapitulation chapter on group theory. The physics section starts with an introduction and then goes on to topics in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics of polymers, knots, and vertex models, solid state physics, exotic excitations such as Dirac quasiparticles, Majorana modes, Abelian and non-Abelian anyons. Quantum spin liquids and quantum information-processing are also covered in some detail.

This book examines the topics of magnetohydrodynamics and plasma oscillations, in addition to the standard topics discussed to cover courses in electromagnestism, electrodynamics, and fundamentals of physics, to name a few. This textbook on electricity and magnetism is primarily targeted at graduate students of physics. The undergraduate students of physics also find the treatment of the subject useful. The treatment of the special theory of relativity clearly emphasises the Lorentz covariance of Maxwell's equations. The rather abstruse topic of radiation reaction is covered at an elementary level, and the Wheeler–Feynman absorber theory has been dwelt upon briefly in the book.

This book examines the topics of magnetohydrodynamics and plasma oscillations, in addition to the standard topics discussed to cover courses in electromagnestism, electrodynamics, and fundamentals of physics, to name a few. This textbook on electricity and magnetism is primarily targeted at graduate students of physics. The undergraduate students of physics also find the treatment of the subject useful. The treatment of the special theory of relativity clearly emphasises the Lorentz covariance of Maxwell's equations. The rather abstruse topic of radiation reaction is covered at an elementary level, and the Wheeler–Feynman absorber theory has been dwelt upon briefly in the book.

This well-rounded and self-contained treatment of classical mechanics strikes a balance between examples, concepts, phenomena and formalism. While addressed to graduate students and their teachers, the minimal prerequisites and ground covered should make it useful also to undergraduates and researchers. Starting with conceptual context, physical principles guide the development. Chapters are modular and the presentation is precise yet accessible, with numerous remarks, footnotes and problems enriching the learning experience. Essentials such as Galilean and Newtonian mechanics, the Kepler problem, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, oscillations, rigid bodies and motion in noninertial frames lead up to discussions of canonical transformations, angle-action variables, Hamilton-Jacobi and linear stability theory. Bifurcations, nonlinear and chaotic dynamics as well as the wave, heat and fluid equations receive substantial coverage. Techniques from linear algebra, differential equations, manifolds, vector and tensor calculus, groups, Lie and Poisson algebras and symplectic and Riemannian geometry are gently introduced. A dynamical systems viewpoint pervades the presentation. A salient feature is that classical mechanics is viewed as part of the wider fabric of physics with connections to quantum, thermal, electromagnetic, optical and relativistic physics highlighted. Thus, this book will also be useful in allied areas and serve as a stepping stone for embarking on research.