Relativity physics Books

Book SynopsisThe latest volume in the New York Times–bestselling physics series explains Einstein’s masterpiece: the general theory of relativity He taught us classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and special relativity. Now, physicist Leonard Susskind, assisted by a new collaborator, André Cabannes, returns to tackle Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Starting from the equivalence principle and covering the necessary mathematics of Riemannian spaces and tensor calculus, Susskind and Cabannes explain the link between gravity and geometry. They delve into black holes, establish Einstein field equations, and solve them to describe gravity waves. The authors provide vivid explanations that, to borrow a phrase from Einstein himself, are as simple as possible (but no simpler). An approachable yet rigorous introduction to one of the most important topics in physics, General Relativity is a must-read for anyone who wants a deeper knowledge of the universe’s real structure.  

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Book SynopsisWie entsteht die Lorentz-Kraft? Was haben Felder mit Teilchen zu tun? Wieso ist Eichinvarianz anders? Leonard Susskind und Art Friedman erklären nicht alles, was es über Spezielle Relativitätstheorie und Elektrodynamik zu wissen gibt – sondern alles Wichtige.Mit diesem Buch bekommen begeisterte Physik-Amateure die notwendige Mathematik und Formeln an die Hand, die sie für ein wirkliches Verständnis benötigen. Die Autoren erklären mit witzigen und hilfreichen Dialogen, grundlegenden Übungen und glasklaren Erläuterungen die Spezielle Relativitätstheorie und Elektrodynamik so einfach wie möglich, aber nicht einfacher.Table of ContentsEinführung.- 1 Die Lorentz-Transformation.- 2 Geschwindigkeiten und Vierervektoren.- 3 Relativistische Bewegungsgesetze.- 4 Klassische Feldtheorie.- 5 Teilchen und Felder.- I Verrückte Einheiten.- 6 Das Lorentzkraft-Gesetz.- 7 Fundamentale Prinzipien und Eichinvarianz.- 8 Die Maxwell-Gleichungen.- 9 Physikalische Konsequenzen der Maxwell-Gleichungen.- 10 Maxwell aus Lagrange.- 11 Felder und klassische Mechanik.- A Magnetische Monopole.- B Dreidimensionale Differentialoperatoren.- Index.

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Book SynopsisThis is a remarkable book: a symposium proceedings volume that will also function as a graduate-level text. Dedicated to the great theorist S. Chandrasekhar, the book consists of ten well-written chapters that cover the essential tools of theoretical astrophysics. The first half of the volume is concerned with the theory of how stars work (structure, stability, rotation, magnetism, dynamics) and the latter half is mainly a survey of relativistic astrophysics. . . . Read it for a broad-brush view of what theorists are up to now and how they solve problems.Journal of the British Astronomical AssociationThe book as a whole should be a gift from every research supervisor to every new graduate student in theoretical astronomy.D. W. Sciama, Science

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Book SynopsisSuitable for those interested in popular science, this title focuses on the popular reception of relativity in Britain and demonstrates how abstract science came to be entangled with class politics, media technology, changing sex relations, crime, cricket, and cinematography in the British imagination during the 1920s.Trade Review"Loving Faster than Light is a very well-written, insightful examination of one of the essential problems of the history of science - how does elite, esoteric knowledge get read, used, modified, and owned by those outside the professional scientific community? Katy Price focuses on one of the defining scientific ideas of the twentieth century - relativity - and skillfully demonstrates the many genres and styles through which it was adopted and changed. An excellent book that brings together a number of disciplinary approaches." (Matthew Stanley, New York University)"

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Book SynopsisAn entertaining introduction to Einstein's theories of relativity, Bennett's book proves anyone can grasp the basics of Einstein's ideas. His intuitive, nonmathematical approach gives a wide audience its first real taste of how relativity works and why it is so important to science and the way we view ourselves as human beings.Trade ReviewWhat Is Relativity? is a well-written and uniquely readable book that beautifully serves as an introduction to special and general relativity. Jeffrey Bennett carefully avoids bombastic statements and 'spectacularization' of the subject, sticking with well-established facts and presenting them in a clear and compelling manner. -- Alberto Nicolis, Columbia University Since it first appeared more than a decade ago, I have used Cosmic Perspectives by Jeffrey Bennett and his colleagues in no small part because of the excellence of its chapters on relativity. It is wonderful to now have a stand-alone volume in which his lucid, explanatory text and figures are coupled with a thoughtful commentary on why relativity is important in constructing our scientific and personal views of space and time. -- David J. Helfand, President, American Astronomical Society, and President and Vice Chancellor, Quest University Canada I have read lots of introductions to relativity, but none is as clear and compelling as this one. For anyone who is keen to grasp the fundamentally simple yet non-intuitive ideas of both special and general relativity, Jeffrey Bennett's book is the way to go. Impressively understandable and interesting. -- Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute ...Bennett's fun book shows readers what relativity means, and what it reveals about our universe. Publishers Weekly For in its relatively few pages, Bennett explains relativity to ordinary readers... An impressively accessible distillation of epoch-making science. Booklist (starred review) A sober, comprehensible account of what every intelligent layman should know about space and time. Kirkus Reviews ... [P]erhaps the best homage that anyone can pay to [Einstein] for such a groundbreaking contribution to physics in particular and science in general. BrainDrain Bennett... has written an entertaining, brilliant introduction to Einstein's ideas... that is impressively understandable. CHOICETable of ContentsPreface Introduction/Foreword: Einstein's Life Part 1: Getting Started 1. Voyage to a Black Hole Part 2: Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity 2. Racing Light 3. Redefining Space and Time 4. A New Common Sense Part 3: Einstein's General Theory of Relativity 5. Newton's Absurdity 6. Redefining Gravity Part 4: Implications of Relativity 7. Black Holes 8. The Expanding Universe Epilogue: Your Indelible Mark on the Universe Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisAn entertaining introduction to Einstein's theories of relativity, Bennett's book proves anyone can grasp the basics of Einstein's ideas. His intuitive, nonmathematical approach gives a wide audience its first real taste of how relativity works and why it is so important to science and the way we view ourselves as human beings.Trade ReviewWhat Is Relativity? is a well-written and uniquely readable book that beautifully serves as an introduction to special and general relativity. Jeffrey Bennett carefully avoids bombastic statements and 'spectacularization' of the subject, sticking with well-established facts and presenting them in a clear and compelling manner. -- Alberto Nicolis, Columbia University Since it first appeared more than a decade ago, I have used Cosmic Perspectives by Jeffrey Bennett and his colleagues in no small part because of the excellence of its chapters on relativity. It is wonderful to now have a stand-alone volume in which his lucid, explanatory text and figures are coupled with a thoughtful commentary on why relativity is important in constructing our scientific and personal views of space and time. -- David J. Helfand, President, American Astronomical Society, and President and Vice Chancellor, Quest University Canada I have read lots of introductions to relativity, but none is as clear and compelling as this one. For anyone who is keen to grasp the fundamentally simple yet non-intuitive ideas of both special and general relativity, Jeffrey Bennett's book is the way to go. Impressively understandable and interesting. -- Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute ...Bennett's fun book shows readers what relativity means, and what it reveals about our universe. Publishers Weekly For in its relatively few pages, Bennett explains relativity to ordinary readers... An impressively accessible distillation of epoch-making science. Booklist (starred review) A sober, comprehensible account of what every intelligent layman should know about space and time. Kirkus Reviews ... [P]erhaps the best homage that anyone can pay to [Einstein] for such a groundbreaking contribution to physics in particular and science in general. BrainDrain Bennett... has written an entertaining, brilliant introduction to Einstein's ideas... that is impressively understandable. CHOICETable of ContentsPreface Introduction/Foreword: Einstein's Life Part 1: Getting Started 1. Voyage to a Black Hole Part 2: Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity 2. Racing Light 3. Redefining Space and Time 4. A New Common Sense Part 3: Einstein's General Theory of Relativity 5. Newton's Absurdity 6. Redefining Gravity Part 4: Implications of Relativity 7. Black Holes 8. The Expanding Universe Epilogue: Your Indelible Mark on the Universe Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisEmphasizing physical principles behind classical mechanics and relativity, this new title in the Manchester Physics Series introduces relevant mathematics and carefully develops it as needed within a physics context. Each chapter includes problems ranging in difficulty from simple to challenging with hints for solving problems.Trade Review Table of ContentsEditors’ Preface to the Manchester Physics Series xi Author’s Preface xiii I Introductory Dynamics 1 1 Space, Time and Motion 3 1.1 Defining Space and Time 3 1.1.1 Space and the classical particle 4 1.1.2 Unit vectors 6 1.1.3 Addition and subtraction of vectors 6 1.1.4 Multiplication of vectors 7 1.1.5 Time 8 1.1.6 Absolute space and space-time 10 1.2 Vectors and Co-ordinate Systems 11 1.3 Velocity and Acceleration 14 1.3.1 Frames of reference 16 1.3.2 Relative motion 16 1.3.3 Uniform acceleration 18 1.3.4 Velocity and acceleration in plane-polar co-ordinates: uniform circular motion 20 1.4 Standards and Units 21 2 Force, Momentum and Newton’s Laws 25 2.1 Force and Static Equilibrium 25 2.2 Force and Motion 31 2.2.1 Newton’s Third Law 35 2.2.2 Newton’s bucket and Mach’s principle 39 2.3 Applications of Newton’s Laws 41 2.3.1 Free body diagrams 41 2.3.2 Three worked examples 42 2.3.3 Normal forces and friction 46 2.3.4 Momentum conservation 49 2.3.5 Impulse 51 2.3.6 Motion in fluids 51 3 Energy 55 3.1 Work, Power and Kinetic Energy 56 3.2 Potential Energy 61 3.2.1 The stability of mechanical systems 64 3.2.2 The harmonic oscillator 65 3.2.3 Motion about a point of stable equilibrium 67 3.3 Collisions 68 3.3.1 Zero-momentum frames 68 3.3.2 Elastic and inelastic collisions 71 3.4 Energy Conservation in Complex Systems 75 4 Angular Momentum 81 4.1 Angular Momentum of a Particle 81 4.2 Conservation of Angular Momentum in Systems of Particles 83 4.3 Angular Momentum and Rotation About a Fixed Axis 86 4.3.1 The parallel-axis theorem 94 4.4 Sliding and Rolling 95 4.5 Angular Impulse and the Centre of Percussion 97 4.6 Kinetic Energy of Rotation 99 II Introductory Special Relativity 103 5 The Need for a New Theory of Space and Time 105 5.1 Space and Time Revisited 105 5.2 Experimental Evidence 108 5.2.1 The Michelson-Morley experiment 108 5.2.2 Stellar aberration 110 5.3 Einstein’s Postulates 113 6 Relativistic Kinematics 115 6.1 Time Dilation, Length Contraction and Simultaneity 115 6.1.1 Time dilation and the Doppler effect 116 6.1.2 Length contraction 121 6.1.3 Simultaneity 123 6.2 Lorentz Transformations 124 6.3 Velocity Transformations 129 6.3.1 Addition of velocities 129 6.3.2 Stellar aberration revisited 130 7 Relativistic Energy and Momentum 135 7.1 Momentum and Energy 135 7.1.1 The equivalence of mass and energy 142 7.1.2 The hint of an underlying symmetry 144 7.2 Applications in Particle Physics 145 7.2.1 When is relativity important? 146 7.2.2 Two useful relations and massless particles 149 7.2.3 Compton scattering 152 III Advanced Dynamics 157 8 Non-inertial Frames 159 8.1 Linearly Accelerating Frames 159 8.2 Rotating Frames 161 8.2.1 Motion on the earth 165 9 Gravitation 173 9.1 Newton’s Law of Gravity 174 9.2 The Gravitational Potential 177 9.3 Reduced Mass 182 9.4 Motion in a Central Force 184 9.5 Orbits 186 10 Rigid Body Motion 197 10.1 The Angular Momentum of a Rigid Body 198 10.2 The Moment of Inertia Tensor 200 10.2.1 Calculating the moment of inertia tensor 203 10.3 Principal Axes 207 10.4 Fixed-axis Rotation in the Lab Frame 212 10.5 Euler’s Equations 214 10.6 The Free Rotation of a Symmetric Top 216 10.6.1 The body-fixed frame 216 10.6.2 The lab frame 218 10.6.3 The wobbling earth 223 10.7 The Stability of Free Rotation 224 10.8 Gyroscopes 226 10.8.1 Gyroscopic precession 226 10.8.2 Nutation of a gyroscope 232 IV Advanced Special Relativity 237 11 The Symmetries of Space and Time 239 11.1 Symmetry in Physics 239 11.1.1 Rotations and translations 240 11.1.2 Translational symmetry 245 11.1.3 Galilean symmetry 246 11.2 Lorentz Symmetry 247 12 Four-vectors and Lorentz Invariants 253 12.1 The Velocity Four-vector 254 12.2 The Wave Four-vector 255 12.3 The Energy-momentum Four-vector 258 12.3.1 Further examples in relativistic kinematics 259 12.4 Electric and Magnetic Fields 262 13 Space-time Diagrams and Causality 267 13.1 Relativity Preserves Causality 270 13.2 An Alternative Approach 272 14 Acceleration and General Relativity 279 14.1 Acceleration in Special Relativity 279 14.1.1 Twins paradox 280 14.1.2 Accelerating frames of reference 282 14.2 A Glimpse of General Relativity 288 14.2.1 Gravitational fields 290 A Deriving the Geodesic Equation 295 B Solutions to Problems 297

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Book SynopsisE = mc2 and the Periodic Table . . . RELATIVISTIC EFFECTS IN CHEMISTRY This century''s most famous equation, Einstein''s special theory of relativity, transformed our comprehension of the nature of time and matter. Today, making use of the theory in a relativistic analysis of heavy molecules, that is, computing the properties and nature of electrons, is the work of chemists intent on exploring the mysteries of minute particles. The first work of its kind, Relativistic Effects in Chemistry details the computational and analytical methods used in studying the relativistic effects in chemical bonding as well as the spectroscopic properties of molecules containing very heavy atoms. The first of two independent volumes, Part A: Theory and Techniques describes the basic techniques of relativistic quantum chemistry. Its systematic five-part format begins with a detailed exposition of Einstein''s special theory of relativity, the significance of relativitTrade Review"This book represents an invaluable source in relativistic quantum chemistry and is recommended warmly to anyone with an interest in this area . . .it fills a gap in the literature that has existed far too long."-- -- Chemistry in BritainTable of ContentsSpecial Relativity. Relativistic Quantum Mechanics. Relativistic Quantum Chemistry. Double-Group Symmetry and the Classification of Relativistic Electronic States. Index.

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Book SynopsisRelativity forms a core part of the physics curriculum. This introductory book offers a concise treatment of relativity, starting with Galilean transformations and the uses of relativity in Newtonian mechanics.Table of ContentsPreliminaries. The Relativity Principle, and its Applications in Newtonian Physics. Einstein's Relativity Principle. KINEMATICS. Lorentz Transformations. Invariant Intervals and Space-Time Diagrams. Proper Time and Nonuniform Motion. Four-Vectors. Four-Acceleration. MOMENTUM AND ENERGY. Particle Dynamics: Momentum and Energy. Natural Units, and the Prevalence of MeV. Systems of Particles: Four-Momentum Conservation using Invariants. WAVES. Plane Waves. Light Waves in Empty Space: Aberration and Doppler Effect. Appendices. Problems. Index.

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Book SynopsisAlmost weightless and able to pass through the densest materials with ease, neutrinos may offer answers to questions ranging from relativity and quantum mechanics to more radical theories about dark energy and supersymmetry. Heinrich Päs serves as our fluent guide to a particle world that tests the boundaries of space, time, and human knowledge.Trade ReviewSome science books are good because they tell you a lot about science. Some are good because they present their examples and argument in very well written prose. A few do both. The Perfect Wave is one of the few… I can highly recommend The Perfect Wave as a pleasant and provocative way to gain insight into the way physicists think, and into the way the universe (probably) works. -- John Gribbin * Wall Street Journal *Päs for his part, places neutrinos within the broader context of contemporary high theory and delves deeper into the science. Physics buffs will relish his explanations, and not just of established ideas such a the seesaw mechanism. Neutrinos, Päs explains, may offer a way to probe the extra dimensions of space postulated by some ‘theories of everything.’ The puny particles’ weirdness, it seems, knows no end. * The Economist *The ghostly neutrino—a mutable, almost massless particle that can pass through dense substances—stars in this scientific history. Theoretical physicist Heinrich Päs surfs the decades of dazzling research since Wolfgang Pauli first posited the particle in 1930. Päs revisits key theorists such as Ettore Majorana, and lays out the work of groundbreaking labs from Los Alamos in New Mexico, where Fred Reines and Clyde Cowan first detected neutrinos in the early 1950s, to today’s vast IceCube neutrino observatory in Antarctica. * Nature *Written by one of the world’s leading experts in the field…Heinrich Päs’ book guides the reader through some difficult territory, covering the historical and philosophical developments that led to our understanding of the neutrino today. It is a peculiar route that navigates via such topics as the ancient Greek and magic mushrooms. Plus of course the obligatory cat that is simultaneously alive and dead… Though this book is written in simple language, don’t expect an easy read. There are some highly challenging ideas to get your head around—but it is worth making the effort. -- Paul Sutherland * BBC Sky at Night *Takes readers for a wild ride in pursuit of the neutrino—part ghost, part outlaw, part Holy Grail to theoretical physicists… From vast laboratories deep underground to the cutting edge Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory nearing completion in frigid Antarctica, Päs reveals the ‘world of madmen, dreamers, and visionaries’ who pursue the neutrino and its place in theoretical physics. * Publishers Weekly *Entertaining and evocative, Päs has written a breezy, readable account of particle physics, especially neutrino physics, in a lucid, lively narrative. -- Sandip Pakvasa, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

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Book SynopsisRon Cowen offers a sweeping account of the century of experimentation that has consistently confirmed Einstein's general theory of relativity. He shows how we got from Eddington's pivotal observations of the 1919 eclipse to the Event Horizon Telescope, aimed at starlight wrapping around the black hole at our galaxy's center.Trade ReviewCowen is a gifted science writer and storyteller, and the story is amazing! -- John C. Mather, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics[Cowen’s] brisk, engaging narrative leads us from Einstein’s famous ‘thought experiments’ through theorists’ many (so far unsuccessful) attempts to marry quantum mechanics with general relativity, and up to recent (more successful) efforts to observe gravitational waves and black holes. * Wall Street Journal *There are some extremely clever ways to visualize how gravitation works in a Universe governed by General Relativity under a wide variety of physical conditions, and Cowen explores many of the classic ways you've probably seen before along with some incredibly creative ones that were new, even to me. -- Ethan Siegel * Forbes *A brief, accessible account of the 1919 eclipse and subsequent advances in cosmology, touching upon dark matter, dark energy, quantum gravity, and black holes. It’s a very quick and readable introduction to some of the exotic findings that came in Einstein’s wake. * Bookforum *This is as good a short introduction to Einstein’s thought as one could wish for. -- Simon Ings * The Spectator *In a conversational style, the veteran physics writer chronicles the field’s greatest hits in the century since a solar eclipse proved Einstein was right. -- Gemma Tarlach * Discover *A breezy and enjoyable read, a welcome addition to a crowded shelf of books on these topics. -- Peter Coles * Nature *Gravity’s Century is remarkably easy to follow and read. If you are a keen beginner, or just interested in some of the people behind the science, read this book. -- Laura Nuttall * BBC Sky at Night *This gracefully written history of 20th-century gravity research from science writer Cowen shines a light on a key aspect of modern physics…Filled with vivid descriptions of cutting-edge work and the scientists behind it, Cowen’s book is fascinating, both a learning experience and a pleasure to read. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *A clear and compelling narrative about the development of our understanding of gravity and the universe, powered by Einstein and his cohorts. Cowen weaves together the historical and personal events leading to this revolution and brings us up to date with the ideas and speculations that will likely forge an even newer and more radical understanding of the nature of the world. -- George F. Smoot, winner of the Nobel Prize in PhysicsEinstein’s general theory of relativity radically changed our notions of space, gravity, and time. Gravity’s Century takes us from Einstein’s struggle to develop his theory up to the modern day—when the detection of gravitational waves from black holes has confirmed general relativity’s most audacious claims, even as scientists are still trying to reconcile the theory with the other great idea of twentieth-century physics, quantum mechanics. -- David Spergel, Princeton UniversityAccessible and compact…A great introduction to Einstein’s theory of general relativity and the century of research that has been testing his ideas since. -- Leon Vlieger * Inquisitive Biologist *A concise chronicle of the dramatic expansion of our knowledge of the universe, from the eclipse expeditions of 1919 to test Einstein’s theory of relativity, to the Event Horizon Telescope’s black hole images of 2019. -- Mike Perricone * Symmetry *Clear and readily intelligible to the non-specialist. -- Johannes E. Riutta * Well-Read Naturalist *Its informal, readable style hides an enormous amount of physics and a fair share of history. * Choice *[An] enjoyable read…Cowen does a good job of breaking down ideas so that they are easily understood…I would recommend Gravity’s Century to anyone with an interest in astrophysics in general, or in gravitation in particular. -- Earl Patrick Bellinger * Metascience *

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Book SynopsisSet in the turbulent post-World War I period, this volume finds Einstein awaiting news of the 1919 British eclipse expedition to test the general relativistic prediction of the deflection of starlight by the sun. It reveals facets of Einstein as he constructively participated in German and European scientific, academic, and cultural life.Trade Review"This is a real treat. The letters in the latest, brilliantly edited volume of his correspondence here were written around the time the 40-year-old Einstein blossomed from superstar physicist to global celebrity almost overnight, after his general relativity theory was apparently verified. It is fascinating to read how he coped with sudden hounding by press"riff-raff,' with scoffing anti-Semitic critics, as well as divorce, remarriage and his mother's death. What an extraordinary time, what revealing correspondence."--Graham Farmelo, New Scientist

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Book SynopsisExplains the origins and development of modern physical concepts about matter. This book examines two of the earliest known theories about matter - the atomic theory, which attributed all physical phenomena to atoms and their motion in the void, and the theory of the elements, which described matter as consisting of earth, air, fire, and water.Trade Review"Particle or Wave does not just look at the concepts of matter, but gives the nonscientist a very good introduction to modern physical theories. The final chapter looks at still unanswered questions about the nature of matter. The explanations are nonmathematical and include a reasonable number of illustrations."--E. Kincanon, ChoiceTable of ContentsList of Illustrations xi List of Tables xv Acknowledgments xvii sA Note on Terminology xix Introduction 1 Chapter 1: FROM MYTH TO MACHINE Images of Matter from Antiquity to Newtonian Mechanics 9 1.1 First Questions 9 1.2 The Two Paradigms 12 1.3 Images of Synthesis 19 1.4 The Roots of the New Era 25 1.5 Mathematics and the World 29 1.6 The Metaphor of the Machine 41 1.7 Newton's Achievement 47 Chapter 2: PROGRESS! From Newtonian Mechanics to Nineteenth-Century Physics 58 2.1 Newton's Successors 58 2.2 The Atoms of Chemistry 62 2.3 Energy: A First Encounter 69 2.4 Light 75 2.5 From Flow to Field 80 2.6 Electricity and Magnetism 85 2.7 Faraday and the Field 89 2.8 Maxwell's Synthesis 94 2.9 The Triumph of Mechanicism 99 Chapter 3: A NEW ARENA IS BUILT Special Relativity and the Notion of Spacetime 104 3.1 The Coming of the Twentieth Century 104 3.2 Reference Systems and Inertial Frames 105 3.3 Einstein's Solution 112 3.4 The Union of Space and Time 117 3.5 Mass Is Energy! 122 Chapter 4: THE SYMMETRY BENEATH Symmetry in Physics--Spacetime Symmetries 128 4.1 Symmetries in Physics Are Hidden 128 4.2 Noether's Remarkable Theorem 132 4.3 Space and Time Translations 134 4.4 The Poincare Symmetry and the Origin of Particles 138 4.5 General Relativity 143 Chapter 5: THE MACHINE BREAKS DOWN The Development of Quantum Physics 146 5.1 The Birth of Quantum Theory 146 5.2 New Windows to the World 154 5.3 The Adolescence of Quantum Theory 159 5.4 Heisenberg's Revolution 169 5.5 The Riposte: Schrodinger's Wave Mechanics 178 5.6 Conflict and Reconciliation 182 5.7 The Mature Quantum Theory 190 Chapter 6: SO FAMILIAR AND YET SO DIFFERENT Spin, Quantum Phases, and Quantum Statistics 198 6.1 The Discovery of Spin 198 6.2 Quantum Phases 206 6.3 Spin Is Discrete! 212 6.4 Identical Things Cannot Be Distinguished 218 Chapter 7: FORGING THE PERFECT TOOL The Development of Quantum Field Theory 225 7.1 Quantum Light 225 7.2 Dirac's Sea 229 7.3 Antiparticles 232 7.4 QED and Feynman Rules 240 7.5 The Taming of Infinities 247 7.6 The Basic Principles of Quantum Field Theory 254 7.7 Three Elegant Symmetries: P, T, and C 260 Chapter 8: PIECES OF A PUZZLE The Physics of Elementary Particles 270 8.1 Radioactivity and Forces 270 8.2 The Hunt for Symmetries 276 8.3 The Breakdown of Simplicity 286 8.4 Some Simplicity Restored 294 Chapter 9: REACHING THE LIMITS The Gauge Principle and the Standard Model 303 9.1 The Birth of the Gauge Principle 303 9.2 Yang-Mills Theories 308 9.3 Symmetry Is Broken "Spontaneously" 312 9.4 The Force That Binds 329 9.5 The Standard Model 337 Chapter 10: OUTLOOK Unanswered Questions and Open Problems 340 10.1 The Ancient Dilemma Revisited 340 10.2 The Singular Status of Quantum Field Theory 348 10.3 Grand Unified Theories, Supersymmetry, Superstrings, and All That 352 10.4 Where Do We Go From Here? 358 Notes 367 Glossary 397 Guide for Further Reading 403 Index 405

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Book SynopsisThis is the single most complete guide to Albert Einstein's life and work for students, researchers, and browsers alike. Written by three leading Einstein scholars who draw on their combined wealth of expertise gained during their work on the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, this authoritative and accessible reference features more than one hunTrade ReviewOne of Symmetry magazine's Physics Books of 2015 "This is the most comprehensive book on Einstein published to coincide with the centenary of his general theory of relativity. Coauthored by Calaprice, Daniel Kennefick, and Robert Schulman, three leading Einstein scholars, it covers the Nobel Prize winner's life (1879--1955) and work in detail, with entries on his influence on science and society. Photographs and illustrations--cartoons of the great inventor, for example, and scientific diagrams--enhance the presentation, which further offers meticulous documentation and carefully chronicles Einstein's academic output."--Henrietta Verma, Library Journal "An Einstein Encyclopedia is an invaluable companion to the serious Einstein researcher. A comprehensive collection of the theories, concepts, friends, collaborators and romantic interests in Einstein's life."--Bill Condie, Cosmos Magazine "[An Einstein Encyclopedia] is full of fascinating information about Einstein... This is an extremely well-organized and user-friendly reference title, thoroughly researched and accessible to the general public, students, and scholars alike."--Lyndsie Robinson, Booklist "What causes me to recommend this book so highly is that in one single volume, the authors have compiled an enormous amount of diverse yet detailed information about the life of Einstein and his accomplishments and contributions to the world in which we live in now. They make the material relevant as well as accurate, and anyone wanting to dip into any single facet of this man's life can find something to quench their curiosity."--David Brock, NTSA Recommends (National Science Teachers Association) "Three Einstein scholars cover in exquisite detail the scientific, public and private lives of Einstein... The accessibility and detail make An Einstein Encyclopedia an important entry in any Einstein collection."--Mike Perricone, Symmetry MagazineTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. vii*Preface, pg. xiii*Chronology, pg. xv*Credo: "What I Believe", pg. xxi*Vital Information: Certificates in Facsimile, pg. 3*Birth Information, pg. 9*Archives, pg. 10*Awards, Honorary Degrees, and Honorary Memberships in Foreign Societies, pg. 13*Career, pg. 17*Citizenships and Immigration to the United States, pg. 22*Domiciles, pg. 26*Education and Schools Attended, pg. 28*Einstein Papers Project (EPP) and The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein (CPAE), pg. 30*Fame, pg. 37*Family, pg. 44*Friends, pg. 65*Health, pg. 80*Myths and Misconceptions, pg. 81*Pastimes, pg. 89*Romantic Interests: Actual, Probable, and Possible, pg. 98*Secretaries, pg. 107*Teachers, pg. 107*Travels and Travel Diaries, pg. 109*Death, pg. 122*Annus Mirabilis, pg. 135*Assistants, pg. 135*Collaborators, pg. 138*Colleagues, pg. 146*Concepts, pg. 159*Doctoral Dissertation, pg. 197*Influential Scientific Forebears and Contemporaries, pg. 197*Lectures, Major Scientific, pg. 200*Nobel Prize, pg. 201*Patents and Inventions, pg. 202*Philosophy of Science (contributed by Thomas Ryckman, Stanford University), pg. 203*Quantum Theory, pg. 205*Relativity Theory, pg. 208*Rivals, pg. 216*Scientific Papers, pg. 219*Scientific Sidelights, pg. 219*Solvay Conferences, pg. 221*Thought Experiments, pg. 222*Unified Field Theory, pg. 224*Civil and Human Rights, pg. 231*Education: Einstein's Views, pg. 232*Jewish Identity and Ties, pg. 234*Organizational Ties, pg. 241*Political Contexts, pg. 246*Political Philosophy, pg. 263*Religion, pg. 268*Appendix A. Select Books and Documentaries, pg. 271*Appendix B. Copyright, Licensing, and Permissions, pg. 281*Appendix C. Select Annotated Bibliography, pg. 283*References, pg. 327*Index, pg. 333

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Book SynopsisDeep within galaxies like the Milky Way, astronomers have found a fascinating legacy of Einstein's general theory of relativity: supermassive black holes. Connected to the evolution of the galaxies that contain these black holes, galactic nuclei are the sites of uniquely energetic events, including quasars, stellar tidal disruptions, and the generaTrade Review"[T]his is a book that would be useful to anybody interested in the astrophysics of galaxies... I can recommend this book enthusiastically."--Anvar Shukurov, Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid DynamicsTable of ContentsPreface ix Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 1 Chapter 2 OBSERVATIONS OF GALACTIC NUCLEI AND SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES 11 2.1 Structure of galaxies and galactic nuclei 11 2.2 Techniques for weighing black holes 18 2.3 Supermassive black holes in the Local Group 29 2.4 Phenomenology 33 2.5 Evidence for intermediate-mass black holes 45 2.6 Evidence for binary and multiple supermassive black holes 47 2.7 Gravitational waves 52 Chapter 3 COLLISIONLESS EQUILIBRIA 57 3.1 Orbits, integrals, and steady states 59 3.2 Spherical nuclei 72 3.3 The adiabatic growth model 90 3.4 Axisymmetric nuclei 93 3.5 Triaxial nuclei 100 Chapter 4 MOTION NEAR SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES 117 4.1 Keplerian orbits 120 4.2 Perturbed orbits 125 4.3 The post-Newtonian approximation 131 4.4 Newtonian perturbations 135 4.5 Relativistic orbits 157 4.6 Capture 176 4.7 Relativistic motion in the presence of a distributed mass 183 4.8 Motion in the presence of a second massive body 192 4.9 Stellar motions at the center of the Milky Way 203 Chapter 5 THEORY OF GRAVITATIONAL ENCOUNTERS 213 5.1 Basic concepts and time of relaxation 213 5.2 Diffusion coefficients 216 5.3 Fokker-Planck equation 236 5.4 Gravitational Brownian motion 246 5.5 Orbit-averaged Fokker-Planck equation 251 5.6 Gravitational encounters near a supermassive black hole 264 5.7 Encounters with a spinning supermassive black hole 277 Chapter 6 LOSS-CONE DYNAMICS 289 6.1 Spherical symmetry 297 6.2 Nonspherical nuclei 326 6.3 Binary and hypervelocity stars 341 6.4 Relativistic loss cones and extreme-mass-ratio inspirals 350 Chapter 7 COLLISIONAL EVOLUTION OF NUCLEI 361 7.1 Evolution of the stellar distribution around a supermassive black hole 366 7.2 Cusp (re)generation 383 7.3 Black-hole-driven expansion 390 7.4 Massive perturbers 391 7.5 Evolution of nuclei lacking massive black holes 395 Chapter 8 BINARY AND MULTIPLE SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES 415 8.1 Interaction of a massive binary with field stars 417 8.2 Massive binary at the center of a galaxy: I. Early evolution 432 8.3 Massive binary at the center of a galaxy: II. Late evolution 446 8.4 Interaction of binary supermassive black holes with gas 462 8.5 Simulations of galaxy mergers 467 8.6 Dynamics of intermediate-mass black holes 468 8.7 Triple supermassive black holes and the final-parsec problem 483 Suggestions for Further Reading 489 References 493 Index 535

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is a very worthwhile, balanced, and useful summary of our current understanding of the fundamental laws of physics. Langacker covers a large amount of material in a very digestible way."—Savdeep Sethi, University of Chicago"Langacker is a renowned expert in particle physics who has made fundamental contributions to the field and lived through the golden era of the standard model. Not surprisingly, the scientific level of this informative book is impeccable."—Gian Francesco Giudice, author of A Zeptospace Odyssey: A Journey into the Physics of the LHC"Langacker has written a useful and informative book that brings the standard model to a broad audience of scientists and aspiring scientists who are interested in the current status of particle physics."—Tom Lubensky, University of PennsylvaniaTable of ContentsPreface vii 1. The Epic Quest 1 2 The Three Eras 7 2.1 The Ingredients 7 2.2 Prehistory 9 2.3 The Era of Exploration 12 2.4 The Standard Model Era 22 2.5 Beyond the Standard Model 26 3 Particles, Interactions, and Cosmology 29 3.1 The Fundamental Particles 29 3.2 The Interactions 35 3.3 Cosmology 41 4 The Standard Model 51 4.1 Gauge Invariance and QED 51 4.2 Internal Symmetries 65 4.3 Yang-Mills Theories 70 4.4 Quantum Chromodynamics 73 4.5 The SU(2) x U(1) Model 83 4.6 The Higgs Mechanism 86 4.7 The Electroweak Theory 91 5 What Don't We Know? 137 5.1 Arbitrariness and Tuning 138 5.2 Terra Incognita: Unanswered Questions 151 5.3 Are the Paradigms Correct? 163 6 How Will We Find Out? 175 6.1 The Ideas 175 6.2 The Tests 211 7. Epilogue: The Dream 223 Postscript: Run 2 226 Glossary 229 Bibliography 251 Index 259

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the PROSE Award in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, Association of American Publishers""One of BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Best Astronomy and Space Books of 2019""One of Nature's Top Ten Books of 2019""[No Shadow of a Doubt] offers a richly detailed account of the protagonists and their success against long odds. Mr. Kennefick is at his most compelling when dissecting and refuting accusations of bias that have shrouded the historic feat."---Ray Jayawardhana, Wall Street Journal"Kennefick brings a thrilling mix of ingredients together into a . . . rewarding read: the chutzpah of Einstein; the glamour, luck and sense of adventure of eclipse-chasing; the audacity of planning such a demanding experiment during the first world war and executing it in its chaotic aftermath."---Anjana Ahuja, Financial Times"Physicist Kennefick narrates the buildup to, and fallout from, the experiment that confirmed Einstein’s radical idea and made him an international star."---Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American"Meticulously researched and vividly written, [this] account is sure to become the standard reference work on this fascinating example of ‘Big Science’."---Peter Coles, Nature"[An] insightful biography."---Simon Ings, The Spectator"This is a fascinating book, full of insights into the relationship between theory and experimental proof, and the relationship between science, internationalism, and war."---Emily Winterburn, BBC Sky at Night Magazine"A detailed and scholarly examination of the 1919 eclipse expeditions . . . a wonderfully rich and authoritative study of the way science worked in 1919 (“a golden age for astronomy”)."---P. D. Smith, Times Literary Supplement"[Kennefick’s] purpose is to very thoroughly rebut the skeptics, which he accomplishes in part through a careful and technical review of the instruments, the data, and an astronomer’s 1978 reanalysis of the data using a computer, but also by standing up for Frank Dyson."---Karen Olsson, Bookforum"Daniel Kennefick’s wonderful No Shadow of a Doubt has something for everyone, and I highly recommend it, especially in this centennial year."---Jay M. Pasachoff, Key Reporter"[An] excellent book . . . [this] story, in Kennefick’s hands, is well told, with plenty to interest the non-specialist and the more expert reader alike"---Andy Sawyers, British Astronomical Association"Even if shadows and doubts about the 1919 findings remain, this thoughtful and rigorous book at least lays several old myths to rest."---Suman Seth, American Scientist"Daniel Kennefick’s is the most detailed study of the eclipse expedition to date."---Alexei B. Kojevnikov, American Journal of Physics"[Kennefick] celebrates the 100th anniversary of that eclipse by providing us with a detailed, engagingly written, and extremely well-referenced account of the results and their purported confirmation of General Relativity."---David W. Hughes, The Observatory"Rather than privileging the roles of Eddington and Einstein, as other works have done, Kennefick places Einstein and even, to some extent, Eddington in the back seat, focusing instead on Sir Frank Dyson, the instruments and methods used, and the astronomical institutions associated with the expedition. Such an approach shows that the experimental verification of a theory does not lie with single figures but is often driven by several individuals and institutions—their environments, epoch, and instrumentation."---Tiffany Nichols, Isis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the PROSE Award in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, Association of American Publishers""One of BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Best Astronomy and Space Books of 2019""One of Nature's Top Ten Books of 2019"

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Book SynopsisThe next time someone asks you why the government wastes its money on weird research, recall the intriguing stories James has told and tell them the answer.Trade ReviewCelebration of ingenuity and the scientific process... filled with troves of examples of how scientific research can transform our lives in important yet often unpredictable ways. -- Sid Perkins Science News Possessing a talent for crisp analogies that elucidate complex scientific concepts, the author elaborates on five examples in clear, easily digestible prose. ChoiceTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I: Finding Ourselves1. A Brief History of Timing2. Going with the Flow3. From Principia to Principe4. The Attraction of Time5. Fine-tuning Our Clocks6. Around the World in 80 Hours (Give or Take)Part II: Identity Crisis7. One Strand8. Two Strands9. The First Rungs of the Ladder10. Interchangeable Pieces11. Igniting the Fuse12. Breaking Down, Building Up13. A Curious Boy14. Copycat15. Molecule of the Year16. The Genetic Bread MachinePart III: Finding a Hot Spot17. A Universal "Hot Spot"18. Classic Black19. A Tunnel to Oblivion20. Chasing Wild Geese21. Going Wireless22. Where Credit Is Due23. Anatomy of a Successful FailurePart IV: Pick Your Poison24. Desperate Times, Desperate Measures25. Barking up the Right Tree26. The Inside Story on Pain27. A Bitter Sting28. A Simple Question29. The Gift of the MagusPart V: Dreaming of the Star Treatment30. Ingredients of the Stars31. The Sun's Secret Recipe32. Reading between the Lines33. Through a Star Darkly34. The Opacity Project35. The Iron Lady and the Gold Standard36. Therapy of the StarsAfterwordReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book presents the known properties of matter in the plasma state, going from the fundamentals to astrophysical applications. It features examples of scientific problems, as well as numerous illustrations and appendices.Trade Review“‘Physics of the Plasma Universe Second Edition’ by Anthony L. Perrat is a profound guide dedicated to plasma physics in the Solar System … . It is addressed to graduate students and researchers working in the field of cosmic plasma. … The book is an excellent manual for young and experienced scientists interested in plasma physics. … The second edition incorporates many recent results and makes the book an up-to-date guide through the science of plasma in the Universe.” (Alicja Wierzcholska and Hubert Siejkowski, Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 174, 2017)“Anyone who has spent time engaged in research or in teaching in the field of plasma physics will know that it contains a wide variety of elements, both in terms of the physical theories that support it and the phenomena to which it can be applied. … those looking for an eventful up-to-date guided tour through some of the key sites of the plasma universe may well find what they are looking for here.” (Terry Robinson, The Observatory, Vol. 135 (1248), October, 2015)“This book is the result of four decades of research work of a well-known specialist, this period has been spent in different frontiers of plasma research. … congratulations to the author for having written this volume, and warmest stimulations to the readers: they shall be pleased reading this book!” (Iván Abonyi, zbMATH 1306.82001, 2015)Table of ContentsCosmic Plasma Fundamentals.- Birkeland Currents in Cosmic Plasma.- Biot-Savart Law in Cosmic Plasma.- Electric Fields in Cosmic Plasma.- Double Layers in Astrophysics.- Synchrotron Radiation.- Transport of Cosmic Radiation.- Critical Ionization Effect in Interstellar Clouds.- Neutral Hydrogen Filaments and Dynamics of Galactic Bennet Pinches.- Particle-in-Cell Simulation of Cosmic Plasma.- Further Developments in Plasma Simulation.- Dynamics of Field--Aligned Currents in the Laboratory, Aurorae, and Galactic Space.- Plasma Astrophysics.

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Book SynopsisThis brief approaches General Relativity from a planetary navigation perspective, delving into the unconventional mathematical methods required to produce computer software for space missions. It provides a derivation of the Einstein field equations and describes experiments performed on the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission, spanning General Relativity Theory from the fundamental assumptions to experimental verification.The software used for planetary missions is derived from mathematics that use matrix notation. An alternative is to use Einstein summation notation, which enables the mathematics to be presented in a compact form but makes the geometry difficult to understand. In this book, the relationship of matrix notation to summation notation is shown. The purpose is to enable the reader to derive the mathematics used in the software in either matrix notation or summation notation. This brief is a useful tool for advanced students and young professionals embarking on careers in planetary navigation.Table of Contents1.0 Einstein Field Equations1.1 Summary of General Relativity Fundamental Assumptions 1.2 Geodesic Equation 1.3 Computer Solution for Metric Tensor 1.4 Covariant Derivative of a Vector 1.5 Covariant Derivative of a Tensor 1.6 Riemann-Christoffel Tensor 1.7 Ricci Tensor 1.8 Einstein Tensor 1.9 Summary of Einsteins Theory 2.0 Schwarzschild Solution for Metric Tensor 2.1 Metric Tensor 2.2 Equations of Motion 2.3 Isotropic Schwarzschild Coordinates 3.0 Comparison of Numerical Integration and Analytic Solutions 3.1 Mercury Perihelion Shift 3.2 Radar Delay 3.3 Light Deflection 3.4 Clock Time Keeping 4.0 General Relativity Time Delay Experiment 4.1 Plane Wave Propagation Through Ionized Gas 4.2 Solar Plasma Time Delay 4.3 Troposphere Time Delay 4.4 Ionosphere Time Delay 4.5 Doppler Data 4.6 Range Data Experimental Results

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a remarkable and complete survey of important questions at the interface between theoretical particle physics and cosmology.After discussing the theoretical and experimental physics revolution that led to the rise of the Standard Model in the past century, the author reviews all the major open puzzles, among them the hierarchy problem, the small value of the cosmological constant, the matter-antimatter asymmetry, and the dark matter enigma, including the state-of-the-art regarding proposed solutions. Also addressed are the rapidly expanding fields of thermal dark matter, cosmological first-order phase transitions and gravitational-wave signatures. In addition, the book presents the original and interdisciplinary PhD research work of the author relating to Weakly-Interacting-Massive-Particles around the TeV scale, which are among the most studied dark matter candidates. Motivated by the absence of experimental evidence for such particles, this thesis explores the possibility that dark matter is much heavier than what is conventionally assumed.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Standard Model of Elementary Particles.- Standard Model of Cosmology.- Thermal Dark Matter.- Homeopathic Dark Matter.- First-order Cosmological Phase Transition.

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