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This book is a concise introduction to the key concepts of classical field theory for beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduate students who wish to study the unifying structures and physical insights provided by classical field theory without dealing with the additional complication of quantization. View details

Topology is the study of properties of geometrical objects that remain invariant as the object is bent, twisted, or otherwise continuously deformed. It has been an indispensable tool in particle physics and solid-state physics for decades, but in recent years it has become increasingly relevant in classical and quantum optics as well. The goal of this book is to provide in concise form the necessary mathematical background needed to understand these developments and to give a rapid survey of some of the optical applications where topological issues arise.? View details

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How does it happen that billions of stars can co-operate to produce the beautiful spirals that characterize so many galaxies, including ours? This book reviews the history behind the discovery of spiral galaxies and the problems faced when trying to explain the existence of spiral structure within them. In the book, subjects such as galaxy morphology and structure are addressed as well as several models for spiral structure. The evidence in favor or against these models is discussed. The book ends by discussing how spiral structure can be used as a proxy for other properties of spiral galaxies, such as their dark-matter content and their central supermassive black-hole masses, and why this is important.
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From science-fiction death rays to supermarket scanners, lasers are deeply embedded in our daily lives and cultures. But in recent decades, the standard laser beam has evolved into an array of more specialized light beams with a variety of strange and counter-intuitive properties. This is an introductory survey of these specialized light beams and their scientific applications. It is a unified treatment of the subject for undergraduates with a basic knowledge of optics and quantum mechanics. It is a collection of many topics currently found only in the original research literature. View details

This book reviews the history behind the discovery of missing mass (or unseen mass) in the universe, and ties this into the proposed extensions to the Standard Model of Particle Physics (such as Supersymmetry), which were being proposed within the same time frame. It is written as an introduction to these problems at the forefront of astrophysics and particle physics, with the goal of conveying the physics of dark matter to beginning undergraduate majors in scientific fields. View details

A Concise Introduction to Quantum Mechanics provides a self-contained presentation of the mathematics and physics of quantum mechanics. The book includes overviews, analysis, and applications of the main concepts of quantum mechanics and is appropriate for anyone with a basic understanding of classical physics, multivariable calculus, and differential equations. View details

In this book we will look at what planetary nebulae are, where they come from and where they go. We will discuss what mechanisms cause these beautiful markers of stellar demise as well as what causes them to form their variety of shapes. How we measure various aspects of planetary nebulae such as what they are made of will also be explored. Although we will give some aspects of planetary nebulae mathematical treatment, the main points should be accessible to people with only a limited background in mathematics. View details

This book is designed to help the non-specialist user of spectroscopic measurements and electronic structure computations to achieve a basic understanding of the underlying concepts of quantum chemistry. The book can be used to teach introductory quantum chemistry to second- or third-year undergraduates either as a stand-alone one-semester course or as part of a physical chemistry or materials science course. Researchers in related fields can use the book as a quick introduction or refresher. View details

The invention of the semiconductor laser along with silica glass fiber has enabled an incredible revolution in global communication infrastructure of direct benefit to all. Development of devices and system concepts that exploit the same fundamental light-matter interaction continues. Researchers and technologists are pursuing a broad range of emerging applications, everything from automobile collision avoidance to secure quantum key distribution. This book sets out to summarize key aspects of semiconductor laser device physics and principles of laser operation. View details

This book shows how the web-based PhysGL programming environment (http://physgl.org) can be used to teach and learn elementary mechanics (physics) using simple coding exercises. The book's theme is that the lessons encountered in such a course can be used to generate physics-based animations, providing students with compelling and self-made visuals to aid their learning. Topics presented are parallel to those found in a traditional physics text, making for straightforward integration into a typical lecture-based physics course. Users will appreciate the ease at which compelling OpenGL-based graphics and animations can be produced using PhysGL, as well as its clean, simple language constructs. The author argues that coding should be a standard part of lower-division STEM courses, and provides many anecdotal experiences and observations, that include observed benefits of the coding work. View details

Continued advances in the precision manufacturing of new structures at the nanometer scale have provided unique opportunities for device physics. This book sets out to summarize those elements of classical mechanics most applicable for scientists and engineers studying device physics. Supplementary MATLAB® materials are available for all figures generated numerically. View details

Physical biology is a fusion of biology and physics. This book narrows down the scope of physical biology by focusing on the microbial cell; exploring the physical phenomena of noise, feedback, and variability that arise in the cellular information-processing circuits used by bacteria. It looks at the microbe from a physics perspective, asking how the cell optimizes its function to live within the constraints of physics. It introduces a physical and information-based (as opposed to microbiological) perspective on communication and signalling between microbes.
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This book provides non-specialists with a basic understanding of the underlying concepts of quantum chemistry. It is both a text for second- or third-year undergraduates and a reference for researchers who need a quick introduction or refresher. All chemists and many biochemists, materials scientists, engineers, and physicists routinely use spectroscopic measurements and electronic structure computations in their work. The emphasis of Quantum Chemistry on explaining ideas rather than enumerating facts or presenting procedural details makes this an excellent foundation text/reference.
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General Relativity: An Introduction to Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, and Cosmology provides readers with a solid understanding of the underlying physical concepts of general relativity. It also shows how they may derive important applications of the theory and is a solid grounding for those wishing to pursue further study. This thorough primer is based on class-tested undergraduate lectures from Griffith University, Brisbane. It develops the basic elements of general relativity with applications to the gravitational deflection of light, GPS, black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology.
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This book of problems and solutions is a natural continuation of Ilie and Schrecengost’s first book, Electromagnetism: Problems and solutions. Aimed towards students who would like to work independently on more electrodynamics problems in order to deepen their understanding and problem-solving skills, this book discusses main concepts and techniques related to Maxwell’s equations, conservation laws, electromagnetic waves, potentials and fields, and radiation.
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This book provides a broad introductory survey of the remarkable field of optical nanomanipulation. It establishes and clearly differentiates the physical principles and provides a snapshot of many prominent current applications. The first chapters introduce and develop core theory focusing on the physical significance and the most salient parameters. The remaining chapters are full of copious examples and illustrations that explain and exhibit the features and uses of mechanisms involved. Optical Nanomanipulation is an amenable introduction for the non-specialist to the more advanced methods.
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Electromagnetism: Problems and solutions is an ideal companion book for the undergraduate student – sophomore, junior, or senior – who may want to work on more problems and receive immediate feedback while studying. Each chapter contains brief theoretical notes followed by the problem text with the solution and ends with a brief bibliography. Also presented are problems more general in nature, which may be a bit more challenging.
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Electrostatic accelerators have been at the forefront of modern technology since 1932, when Sir John Cockroft and Ernest Walton developed the first accelerator. Although the electrostatic accelerator field is more than 90 years old, the field and the number of accelerators is growing more rapidly than ever. This book provides an overview of the basic science and technology that underlies the electrostatic accelerator field so it can serve as a reference guide and textbook for accelerator engineers as well as students and researchers who work with electrostatic accelerators. View details

This book is an introduction to the concept of symmetries in electromagnetism and explicit symmetry breaking. It begins with a brief background to the origin of the concept of symmetry and its meaning in fields such as architecture, mathematics and physics. Despite the extensive developments of symmetry in these fields, it has yet to be applied to the context of classical electromagnetism and related engineering applications. This book unravels the beauty and excitement of this area to scientists and engineers. View details