47 results for "Mathematics"

A passion for discovery

Freund, Peter G. O.
This book assembles human stories about physicists and mathematicians. Remarkably, these stories cluster around some general themes having to do with the interaction between scientists, and with the impact of historic events such as the advent of fascism and communism in the twentieth century - on scientists' behavior. Briefly, but lucidly, some of the beautiful science that brought these scientists together in the first place is explained
World Scientific 2007 221 pages

Concepts of mass in contemporary physics and philosophy

Jammer, Max
The concept of mass is one of the most fundamental notions in physics, comparable in importance only to those of space and time. But in contrast to the latter, which are the subject of innumerable physical and philosophical studies, the concept of mass has been but rarely investigated. Here Max Jammer, a leading philosopher and historian of physics, provides a concise but comprehensive, coherent, and self-contained study of the concept of mass as it is defined, interpreted, and applied in contemporary physics and as it is critically examined in the modern philosophy of science. With its focus on theories proposed after the mid-1950s, the book is the first of its kind, covering the most recent experimental and theoretical investigations into the nature of mass and its role in modern physics, from the realm of elementary particles to the cosmology of galaxies. The book begins with an analysis of the persistent difficulties of defining inertial mass in a noncircular manner and discusses the related question of whether mass is an observational or a theoretical concept. It then studies the notion of mass in special relativity and the delicate problem of whether the relativistic rest mass is the only legitimate notion of mass and whether it is identical with the classical (Newtonian) mass. This is followed by a critical analysis of the different derivations of the famous mass-energy relationship E = mc2 and its conflicting interpretations. Jammer then devotes a chapter to the distinction between inertial and gravitational mass and to the various versions of the so-called equivalence principle with which Newton initiated his Principia but which also became the starting point of Einstein's general relativity, which supersedes Newtonian physics. The book concludes with a presentation of recently proposed global and local dynamical theories of the origin and nature of mass. Destined to become a much-consulted reference for philosophers and physicists, this book is also written for the nonprofessional general reader interested in the foundations of physics.
Princeton Univ. Press 2000 180 pages

Clifford Numbers and Spinors

Riesz, Marcel
Preface; E. Folke Bolinder. Lecture Series Clifford Numbers and Spinors given by Professor Marcel Riesz, October 1957--January 1958. Preface. I. Clifford Numbers. II. Rotations and Reflections. III. Canonical Representations of Isometrics. IV. Representation of Isometrics by Infinitesimal Transformation and Clifford Bivectors. Bibliography. Index. Errata to Clifford Numbers and Spinors. Marcel Riesz's Lecture Notes on Clifford Algebra dictated to E. Folke Bolinder, April 1959. Marcel Riesz's Work on Clifford Algebras; P. Lounesto.
Springer 2014-03-14 256 pages

Topology for Physicists

Schwarz, Albert S.
0 Background.- 1 Fundamental Concepts.- 2 The Degree of a Map.- 3 The Fundamental Group and Covering Spaces.- 4 Manifolds.- 5 Differential Forms and Homology in Euclidean Space.- 6 Homology and Cohomology.- 7 Homotopy Classification of Maps of the Sphere.- 8 Homotopy Groups.- 9 Fibered Spaces.- 10 Fibrations and Homotopy Groups.- 11 Homotopy Theory of Fibrations.- 12 Lie Groups.- 13 Lie Algebras.- 14 Topology of Lie Groups and Homogeneous Manifolds.- 15 Geometry of Gauge Fields.- Index of Notation.
Springer 2012-12-22 316 pages

Representation Theory and Complex Geometry

Ginzburg, Victor
see attached] This second edition of {it Representation Theory and Complex Geometry} provides an overview of significant advances in representation theory from a geometric standpoint. A geometrically-oriented treatment has long been desired, especially since the discovery of { l D}-modules in the early '80s and the quiver approach to quantum groups in the early '90s. The first half of the book fills the gap between the standard knowledge of a beginner in Lie theory and the much wider background needed by the working mathematician. Thus, Chapters 1-3 and 5-6 provide some basics in symplectic geometry, Borel--Moore homology, the geometry of semisimple groups, equivariant algebraic K-theory "from scratch," and the topology and algebraic geometry of flag varieties and conjugacy classes, respectively. The material covered by Chapters 5 and 6, as well as most of Chapter 3, has never been presented in book form. Chapters 3-4 and 7-8 present a uniform approach to representation theory of three quite different Weyl groups, Lie algebra sln, and the Iwahori--Hecke algebra. The results of Chapters 4 and 8, with complete proofs are not to be found elsewhere in the literature. This second edition contains substantial updates and revisions to include more standard classical results in chapters 2, 3, 5, and 6 as well as two new chapters. Chapter 9 treats the applications of { l D}-modules to Lie groups, and includes the study of * Differential operators on a semisimple group and on its flag manifold; * the famous Beilinson--Bernstein Localization Theorem reducing the study of {it g}-modules to that of { l D} modules; * the so-called Harish--Chandra holonomic system. Chapter 10 isdevoted to some very exciting developments connecting the representations of quantum groups to the geometry of "quiver varieties," introduced by Lusztig and Nakajima. The subject is closely related to many other important topics such as the McKay correspondence, semismall resolutions and Hilbert schemes. Overall, this chapter puts the representation theory of Kac--Moody algebras and quantum groups in this broader context. The exposition is practically self-contained with each chapter potentially serving as a basis for a graduate course or seminar. An excellent glossary of notation, comprehensive bibliography and extensive index round out this new edition. The techniques developed here play an essential role in the development of the Langlands program and can be successfully applied to representation theory, quantum groups and quantum field theory, affine Lie algebras, algebraic geometry, and mathematical physics.
Birkhäuser Boston 2007-05 680 pages

Ultra-Wideband, Short-Pulse Electromagnetics

H.L. Bertoni,L. Carin,L.B. Felsen
In 1945, Dr. Ernst Weber founded, and was the first Director of, the Microwave Research Institute (MRI) at POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY (at that time named the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn). MRI gained world-wide recognition in the 50's and 60's for its research in electromagnetic theory, antennas and radiation, network theory and microwave networks, microwave components and devices. It was also known through its series of topical symposia and the widely distributed hard bound MRI Symposium Proceedings. Rededicated as the Weber Research Institute (WRI) in 1986, the research focus today is on such areas as electromagnetic propagation and antennas, ultra broadband electromagnetics, pulse power, acoustics, gaseous electronics, plasma physics, solid state materials, quantum electronics, electromagnetic launchers, and networks. Following the MRI tradition, WRI has launched its own series of in-depth topical conferences with published proceedings. The first conference was held in October, 1990 and was entitled Directions in Electromagnetic Wave Modeling. The proceedings of the conference were published under that title by Plenum Press. This volume constitutes the Proceedings of the second WRI International Conference dealing with Ultra·Wideband Short·Pulse Electromagnetics.
Springer US 2011-12-21 542 pages

Relativity A Richer Truth

Philipp Frank
Relativity: A Richer Truth is a book written by Philipp Frank that explores the fundamental principles of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. The book is a comprehensive guide that delves into the history and development of the theory, explaining the complex concepts and ideas in a clear and concise manner.The book is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the historical background of relativity and the second part delving into the mathematical and physical principles that underlie the theory. The author provides a detailed account of Einstein's life and work, tracing the evolution of his ideas and the scientific and philosophical debates that surrounded them.The second part of the book explores the mathematical and physical principles that form the foundation of relativity. The author explains the concepts of space-time, the equivalence principle, and the nature of gravity, among others, in a way that is accessible to readers with no prior knowledge of physics.In addition to providing a clear and comprehensive introduction to relativity, the book also highlights the broader implications of the theory for our understanding of the universe and our place within it. The author discusses the philosophical and cultural implications of relativity, exploring its impact on our concepts of time, space, and reality.Overall, Relativity: A Richer Truth is an engaging and informative book that offers readers a deeper understanding of one of the most important scientific theories of the modern era. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of science, physics, or the philosophical implications of relativity.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
Literary Licensing, LLC 2012-06 158 pages

Fundamental math and physics for scientists and engineers

Yevick, David,Yevick, Hannah
Provides a concise overview of the core undergraduate physics and applied mathematics curriculum for students and practitioners of science and engineering Fundamental Math and Physics for Scientists and Engineers summarizes college and university level physics together with the mathematics frequently encountered in engineering and physics calculations. The presentation provides straightforward, coherent explanations of underlying concepts emphasizing essential formulas, derivations, examples, and computer programs. Content that should be thoroughly mastered and memorized is clearly identified while unnecessary technical details are omitted. Fundamental Math and Physics for Scientists and Engineers is an ideal resource for undergraduate science and engineering students and practitioners, students reviewing for the GRE and graduate-level comprehensive exams, and general readers seeking to improve their comprehension of undergraduate physics. Covers topics frequently encountered in undergraduate physics, in particular those appearing in the Physics GRE subject examination Reviews relevant areas of undergraduate applied mathematics, with an overview chapter on scientific programming Provides simple, concise explanations and illustrations of underlying concepts Succinct yet comprehensive, Fundamental Math and Physics for Scientists and Engineers constitutes a reference for science and engineering students, practitioners and non-practitioners alike.
Wiley 2015 447 pages

Selecta I Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems

Yakov G Sinai
From the reviews: “The first volume is devoted to ergodic theory and dynamical systems. It contains 19 papers divided into four groups ... . The reader will find a wealth of information and ideas that can still ignite inspiration and motivate students as well as senior researchers. The reader will also have a touch of Sinai’s personality, his taste, enthusiasm, and optimism, which are just as invaluable as his mathematical results.” (Nikolai Chernov, Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2012 e)
Springer New York 2019-09-14 450 pages

Electromagnetic Field Computation by Network Methods

Leopold B. Felsen,Mauro Mongiardo,Peter Russer
In this monograph, the authors propose a systematic and rigorous treatment of electromagnetic field representations in complex structures. The architecture suggested in this book accommodates use of different numerical methods as well as alternative Green's function representations in each of the subdomains resulting from a partitioning of the overall problem. The subdomains are regions of space where electromagnetic energy is stored and are described in terms of equivalent circuit representations based either on lumped element circuits or on transmission lines. Connection networks connect the subcircuits representing the subdomains. The connection networks are lossless, don't store energy and represent the overall problem topology. This is similar to what is done in circuit theory and permits a phrasing of the solution of EM field problems in complex structures by Network-oriented methods.
Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2010-10-19 214 pages

Methods of Modern Mathematical Physics Scattering theory

Michael Reed,Barry Simon
Scattering theory is the study of an interacting system on a scale of time and/or distance which is large compared to the scale of the interaction itself. As such, it is the most effective means, sometimes the only means, to study microscopic nature. To understand the importance of scattering theory, consider the variety of ways in which it arises. First, there are various phenomena in nature (like the blue of the sky) which are the result of scattering. In order to understand the phenomenon (and to identify it as the result of scattering) one must understand the underlying dynamics and its scattering theory. Second, one often wants to use the scattering of waves or particles whose dynamics on knows to determine the structure and position of small or inaccessible objects. For example, in x-ray crystallography (which led to the discovery of DNA), tomography, and the detection of underwater objects by sonar, the underlying dynamics is well understood. What one would like to construct are correspondences that link, via the dynamics, the position, shape, and internal structure of the object to the scattering data. Ideally, the correspondence should be an explicit formula which allows one to reconstruct, at least approximately, the object from the scattering data. The main test of any proposed particle dynamics is whether one can construct for the dynamics a scattering theory that predicts the observed experimental data. Scattering theory was not always so central the physics. Even thought the Coulomb cross section could have been computed by Newton, had he bothered to ask the right question, its calculation is generally attributed to Rutherford more than two hundred years later. Of course, Rutherford's calculation was in connection with the first experiment in nuclear physics.
Academic Press a division of Harcourt Brace 2023 480 pages

Physics: structure and meaning

Cooper, Leon N.
Physics explores the scientific view of the world as it has developed from the earliest theories of Aristotle, Euclid, and Newton to modern theories, such as Einstein’s relativity and quantum mechanics. The classic text’s chief distinction is its time-proven ability to overcome anxieties about science by arousing interest in imaginative ideas. Those curious about physics but lacking science and mathematics backgrounds will find well-told history and countless stimulating examples. The historical approach enables students to examine philosophical questions from many viewpoints and ot see how current theory evolved. Physics has been thoroughly tested and refined by several decades of classroom teaching. A new prologue covers the years since the original 1968 edition. Chapter source notes, review problems, questions and answers, and mathematical appendices are included for those wishing to pursue topics further. The material is supplemented with clear line drawings, illustrations, graphs, charts, and tables.
University Press of New England 1992-08-15 537 pages

Unifying Themes In Complex Systems, Volume 2: Proceedings Of The Second International Conference On Complex Systems

Bar-Yam, Yaneer
The International Conference on Complex Systems provides a unique opportunity for scientists to rise above the disciplinary boundaries and explore unity in complex systems. This volume contains the proceedings of the Second International Conference on Complex Systems. The sessions ranged from the opening talk by Nobel laureate Philip Anderson on emergence and the relevance of complex systems to physics to the final panel that included many of the great management gurus of this generation. The plenary session topics for the second conference were emergence, description and modeling, self-organization, networks, time series, agents in action, and complexity and management. Talks in these sessions often focused on contributions in specific disciplines, but each session contained a diverse set of disciplines to show the strategies and concepts that can be applied generally to complex systems. Overall, the conference presentations dealt with issues of significant public interest, including individual psychology, dynamics of social and economic change, the human genome, and ecology.The New England Complex Systems Institute is an independent educational and research institution dedicated to advancing the study of complex systems, including new concepts and methodologies that are affecting all fields of science and engineering, and are being applied to technology, business, and even social policy. NECSI organizes conferences, workshops, short courses, and other activities from which books will be produced for the NECSI Series on Complexity. The books will range from conference proceedings and graduate textbooks to general-audience trade books, and will address fundamental concepts, new frontiers, and innovative applications of complex systems.
CRC Press 2019-06-13 644 pages

Integral Operators in the Theory of Linear Partial Differential Equations

Bergman, Stefan
The present book deals with the construction of solutions of linear partial differential equations by means of integral operators which transform analytic functions of a complex variable into such solutions. The theory of analytic functions has achieved a high degree of deve lopment and simplicity, and the operator method permits us to exploit this theory in the study of differential equations. Although the study of existence and uniqueness of solutions has been highly developed, much less attention has been paid to the investigation of function theo retical properties and to the explicit construction of regular and singular solutions using a unified general procedure. This book attempts to fill in the gap in this direction. Integral operators of various types have been used for a long time in the mathematical literature. In this connection one needs only to mention Euler and Laplace. The author has not attempted to give a complete account of all known operators, but rather has aimed at developing a unified approach. For this purpose he uses special operators which preserve various function theoretical properties of analytic functions, such as domains of regularity, validity of series development, connection between the coefficients of these developments and location and character of singularities, etc. However, all efforts were made to give a complete bibliography to help the reader to find more detailed information.
Springer 2014-10-09 156 pages

The Law of Causality and Its Limits

Philipp Frank
The Law of Causality and its Limits was the principal philosophical work of the physicist turned philosopher, Philipp Frank. Born in Vienna on March 20, 1884, Frank died in Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 21, 1966. He received his doctorate in 1907 at the University of Vienna in theoretical physics, having studied under Ludwig Boltzmann; his sub sequent research in physics and mathematics was represented by more than 60 scientific papers. Moreover his great success as teacher and expositor was recognized throughout the scientific world with publication of his collaborative Die Differentialgleichungen der Mechanik und Physik, with Richard von Mises, in 1925-27. Frank was responsible for the second volume, on physics, and especially noted for his authoritative article on classical Hamiltonian mechanics and optics. Among his earliest papers were those, beginning in 1908, devoted to special relativity, which together with general relativity and physical cosmology occupied him throughout his life. Already in 1907, Frank published his seminal paper 'Kausalgesetz und Erfahrung' ('Experience and the Law of Causality'), much later collected with a splendid selection of his essays on philosophy of science, in English (1941c and 1949g, in our Bibliography). Joining the first 'Vienna Circle' in the first decade of the 20th century, with Hans Hahn, mathematician, and Otto Neurath, sociologist and economist, and deeply influenced by studies of Ernst Mach's critical conceptual histories of science and by the striking challenge of Poincare and Duhem, Frank continued his epistemological investigations.
Springer Netherlands 2011-09-29 302 pages