Electrodynamics and Classical Theory of Fields and Particles

By Asım O. Barut

Book Overview

"We can only hope that more such striking expositions will be written." -- Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society
This is a systematic, covariant treatment of the classical theories of particle motion, fields, and the interaction of fields and particles. Particular attention is given to the interaction of charged particles with the electromagnetic field. The treatment throughout the book is relativistic; the author attempts, as much as possible, a coordinate free (or covariant) form of the equations both for particles and the fields. The book opens with an extensive discussion of space-time, Lorentz transformations, Lorentz-group and tensor and spinor fields. This material is essential to the understanding of many branches of theoretical physics, in particular relativistic quantum theory. Chapter II describes various relativistic forms of the fundamental problem of dynamics: describing the trajectories of particles for given external forces. The general dynamical principles to obtain the field equations and the important problems of the conservation laws are discussed in Chapter III. The second part of the book (Chapters IV-VI) is devoted to a lucid treatment of the interactions of fields and particles. Chapter IV deals with equations of motion and their solutions (the so-called Cauchy problem), focusing on the solution of field equations with Green's functions using Dirac formalism. The problem of feedback between particles and fields (radiation and radiation reaction) is taken up in Chapter V, as are questions concerning the limitations of classical field theories and classical dynamics. Dr. Barut concludes the book with an excellent exposition of the purely mechanical approach to the problem of the interactions of charged particles -- the so-called action-at-a-distance formulation of electrodynamics. Problems, alternate proofs, and additional topics are included at the end of each chapter, where a useful bibliography is also provided. A general bibliography appears at the end of the book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486640388
• ISBN13: 9780486640389
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

excellent

This is an excellent book if you want to understand Electrodynamics for what it really is-a relativistic field theory!

Very nice and concise book

Starts from the foundations of Special-Relativity, including Lorentz transformation, groups and spinors, then dynamics. Formulation of Lagrangian fields and the conserved quantities is also very good, though I think Rohrlich's book is better. Covers self-interaction and radiation reaction in a very clear way. In short, for this price, it is truly a gem.

A beautiful little book

This is a concise, clear, friendly but unfussy little book on classical electrodynamics (CED), and relativistic fields. Simultaneously, it provides an easy introduction to the mathematical machinery of relativistic dynamics and fields. There is an agreeable emphasis on the Lagrangian formulations, a good-sized chapter devoted to radiation and radiation-reaction, and a (regrettably) short piece on action-at-a-distance CED...

Learnin all about Classical Fields

On the subject of Classical fields, I have not read a better book than Barut's. It is clear and comprehensive. I discovered more about things like the Lorentz group and the Lagrangian formalism of fields than I thought existed. It is an excellent book by all standards. If you need to learn Quantum Field theory, start here first. Learn all about classical fields. The equations in this book are ready for quantization.