Basic Theoretical Physics: A Concise Overview

3540368043......Page 1
Basic Theoretical Physics......Page 3
Preface......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Part I Mechanics and Basic Relativity......Page 15
1 Space and Time......Page 16
2 Force and Mass......Page 18
3 Basic Mechanics of Motion in One Dimension......Page 23
4 Mechanics of the Damped and Driven Harmonic
Oscillator......Page 28
5 The Three Classical Conservation Laws;
Two-particle Problems......Page 33
6 Motion in a Central Force Field;
Kepler’s Problem......Page 40
7 The Rutherford Scattering Cross-section......Page 50
8 Lagrange Formalism I:
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian......Page 53
9 Relativity I: The Principle
of Maximal Proper Time (Eigenzeit)......Page 62
10 Coupled Small Oscillations......Page 70
11 Rigid Bodies......Page 77
12 Remarks on Non-integrable Systems: Chaos......Page 91
13 Lagrange Formalism II: Constraints......Page 94
14 Accelerated Reference Frames......Page 99
15 Relativity II: E=mc2......Page 105
Part II
Electrodynamics and Aspects of Optics......Page 110
16 Introduction and Mathematical
Preliminaries to Part II......Page 111
17 Electrostatics and Magnetostatics......Page 120
18 Magnetic Field of Steady Electric Currents......Page 146
19 Maxwell’s Equations I: Faraday’s Law
of Induction; the Continuity Equation;
Maxwell’s Displacement Current......Page 154
20 Maxwell’s Equations II:
Electromagnetic Waves......Page 164
21 Applications of Electrodynamics
in the Field of Optics......Page 179
22 Conclusion to Part II......Page 202
Part III
Quantum Mechanics......Page 203
23 On the History of Quantum Mechanics......Page 204
24 Quantum Mechanics: Foundations......Page 208
25 One-dimensional Problems
in Quantum Mechanics......Page 219
26 The Harmonic Oscillator I......Page 227
27 The Hydrogen Atom according to
Schrödinger’s Wave Mechanics......Page 230
28 Abstract Quantum Mechanics
(Algebraic Methods)......Page 236
29 Spin Momentum and the Pauli Principle
(Spin-statistics Theorem)......Page 244
30 Spin-orbit Interaction;
Addition of Angular Momenta......Page 250
31 Ritz Minimization......Page 253
32 Perturbation Theory for Static Problems......Page 255
33 Time-dependent Perturbations......Page 260
34 Magnetism: An Essentially Quantum
Mechanical Phenomenon......Page 264
35 Cooper Pairs; Superconductors
and Superfluids......Page 270
36 On the Interpretation
of Quantum Mechanics
(Reality?, Locality?, Retardation?)......Page 272
37 Quantum Mechanics:
Retrospect and Prospect......Page 285
38 Appendix: “Mutual Preparation
Algorithm” for Quantum Cryptography......Page 289
Part IV
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics......Page 291
39 Introduction and Overview to Part IV......Page 292
40 Phenomenological Thermodynamics:
Temperature and Heat......Page 294
41 The First and Second Laws
of Thermodynamics......Page 303
42 Phase Changes, van der Waals Theory
and Related Topics......Page 316
43 The Kinetic Theory of Gases......Page 324
44 Statistical Physics......Page 331
45 The Transition
to Classical Statistical Physics......Page 336
46 Advanced Discussion of the Second Law......Page 340
47 Shannon’s Information Entropy......Page 346
48 Canonical Ensembles
in Phenomenological Thermodynamics......Page 349
49 The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation......Page 355
50 Production of Low
and Ultralow Temperatures;
Third Law of Thermodynamics......Page 357
51 General Statistical Physics
(Formal Completion; the Statistical Operator;
Trace Formalism)......Page 362
52 Ideal Bose and Fermi Gases......Page 364
53 Applications I: Fermions, Bosons,
Condensation Phenomena......Page 367
54 Applications II: Phase Equilibria
in Chemical Physics......Page 397
55 Conclusion to Part IV......Page 410
References......Page 414
Index......Page 417