Mathematical Methods For Physics

by H.W. Wyld

Overview

This classic book helps students learn the basics in physics by bridging the gap between mathematics and the basic fundamental laws of physics. With supplemental material such as graphs and equations, Mathematical Methods for Physics creates a strong, solid anchor of learning. The text has three parts: Part I focuses on the use of special functions in solving the homogeneous partial differential equations of physics, and emphasizes applications to topics such as electrostatics, wave guides, and resonant cavities, vibrations of membranes, heat flow, potential flow in fluids, plane and spherical waves. Part II deals with the solution of inhomogeneous differential equations with particular emphasis on problems in electromagnetism, Green's functions for Poisson's equation, the wave equation and the diffusion equation, and the solution of integral equations by iteration, eigenfunction expansion and the Fredholm series. Finally, Part II explores complex variable techniques, including evalution of itegrals, dispersion relations, special functions in the complex plane, one-sided Fourier transforms, and Laplace transforms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738201252
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/02/1999
Series:	Advanced Books Classics Series
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	652
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.70(d)
Lexile:	1680L (what's this?)

About the Author

Henry William “Bill” Wyld was Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Wyld was a theoretical elementary particle physicist, gifted with an understanding that was imaginative, profound, and clear. In his early career, Wyld worked in low- and high-energy physics on weak interactions and several problems related to K-meson proton scattering. Wyld is particularly noted for his significant theoretical contributions related to the effects of the breakdown of quantum mechanical symmetry properties, written shortly after the discovery of parity violation in 1957, that presented detailed calculations of a number of effects to be expected. This work enabled various experimental groups to correlate and evaluate their results. Wyld took advantage of supercomputing capabilities as these were being developed to run large-data simulations; he always pushed for more computing power to answer fundamental problems.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Foreword , Preface , Homogeneous Boundary Value Problems and Special Functions , The Partial Differential Equations of Mathematical Physics , Separation of Variables and Ordinary Differential Equations , Spherical Harmonics and Applications , Bessel Functions and Applications , Normal Mode Eigenvalue Problems , Spherical Bessel Functions and Applications , Inhomogeneous Problems Green’S Functions and Integral Equations , Dielectric and Magnetic Media , Green’s Functions , Integral Equations , Complex Variable Techniques , Complex Variables; Basic Theory , Evaluation of Integrals , Dispersion Relations , Special Functions , Integral Transforms in the Complex Plane , Additional References