The story of the science of plasma and its revolutionary implications for the way we understand the universe and our place in it.Histories of science in the 20th century have focused on relativity and quantum mechanics. But, quietly in the background, there has been a third area of exploration that has equally important implications for our understanding of the universe. It is unknown to the general public, despite the fact that many Nobel prize winners, senior academics and major research centres around the world have been devoted to it - it is the study of plasma.Plasma is fourth state of matter, and the other three - gas, liquid and solids - emerge out of plasma. This audiobook will reveal how more than 99 per cent of the universe is made of plasma and how there are two gigantic clouds of plasma, called the Kordylewski Clouds, hovering between the Earth and the Moon, only recently discovered by astronomers in Hungary. Other revelations not previously known outside narrow academic disciplines include the evidence that in certain circumstances, plasma exhibits features that suggest they may be in some sense alive: clouds of plasma have evolved double helixes, banks of cells and crystals, filaments and junctions, which could control the flow of electric currents, thus generating an intelligence similar to machine intelligence. We may, in fact, have been looking for signs of extra-terrestrial life in the wrong place.Best-selling author Robert Temple has been following the study of plasma for decades and has worked with several of the senior scientists - including Nobel laureates - at its forefront, including Paul Dirac, David Bohm, Peter Mitchell and Chandra Wickramasinghe (who has co-written an academic paper with Temple).PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. Read more

Well known for its accessibility to graduate students and experimental physicists, this volume emphasizes physical arguments and minimizes theoretical formalism. The second edition of this classic text features revisions by the author that improve its user-friendly qualities, and an introductory survey of latter-day developments in classic superconductivity enhances the volume’s value as a reference for researchers. Starting with a historical overview, the text proceeds with an introduction to the electrodynamics of superconductors and presents expositions of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory and the Ginzburg-Landau theory. Additional subjects include magnetic properties of classic type II superconductors; the Josephson effect (both in terms of basic phenomena and applications and of the phenomena unique to small junctions); fluctuation effects in classic superconductors; the high-temperature superconductors; special topics (such as the Bogoliubov method, magnetic perturbations and gapless superconductivity, and time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory); and nonequilibrium superconductivity. 1996 edition. Read more

Quantum field theory is arguably the most far-reaching and beautiful physical theory ever constructed, with aspects more stringently tested and verified to greater precision than any other theory in physics. Unfortunately, the subject has gained a notorious reputation for difficulty, with forbidding looking mathematics and a peculiar diagrammatic language described in an array of unforgiving, weighty textbooks aimed firmly at aspiring professionals. However, quantum field theory is too important, too beautiful, and too engaging to be restricted to the professionals. This book on quantum field theory is designed to be different. It is written by experimental physicists and aims to provide the interested amateur with a bridge from undergraduate physics to quantum field theory. The imagined reader is a gifted amateur, possessing a curious and adaptable mind, looking to be told an entertaining and intellectually stimulating story, but who will not feel patronised if a few mathematical niceties are spelled out in detail. Using numerous worked examples, diagrams, and careful physically motivated explanations, this book will smooth the path towards understanding the radically different and revolutionary view of the physical world that quantum field theory provides, and which all physicists should have the opportunity to experience. Read more

Describes fifteen years' work which has led to the construc- tion of solutions to non-linear relativistic local field e- quations in 2 and 3 space-time dimensions. Gives proof of the existence theorem in 2 dimensions and describes many properties of the solutions. Read more

This book provides a fresh approach to learning how solid bodies respond to loads, emphasizing clear derivations of the basic concepts from first principles. A consistent problem-solving framework fosters understanding by building and reinforcing the mathematical tools best suited to the task.Theoretical developments are augmented by an extensive set of MATLAB codes that not only show how to organize computations but also yield powerful tools for exploration and discovery. The book is aimed at engineering students at the sophomore level who have a background in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Read more

New edition of the most widely-used textbook on solid state physics in the world. Describes how the excitations and imperfections of actual solids can be understood with simple models that have firmly established scope and power. The foundation of this book is based on experiment, application and theory. Several significant advances in the field have been added including high temperature superconductors, quasicrystals, nanostructures, superlattices, Bloch/Wannier levels, Zener tunneling, light-emitting diodes and new magnetic materials. Read more

Soft matter and biological systems pose many challenges for theoretical, experimental and computational research. From the computational point of view, these many-body systems cover variations in relevant time and length scales over many orders of magnitude. Indeed, the macroscopic properties of materials and complex fluids are ultimately to be deduced from the dynamics of the microsopic, molecular level. In these lectures, internationally renowned experts offer a tutorial presentation of novel approaches for bridging these space and time scales in realistic simulations. This volume addresses graduate students and nonspecialist researchers from related areas seeking a high-level but accessible introduction to the state of the art in soft matter simulations. Read more

"A great delight to read." — Physics TodayAmong the most fertile areas of modern physics, many-body theory has produced a wealth of fundamental results in all areas of the discipline. Unfortunately the subject is notoriously difficult and, until the publication of this book, most treatments of the topic were inaccessible to the average experimenter or non-specialist theoretician.The present work, by contrast, is well within the grasp of the nonexpert. It is intended primarily as a "self-study" book that introduces one aspect of many-body theory, i.e. the method of Feynman diagrams. The book also lends itself to use as a reference in courses on solid state and nuclear physics which make some use of the many-body techniques. And, finally, it can be used as a supplementary reference in a many-body course.Chapters 1 through 6 provide an introduction to the major concepts of the field, among them Feynman diagrams, quasi-particles and vacuum amplitudes. Chapters 7 through 16 give basic coverage to topics ranging from Dyson's equation and the ladder approximation to Fermi systems at finite temperature and superconductivity. Appendixes summarize the Dirac formalism and include a rigorous derivation of the rules for diagrams. Problems are provided at the end of each chapter and solutions are given at the back of the book.For this second edition, Dr. Mattuck, formerly of the H. C. Orsted Institute and the University of Copenhagen, added to many chapters a new section showing in mathematical detail how typical many-body calculations with Feynman diagrams are carried out. In addition, new exercises were included, some of which gave the reader the opportunity to carry out simpler many-body calculations himself. new chapter on the quantum field theory of phase transitions rounds out this unusually clear, helpful and informative guide to the physics of the many-body problem. Read more

This is the original story of scientific fraud at the renowned Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. In 2000, Jan Hendrik Schön was a young physicist employed at Bell who stunned colleagues when he claimed to have developed a powerful method for turning organic crystals into transistors. Even as Schön's data thrilled his close colleagues, managers and mentors, independent scientists struggled to recreate and build on his experiments. Eventually whistleblowers uncovered a pattern of duplicated data spread throughout Schön's work. Bell convened an investigation that found him guilty of data fabrication and falsification, and released a public report in 2002. But why did so many top experts, including Nobel prize-winners, support Schön? What led the major scientific journals, including Nature and Science, to publish his work? What drove Schön, by all accounts a mild-mannered, modest and obliging young man, to tell such egregious lies? This book, first published in 2009, provides answers in the form of a detailed account of the pressures and incentives that continue to operate in today's scientific community. This, the second edition is a new release without changes to the content after rights reverted to the author on August 15, 2024. Read more

The awaited revision of Semiconductor Devices: Physics and Technology offers more than 50% new or revised material that reflects a multitude of important discoveries and advances in device physics and integrated circuit processing. Offering a basic introduction to physical principles of modern semiconductor devices and their advanced fabrication technology, the third edition presents students with theoretical and practical aspects of every step in device characterizations and fabrication, with an emphasis on integrated circuits.Divided into three parts, this text covers the basic properties of semiconductor materials, emphasizing silicon and gallium arsenide; the physics and characteristics of semiconductor devices bipolar, unipolar special microwave and photonic devices; and the latest processing technologies, from crystal growth to lithographic pattern transfer. Read more

The M.I.T. Introductory Physics Series is the result of a program of careful study, planning, and development that began in 1960. The Education Research Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (formerly the Science Teaching Center) was established to study the process of instruction, aids thereto, and the learning process itself, with special reference to science teaching at the university level. Generous support from a number of foundations provided the means for assembling and maintaining an experienced staff to co-operate with members of the Institute's Physics Department in the examination, improvement, and development of physics curriculum materials for students planning careers in the sciences. After careful analysis of objectives and the problems involved, preliminary versions of textbooks were prepared, tested through classroom use at M.I.T. and other institutions, re-evaluated, rewritten, and tried again. Only then were the final manuscripts undertaken. Read more

This textbook offers an introduction to the foundations of spectroscopic methods and provides a bridge between basic concepts and experimental applications in fields as diverse as materials science, biology, solar energy conversion, and environmental science. The author emphasizes the use of time-dependent theory to link the spectral response in the frequency domain to the behavior of molecules in the time domain, strengthened by two brand new chapters on nonlinear optical spectroscopy and time-resolved spectroscopy. Theoretical underpinnings are presented to the extent necessary for readers to understand how to apply spectroscopic tools to their own interests. Read more

Green's functions, named for the mathematician who developed them in the 1830s, possess applications in many areas of physics. This volume presents the basic theoretical formulation, followed by specific applications, and is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in the area of condensed matter physics.Beginning with a description of Green's function in classical physics from a modern point of view, the text progresses to the definition and properties of Green's functions in quantum physics. Most of the book explores applications, focusing on transport coefficients of a metal, the Coulomb gas, Fermi liquids, electrons and phonons, superconductivity, superfluidity, and magnetism. The treatment assumes a good working knowledge of quantum mechanics and a familiarity with the occupation number representation. An appendix provides the main formulas and the correspondence with wave mechanics. Each chapter concludes with references and problems for further study. Read more

At the heart of many fields - physics, chemistry, engineering - lies thermodynamics. While this science plays a critical role in determining the boundary between what is and is not possible in the natural world, it occurs to many as an indecipherable black box, thus making the subject a challenge to learn. Two obstacles contribute to this situation, the first being the disconnect between the fundamental theories and the underlying physics and the second being the confusing concepts and terminologies involved with the theories. While one needn't confront either of these two obstacles to successfully use thermodynamics to solve real problems, overcoming both provides access to a greater intuitive sense of the problems and more confidence, more strength, and more creativity in solving them. This book offers an original perspective on thermodynamic science and history based on the three approaches of a practicing engineer, academician, and historian. The book synthesises and gathers into one accessible volume a strategic range of foundational topics involving the atomic theory, energy, entropy, and the laws of thermodynamics. Read more

This open access book develops the world of quantum physics without the onerous math prerequisites of all other texts. Rather than taking just a descriptive approach, or the conventional higher-math approach, this book develops rigorous quantum mechanics beginning at the level of a nonscientist. It is appropriate for advanced high-school students, lifelong learners, citizen scientists, undergraduate students, graduate students, and even current practitioners, engaging a wide group of topics that require no math beyond high-school level. It will also inspire college and high school instructors looking for new ways to introduce quantum ideas without advanced math. It provides the formal training needed for future work in quantum science and technology.The book begins by employing Feynman’s methodology to explain many mysterious concepts of quantum mechanics using only high-school math yet covering advanced ideas. It then develops formalism and abstraction while covering undergraduate topics including spin, harmonic oscillator, angular momentum, nonrelativistic hydrogen, and particle in a box. The book concludes with an advanced treatment of graduate-level topics including time evolution, relativistic hydrogen, Heisenberg spin model, bosons and fermions, quantum simulation, second quantization, and quantum measurements. The math never advances beyond complex numbers and linear algebra and is fully self-contained. This volume, the first of two, covers conceptual ideas and quantum-mechanical reasoning, followed by developments in single-particle quantum mechanics focused on static properties. It is followed by Volume 2 which covers advanced topics including dynamics, relativity, many-body physics, electron correlations, decoherence, quantization of light, and measurement. Many topics are treated at a level similar to state-of-the-art of research, beyond what is typically covered in graduate quantum courses. There is no longer any excuse not to learn about one of the most fascinating developments of human knowledge. Prepare yourself for the second quantum revolution. This book can make everyone into a quantum mechanic. Even you! Read more

An award-winning Oxford physicist draws on classic sci-fi, fantasy fiction, and everyday phenomena to explain and celebrate the magical properties of the world around us.If you were to present the feats of modern science to someone from the past, those feats would surely be considered magic. Theoretical physicist Felix Flicker proves that they are indeed magic—just familiar magic. The name for this magic is “condensed matter physics.” Most people haven’t heard of the field, yet more than a third of physicists identify as condensed matter researchers, making it the most active area in the subject—with good reason. Condensed matter is the solids, liquids, and gasses that surround us—and the more exotic matters—which dictate every aspect of our present existence and hold the keys to a brighter future, from quantum computing to real-life invisibility cloaks. Flicker teases out the magical threads that run through our daily lives. Condensed matter physics allows you to create anything abiding by the laws of reality—and often, we find that those laws can be bent. Flicker explains how to create new particles that never existed before, how to make crystals shoot out of such intense light they can cut through metal, how to separate the poles of a magnet, and more. The book’s endearing conceit is that you are an aspiring wizard whose ability to cast spells (i.e. to do science) is dependent on your grasp of the fundamentals of our universe. This book contains no equations or charts—instead, it’s full of owls and mountains and infinite libraries, and staffs and wands, and martial arts and mythical islands ruled by sage knot-makers. Part of the book’s magic is that, for all these fanciful trappings, it still feels practical and applicable. The Magick of Physics will open your eyes to magic that surround us everyday. Read more

Elementary Particles and Their Interactions. Concepts and Phenomena presents a well-written and thorough introduction to this field at the advanced undergraduate and graduate level. Students familiar with quantum mechanics, special relativity and classical electrodynamics will find easy access to modern particle physics and a rich source of illustrative examples, figures, tables, and problems with selected solutions. Further references guide the reader through the literature. This text should become a standard reference to particle physics and will be useful to students and lecturers alike. Read more

Probably one of the most fashionable areas in the physical sciences today, Soft Condensed Matter provides an excellent introduction to the topic, and includes colloids, polymers, liquid crystals, and amphiphiles. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students of physics, chemistry, materials science and chemical engineering. Read more

In examining the problem of quantization it is customary to proceed by following the order of historical developments, i. e. , to start with the so-called first quantization and then go on to second, or field, quantization. As is well known, the former consists in setting up commutation relations among the canonical variables (of finite degrees of freedom) which are defined originally in classical mechanics, and the latter consists in doing the same among field variables. In our opinion, however, the above order does not necessarily reflect that of physical importance. In fact, a close look at the theoretical that the latter plays a more fundamental role structure immediately reveals than the former in various respects. First, the former can be derived from the latter, and second, the assumptions that have to be made in the former, e. g. the spin-statistics connection, can be justified in the latter on the basis of its own theory. Furthermore, as the history of the positron theory shows, if we remain within the framework of the first-quantized formalism, it will no longer be possible to have a closed theory in the relativistic region where the problem becomes essentially that of an infinite number of particles. Read more

Essential self-teaching guide on fluids and solids.The Essential Physics Self-Teaching Guide series is a comprehensive compendium to learn and master multifaceted physics topics. Read more