Classical Electrodynamics (The advanced book program) [Hardcover]

Julian Schwinger (Author), Lester L. Deraad Jr. (Author), Kimball A. Milton (Author), Wu-yang Tsai (Author), Joyce Norton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0738200565 | ISBN-13: 978-0738200569 | Publication Date: September 11, 1998

Classical Electrodynamics captures Schwinger’s inimitable lecturing style, in which everything flows inexorably from what has gone before. Novel elements of the approach include the immediate inference of Maxwell’s equations from Coulomb’s law and (Galilean) relativity, the use of action and stationary principles, the central role of Green’s functions both in statics and dynamics, and, throughout, the integration of mathematics and physics. Thus, physical problems in electrostatics are used to develop the properties of Bessel functions and spherical harmonics. The latter portion of the book is devoted to radiation, with rather complete treatments of synchrotron radiation and diffraction, and the formulation of the mode decomposition for waveguides and scattering. Consequently, the book provides the student with a thorough grounding in electrodynamics in particular, and in classical field theory in general, subjects with enormous practical applications, and which are essential prerequisites for the study of quantum field theory.An essential resource for both physicists and their students, the book includes a ”Reader’s Guide,” which describes the major themes in each chapter, suggests a possible path through the book, and identifies topics for inclusion in, and exclusion from, a given course, depending on the instructor’s preference. Carefully constructed problems complement the material of the text, and introduce new topics. The book should be of great value to all physicists, from first-year graduate students to senior researchers, and to all those interested in electrodynamics, field theory, and mathematical physics.The text for the graduate classical electrodynamics course was left unfinished upon Julian Schwinger’s death in 1994, but was completed by his coauthors, who have brilliantly recreated the excitement of Schwinger’s novel approach.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Julian Schwinger (1918-1994) was born in New York City. He obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from Columbia University in 1939. He also received honorary doctorates in science from Purdue, Brandeis, Harvard, and Gustavus Adolphus College. He taught at the University of California, Los Angeles, from 1972 until his death. In 1965, Dr. Schwinger received (with Richard Feynman and Sin Itiro Tomonaga) the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in quantum electrodynamics. A National Research Foundation Fellow (1939-1940) and a Guggenheim Fellow (1970), he was the recipient of many awards, including: the First Einstein Prize Award for Physics (1964), and the American Academy of Achievement Award (1987). The late Julian Schwinger shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for Physics with Richard Feynman and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga for their work on the theory of quantum electrodynamics. Lester L. DeRaad, Jr. is Senior Research Specialist at Logicon RDA. Kimball A Milton is Professor of Physics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Wu-yang Tsai is Scatterometer Project Engineer and Group Supervisor at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The late Julian Schwinger shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for Physics with Richard Feynman and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga for their work on the theory of quantum electrodynamics. Lester L. DeRaad, Jr. is Senior Research Specialist at Logicon RDA. Kimball A Milton is Professor of Physics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Wu-yang Tsai is Scatterometer Project Engineer and Group Supervisor at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The late Julian Schwinger shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for Physics with Richard Feynman and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga for their work on the theory of quantum electrodynamics. Lester L. DeRaad, Jr. is Senior Research Specialist at Logicon RDA. Kimball A Milton is Professor of Physics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Wu-yang Tsai is Scatterometer Project Engineer and Group Supervisor at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The late Julian Schwinger shared the 1965 Nobel Prize for Physics with Richard Feynman and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga for their work on the theory of quantum electrodynamics. Lester L. DeRaad, Jr. is Senior Research Specialist at Logicon RDA. Kimball A Milton is Professor of Physics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. Wu-yang Tsai is Scatterometer Project Engineer and Group Supervisor at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (September 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738200565
• ISBN-13: 978-0738200569
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #777,701 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best advanced books about electrodynamics, December 10, 1999

By 

Oliver Lass - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classical Electrodynamics (The advanced book program) (Hardcover)

Schwinger's book about electrodynamics is a book that in my opinion is better and also more advanced then Jackson's Electrodynamics. One may call Schwingers introduction of the magnetic charge an annoyance, but in my opinion, he is making an excellent point about how physics should be done: open-minded and always marking where gaps might be, that needs to be filled later. In this respect he is not just teaching electrodynamics but rather how to think like a physicist. It has the benefit that one starts to question the validity of every equation and concept presented to verify it upon its correctness. This approach is a very good one and unfortunately not seen to often in many books in physics. Schwinger is indeed an exception and his book on top of everything covers more then Jackson as well. So, it is a highly recommended book.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The physics and mathematics of electrodynamics, May 8, 2000

By 

Hanno Essen (Stockholm Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Classical Electrodynamics (The advanced book program) (Hardcover)

This is a concise, clear, and coherent account of advanced classical electrodynamics. The equation density is higher than in most books. Mostly this means that intermediate steps of the many illuminating calculations of the book are included. Many interesting topics not normally included in this type of book are included. A lot of the mathematics needed is developed in detail. I recommed it strongly to both teachers and advanced students of the subject.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A combination of Jackson and Landau, November 12, 2007

By 

Chi-ken Lu "luck" (Taiwan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Classical Electrodynamics (The advanced book program) (Hardcover)

You can learn from Jackson's book mastering the special functions but have less compact idea about the principle of action in electrodynamics, which is nicely covered in Landau's classic book. Schwinger's book have both for you. Besides, Schwinger has the best way of introducing the special functions. This is a nice book on both math and physics. Should be used for standard textbook.