Basic Concepts in Physics: From the Cosmos to Quarks

Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Contents
1 Gravitation and Newton\'s Laws
	1.1 From Pythagoras to the Middle Ages
	1.2 Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo
	1.3 Newton and Modern Science
	1.4 Newton\'s Laws
		1.4.1 Newton\'s First Law
		1.4.2 Newton\'s Second Law
		1.4.3 Planetary Motion in Newton\'s Theory
		1.4.4 Newton\'s Third Law
	1.5 Conservation Laws
		1.5.1 Conservation of Linear Momentum
		1.5.2 Conservation of Angular Momentum
		1.5.3 Conservation of Energy
	1.6 Degrees of Freedom
	1.7 Inertial and Non-inertial Systems
	1.8 Rigid Bodies
	1.9 The Principle of Least Action
	1.10 Hamilton Equations
	1.11 Complements on Gravity and Planetary Motion
	1.12 Advice for Solving Problems
	Literature
2 Entropy, Statistical Physics, and Information
	2.1 Thermodynamic Approach
		2.1.1 First Law of Thermodynamics
		2.1.2 Second Law of Thermodynamics
		2.1.3 Third Law of Thermodynamics
		2.1.4 Thermodynamic Potentials
	2.2 Statistical Approach
	2.3 Entropy and Statistical Physics
	2.4 Temperature and Chemical Potential
	2.5 Statistical Mechanics
		2.5.1 Canonical Ensemble
		2.5.2 Maxwell Distribution
		2.5.3 Grand Canonical Ensemble
	2.6 Entropy and Information
	2.7 Maxwell\'s Demon and Perpetuum Mobile
	2.8 First Order Phase Transitions
	Literature
3 Electromagnetism and Maxwell\'s Equations
	3.1 Coulomb\'s Law
	3.2 Electrostatic and Gravitational Fields
	3.3 Conductors, Semiconductors, and Insulators
	3.4 Magnetic Fields
	3.5 Magnetic Flux
	3.6 Maxwell\'s Equations
		3.6.1 Gauss\'s Law for Electric Fields
		3.6.2 Gauss\'s Law for Magnetism
		3.6.3 Faraday\'s Law
		3.6.4 Ampère–Maxwell Law
	3.7 Lorentz Force
	3.8 Fields in a Medium
	3.9 Magnetic Properties
		3.9.1 Diamagnetism
		3.9.2 Paramagnetism
		3.9.3 Ferromagnetism
		3.9.4 Ferrimagnetism, Antiferromagnetism, and Magnetic Frustration
		3.9.5 Spin Ices and Monopoles
	3.10 Second Order Phase Transitions
	3.11 Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking
	3.12 Superconductivity
	3.13 Meissner Effect: Type I and II Superconductors
	3.14 Appendix of Formulas
	Literature
4 Electromagnetic Waves
	4.1 Waves in a Medium and in Æther
	4.2 Electromagnetic Waves and Maxwell\'s Equations
		4.2.1 Wave Propagation
		4.2.2 Coherence
	4.3 Generation of Electromagnetic Waves
		4.3.1 Retarded Potentials
		4.3.2 Mechanisms Generating Electromagnetic Waves
	4.4 Wave Properties
		4.4.1 Interference
		4.4.2 Diffraction
		4.4.3 Polarization
		4.4.4 Spectral Composition
	4.5 Fourier Series and Integrals
	4.6 Reflection and Refraction
	4.7 Dispersion of Light
	4.8 Black Body Radiation
	Literature
5 Special Theory of Relativity
	5.1 Postulates of Special Relativity
	5.2 Lorentz Transformations
	5.3 Light Cone and Causality
	5.4 Contraction of Lengths
	5.5 Time Dilation: Proper Time
	5.6 Addition of Velocities
	5.7 Relativistic Four-Vectors
	5.8 Electrodynamics in Relativistically Covariant Formalism
	5.9 Energy and Momentum
	5.10 Photons
	5.11 Neutrinos
	5.12 Tachyons and Superluminal Signals
	5.13 The Lagrangian for a Particle in an Electromagnetic Field
	Literature
6 Atoms and Quantum Theory
	6.1 Motion of a Particle
	6.2 Evolution of the Concept of Atom
	6.3 Rutherford\'s Experiment
	6.4 Bohr\'s Atom
	6.5 Schrödinger\'s Equation
	6.6 Wave Function
	6.7 Operators and States in Quantum Mechanics
	6.8 One-Dimensional Systems in Quantum Mechanics
		6.8.1 The Infinite Potential Well
		6.8.2 Quantum Harmonic Oscillator
		6.8.3 Charged Particle in a Constant Magnetic Field
	6.9 Emission and Absorption of Radiation
	6.10 Stimulated Emission and Lasers
	6.11 Tunnel Effect
	6.12 Indistinguishability and Pauli\'s Principle
	6.13 Exchange Interaction
	6.14 Exchange Energy and Ferromagnetism
	6.15 Distribution of Electrons in the Atom
	6.16 Quantum Measurement
		6.16.1 U and R Evolution Procedures
		6.16.2 On Theory and Observable Quantities
	6.17 Paradoxes in Quantum Mechanics
		6.17.1 De Broglie\'s Paradox
		6.17.2 Schrödinger\'s Cat Paradox
		6.17.3 Toward the EPR Paradox
		6.17.4 A Hidden Variable Model and Bell\'s Theorem
		6.17.5 Bell Inequality and Conventional Quantum Mechanics
		6.17.6 EPR Paradox: Quantum Mechanics Versus Special Relativity
	6.18 Quantum Computation and Teleportation
	6.19 Classical vs. Quantum Logic
	Literature
7 Quantum Electrodynamics
	7.1 Dirac Equation
		7.1.1 The Spin of the Electron
		7.1.2 Hydrogen Atom in Dirac\'s Theory
		7.1.3 Hole Theory and Positrons
	7.2 Intermezzo: Natural Units and the Metric Used  in Particle Physics
	7.3 Quantized Fields and Particles
	7.4 Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
		7.4.1 Unitarity in Quantum Electrodynamics
		7.4.2 Feynman Diagrams
		7.4.3 Virtual Particles
		7.4.4 Compton Scattering
		7.4.5 Electron Self-energy and Vacuum Polarization
		7.4.6 Renormalization and Running Coupling Constant
	7.5 Quantum Vacuum and Casimir Effect
	7.6 Principle of Gauge Invariance
	7.7 CPT Symmetry
	7.8 Grassmann Variables
	Literature
8 Fermi–Dirac and Bose–Einstein Statistics
	8.1 Fermi–Dirac Statistics
	8.2 Fermi–Dirac and Bose–Einstein Distributions
	8.3 The Ideal Electron Gas
	8.4 Heat Capacity of Metals
	8.5 Metals, Semiconductors, and Insulators
	8.6 Electrons and Holes
	8.7 Applications of the Fermi–Dirac Statistics
		8.7.1 Quantum Hall Effect
		8.7.2 Graphene
	8.8 Bose–Einstein Statistics
	8.9 Einstein–Debye Theory of Heat Capacity
	8.10 Bose–Einstein Condensation
	8.11 Quantum Coherence
	8.12 Nonrelativistic Quantum Gases
	Literature
9 Four Fundamental Forces
	9.1 Gravity and Electromagnetism
	9.2 Atomic Nuclei and Nuclear Phenomena
	9.3 Strong Interactions
	9.4 Weak Interactions
	9.5 Parity Non-Conservation in Beta Decay
	9.6 Violation of CP and T Invariance
	9.7 Some Significant Numbers
	9.8 Death of Stars
	9.9 Neutron Stars and Pulsars
	Literature
10 General Relativity and Cosmology
	10.1 Principle of Equivalence and General Relativity
	10.2 Gravitational Field and Geometry
	10.3 Affine Connection and Metric Tensor
	10.4 Gravitational Field Equations
	10.5 Cosmology
	10.6 Gravitational Radius and Collapse
		10.6.1 Wormholes
		10.6.2 Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and Accelerated Expansion
	10.7 Gravitation and Quantum Effects
	10.8 Cosmic Numbers
	Literature
11 Unification of the Forces of Nature
	11.1 Theory of Weak Interactions
	11.2 Yang–Mills Fields
	11.3 Nambu–Goldstone Theorem
	11.4 Brout–Englert–Higgs Mechanism
	11.5 Glashow–Salam–Weinberg Model
	11.6 Electroweak Phase Transition
	11.7 Hadrons and Quarks
	11.8 Neutrino Oscillations and Masses
	11.9 Quantum Chromodynamics
	11.10 Grand Unification
	11.11 Inflation
	11.12 Supersymmetry and Superstrings
	Literature
12 Physics and Life
	12.1 Order and Life
	12.2 Life and Fundamental Interactions
	12.3 Homochirality: Biological Symmetry Breaking
	12.4 Neutrinos and Beta Decay
	12.5 Anthropic Principle
	12.6 Search for Extraterrestrial Life
	Literature
Appendix Solutions of the Problems
Solutions for Chap. 1摥映數爠eflinkchap111
Solutions for Chap. 2摥映數爠eflinkchap222
Solutions for Chap. 3摥映數爠eflinkchap333
Solutions for Chap. 4摥映數爠eflinkchap444
Solutions for Chap. 5摥映數爠eflinkchap555
Solutions for Chap. 6摥映數爠eflinkchap666
Solutions for Chap. 7摥映數爠eflinkchap777
Solutions for Chap. 8摥映數爠eflinkchap888
Solutions for Chap. 9摥映數爠eflinkchap999
Solutions for Chap. 10摥映數爠eflinkchap101010
Solutions for Chap. 11摥映數爠eflinkchap111111
Appendix  Subject Index
Index
Appendix  Author Index
Author Index