Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics (Dover Books on Physics) [Paperback]

Frederick W. Byron (Author), Robert W. Fuller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 048667164X | ISBN-13: 978-0486671642 | Publication Date: August 20, 1992

Well-organized text designed to complement graduate-level physics texts in classical mechanics, electricity, magnetism, and quantum mechanics. Topics include theory of vector spaces, analytic function theory, Green's function method of solving differential and partial differential equations, theory of groups, more. Many problems, suggestions for further reading.

Product Details

• Paperback: 661 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (August 20, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 048667164X
• ISBN-13: 978-0486671642
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

143 of 145 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An introduction to the basic mathematics of physics, June 6, 1999

By 

A graduate student of Physics (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

This book introduces the reader to the basic mathematical structures of theoretical physics: mainly Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, And Classical Mechanics. I used this at UC San Diego for a year long graduate course on Mathematical methods in physics and engineering. If one has the time, there is really a lot to be gained by carefully studying this book. A big part of the book is geared toward developing in detail the mathematics of the Quantum Theory. This is a good thing because in my experience most QM books are too eager to "get to the physics". It is true that you can get by with a superficial understanding of functional analysis and still do QM, but this book will give you an immensely deeper understanding of the underlying structure of the theory. In particular, the treatment of Green's functions and integral equations is good. There is chapter on Group Theory and it's uses in QM. Also is a chapter on Complex analysis, although it is a wise idea to read a book entirely devoted to this subject. Overall, I like this book very much.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ridiculously good, September 26, 2005

By 

A. Potter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

The first chapter on vector analysis from the component view is the best treatment of the subject I've seen anywhere. I worked through it and the subsequent chapters on linear algebra before going to college, and it literally doubled or tripled my mathematical confidence/ability.
Now that i've had some more physics, i've been going through some of the other chapters. The treatment of each subject is framed in a way that makes immediate application to physics natural and intuitive. However, while the level of rigor falls somewhat short of many pure math analysis textbooks (ex: lebesque integration is discussed qualitatively, whereas ideally one would have studied measure theory and lebesque integration before hilbert spaces and other topics), the author does a good job of giving appropriate mathematical caveats this book (in my opinion) strikes an excellent balance of practicality without sacrificing rigor. I think this makes the book useful for physicists who would like a rigorous intro to the math without getting bogged down in (relatively) unappliable mathematical constructs.
Overall, this book is a must. I'd recommend the book early (as soon as one's taken multivariable calculus). There won't be any math in any physics course that you won't feel comfortable with after you've read through this book.

75 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Important Information, May 28, 2003

By 

"immoderate" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

This book is not, and I repeat, IS NOT for the inexperienced. This book is a GRADUATE LEVEL TEXT on mathematical physics. If you are an undergraduate student taking a physics class, this book will be of no use to you. I recommend that anyone interested in purchasing this book have a somewhat decent amount of mathematical background. I personally recommend Calculus I-IV, Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra.
If, though, you have this background, then this book is may just be for you. It is concise, to the point and presents a clear and well written discussion of mathematical physics.
I just felt that before you dive, head first, into the world of mathematical physics, somebody needed to warn you about what you were getting yourself into.