The Special Theory of Relativity (Physics Series) (Paperback)

by J. Aharoni (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 331 pages
• Publisher: Dover Pubns (August 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486648702
• ISBN-13: 978-0486648705
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,897,776 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Relativity in Both its Tensor and Spinor Aspects, September 20, 2008

By	BYF "Backyard Flix" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

From back cover:

"Mathematicians generally agree that the mathematical tool most appropriate for dealing with the theory of relativity is the tensor calculus. Or, in view of the importance of quantum mechanics, the spinor calculus.

This authoritative, instructive and well-written text deals with relativity in both its tensor and spinor aspects. The latter are closely linked with quantum theory and, in a sense, one of the main objects of this book is to provide an introduction to the application of the theory of relativity in quantum theory, particularly in field theories.

Contents include:

1. Space and Time in Inertial Systems
2. Three-Dimensional Tensors
3. Maxwell's Theory in Tensor Formulation
4. General Field Theory
5. Relativistic Particle Dynamics
6. Elements of Hydrodynamics
7. Spinors

For this second, revised edition (1965) Professor Aharoni (Imperial College, London) extensively revised the part of the book concerned with electrodynamics and added a section discussing retarded and advanced potentials and the Wheeler-Feynman absorber theory of radiation. These additions, coupled with an improved exposition of spinor calculus, have made this an especially useful treatment for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of physics, as well as the student of applied mathematics who wishes to acquaint himself with the physical background of tensor and spinor calculus.

A useful appendix treats the Michelson experiment, the Doppler effect, de Broglie waves and other related topics while a list of references rounds out this important and accessible text."