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Elsevier

Books in Physics

Physics titles offer comprehensive research and advancements across the fundamental and applied areas of physical science. From quantum mechanics and particle physics to astrophysics and materials science, these titles drive innovation and deepen understanding of the principles governing the universe. Essential for researchers, educators, and students, this collection supports scientific progress and practical applications across a diverse range of physics disciplines.

  • Optical Bistability: Controlling Light With Light

    • 1st Edition
    • Hyatt Gibbs
    • English
    Optical Bistability: Controlling Light with Light focuses on optical bistability in nonlinear optical systems. Emphasis is on passive (non-laser) systems that exhibit reversible bistability with input intensity as the hysteresis variable, along with the physics and the potential applications of such systems for nonlinear optical signal processing. This book consists of seven chapters and begins with a historical overview of optical bistability in lasers and passive systems. The next chapter describes steady-state theories of optical bistability, including the Bonifacio-Lugiato model, as well as the boundary conditions of an optical cavity and the coupled Maxwell-Bloch equations. Both intrinsic and hybrid experiments are then described, along with light-by-light control, pulse reshaping, and external switching. The transient phenomena that arise either from instabilities in the bistable systems themselves or from fluctuations in the number of nonlinear atoms or in the number of intracavity photons are also considered. The final chapter examines the characteristics and fundamental limitations of an ideal device, the prospect of improving devices by identifying giant nonlinearities, and the utilization of the full power of optics by parallel processing. This monograph is intended for new entrants and active workers in the field of optical bistability.

  • Collective Properties of Physical Systems

    Medicine and Natural Sciences
    • 1st Edition
    • Bengt Lundqvist
    • English
    Medicine and Natural Sciences: Collective Properties of Physical Systems is a collection of papers presented at the 24th Nobel Symposium on Collective Properties of Physical Systems, held in Aspenäsgärden, Lerum, Sweden on June 12-16, 1973. This book is organized into eight parts encompassing 35 chapters, and begins with overview of the fundamentals of renormalization group approach, phase transitions, and critical phenomena. These topics are followed by discussions on the solutions of the Kondo problem, the specific features of superfluid 3He, and the models to investigate the effects of limited dimensionality in solid systems. The subsequent parts cover the various aspects and principles of surface physics and high-energy excitations in solids. These parts also examine selective theories that provide significant insights in understanding the superstructure, ordering, and crystallography of physical systems. The last parts describe the electronic correlation functions and other properties of liquid crystals and liquids. Physicists, scientists, and research workers in the fields of medicine and natural sciences will find this book of great value.

  • Geophysics

    • 1st Edition
    • Bruce Bolt
    • English
    Methods in Computational Physics, Volume 13: Geophysics is a 10-chapter text that focuses with the theoretical solid-earth geophysics. This volume specifically covers the general topics of terrestrial magnetism and electricity, the Earth's gravity field, tidal deformations, dynamics of global spin, spin processing, and convective models for the deep interior. This volume surveys first the construction of mathematical models, such as the representation of the geomagnetic field by assuming arrangements of multipole sources in the core and the fast computer evaluation of two- and three-dimensional gravity models, which revolutionized their use in mineral prospecting and in studies of the crust. These topics are followed by a presentation of geophysical modeling and the uncertainties involved in quantitative convection studies of mantle flow. Other chapters explore the construction of numerical geophysical models related intimately to the inverse problem whereby maximum likelihood estimates of the required parameters must be determined along with calculation of confidence limits, including density, conductivity, and viscosity. The remaining chapters are devoted to the importance of harmonic analysis in geophysics, particularly spherical harmonic analysis, which has seen many refinements and applications. Physicists, geoscientists, and mathematicians will find this book invaluable.

  • An Introduction to the Liquid State

    • 1st Edition
    • P Egelstaff
    • English
    An Introduction to the Liquid State focuses on the atomic motions and positions of liquids. Particularly given importance in this book are internal motion of molecules as a whole and the motion of atoms in a monatomic liquid. Divided into 16 chapters, the book opens by outlining the general properties of liquids, including a comparison of liquid argon and liquid sodium, discussions on theories and methods of studying the liquid state, and thermodynamic relationships. The book proceeds by defining the molecular distribution functions and equation of state, the potential function for non-conducting liquids and metals, and measurement of pair distribution function. Numerical analyses and representations are provided to simplify the functions of equations. The book discusses equilibrium properties wherein calculations on the state of gases and fluids are presented. The text also underlines space and time dependent correlation functions. Given emphasis in this part are neutron scattering, electromagnetic radiation, and various radiation scattering techniques. Other concerns discussed are diffusion and single particle motion, velocity of correlation function, diffusion and viscosity coefficients, liquid-gas critical point, and a comparison of classical and quantum liquids. The selection is a valuable source of information for readers wanting to study the composition and reactions of liquids.

  • Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics

    • 1st Edition
    • D.H. Bergel
    • English
    Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics, Volume 1 explores some problems and concepts of mammalian cardiovascular function, with emphasis on experimental studies and methods. It considers pressure measurement in experimental physiology, including the measurements of pulsatile flow, flow velocity, lengths, and dimensions; the use of control theory and systems analysis in cardiovascular dynamics; the application of computer models in cardiovascular research; the meaning and measurement of myocardial contractility; and the consequences of the steady-state analysis of arterial function. Organized into 10 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the mammalian cardiovascular system and the essential features of cardiovascular function. It then discusses the practical problems associated with the use of pressure transducers in physiological and cardiac laboratories, the challenges involved in pulsatile flow measurement using flowmeters and thermal devices, and the mechanical analysis of the circulatory system. It explains some computer modeling techniques used in investigating the hemodynamics of the cardiovascular system, including the heart and heart muscle; basic concepts of muscle mechanics and the mechanical properties of cardiac muscle; the fluid mechanics of heart valves; and the pressure and flow in large arteries. The book concludes with a chapter on vascular resistance and vascular input impedance. This book is intended for biologists, physical scientists, and others interested in cardiovascular physiology.

  • The Earth's crust and Mantle

    • 1st Edition
    • F.A. Vening Meinesz
    • English
    The Earth's Crust and Mantle presents the deformations of the Earth's crust, which are attributed to mantle currents. This book explores the gravity observations, which give indications about the way in which the masses in the Earth are distributed. Comprised of five chapters, this book starts with an overview of the constitution of the various parts of the Earth and mentions the densities concerned. This text then discusses the thermal behavior of the Earth as well as examines the principle of isostasy and the readjustments of isostatic equilibrium. Other chapters examine the general effects of horizontal compression of the rigid crust and the fields of positive gravity anomalies. This book discusses as well the effects of active volcanicity, which is one source of disturbances of equilibrium of the Earth. The final chapter deals with the oceanic parts of the crust. This book is a valuable resource for geologists, geophysicists, physical geographers, and physical geodesists.

  • University Physics

    • 1st Edition
    • George Arfken
    • English
    University Physics provides an authoritative treatment of physics. This book discusses the linear motion with constant acceleration; addition and subtraction of vectors; uniform circular motion and simple harmonic motion; and electrostatic energy of a charged capacitor. The behavior of materials in a non-uniform magnetic field; application of Kirchhoff's junction rule; Lorentz transformations; and Bernoulli's equation are also deliberated. This text likewise covers the speed of electromagnetic waves; origins of quantum physics; neutron activation analysis; and interference of light. This publication is beneficial to physics, engineering, and mathematics students intending to acquire a general knowledge of physical laws and conservation principles.

  • Mechanics of Flow-Induced Sound and Vibration V2

    Complex Flow-Structure Interactions
    • 1st Edition
    • William K. Blake
    • English

  • Atoms and Molecules

    • 1st Edition
    • Mitchel Weissbluth
    • English
    Atoms and Molecules describes the basic properties of atoms and molecules in terms of group theoretical methods in atomic and molecular physics. The book reviews mathematical concepts related to angular momentum properties, finite and continuous rotation groups, tensor operators, the Wigner-Eckart theorem, vector fields, and vector spherical harmonics. The text also explains quantum mechanics, including symmetry considerations, second quantization, density matrices, time-dependent, and time-independent approximation methods. The book explains atomic structure, particularly the Dirac equation in which its nonrelativistic approximation provides the basis for the derivation of the Hamiltonians for all important interactions, such as spin-orbit, external fields, hyperfine. Along with multielectron atoms, the text discusses multiplet theory, the Hartree-Fock formulation, as well as the electromagnetic radiation fields, their interactions with atoms in first and higher orders. The book explores molecules and complexes, including the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, molecular orbitals, the self-consistent field method, electronic states, vibrational and rotational states, molecular spectra, and the ligand field theory. The book can prove useful for graduate or advanced students and academicians in the field of general and applied physics.

  • Dynamical Systems and Microphysics

    Control theory and Mechanics
    • 1st Edition
    • Austin Blaquiere
    • English
    Dynamical Systems and Microphysics: Control Theory and Mechanics contains the proceedings of the Third International Seminar on Mathematical Theory of Dynamical Systems and Microphysics held in Udine, Italy, on September 4-9, 1983. The papers explore the mechanics and optimal control of dynamical systems and cover topics ranging from complete controllability and stability to feedback control in general relativity; adaptive control for uncertain dynamical systems; geometry of canonical transformations; and homogeneity in mechanics. This book is comprised of 14 chapters and begins by discussing the relationship between complete controllability and Poisson stabilizability in relation to to Liapounov stabilizability. The next chapter looks at the conditions that must be met in order to control a dynamical system in an optimal fashion. The theory of optimal feedback control is used as an approach to the dynamics of a mass point in general relativity. The theory of reachability with feedback control is also used as an approach to geometrical optics in the frame of general relativity. The final chapter describes a system theoretic framework for the study of Hamiltonian systems with external forces. This monograph is intended primarily for researchers and graduate students in theoretical physics, mechanics, control and system theory, and mathematics. It may also be read profitably by philosophers of science and, to some extent, by those who have a keen interest in basic questions of contemporary mechanics and physics and who possess some background in the physical and mathematical sciences.

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