Einstein's Physics - Atoms, Quanta, And Relativity Derived, Explained, And Appraised - Cheng Ta-Pei

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Résumé :
Many regard Albert Einstein as the greatest physicist since Newton. What exactly did he do that is so important in physics? We provide an introduction to his physics at a level accessible to an undergraduate physics student. All equations are worked out in detail from the beginning.

Biographie:
Ta-Pei Cheng is a particle physics theorist. He received a PhD from Rockefeller University with the noted physicist and Einstein biographer Abraham Pais. He is now Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri - St. Louis, and an Adjunct Professor at Portland State University in Oregon. He is an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society. Among many concurrent appointments, he was at the Institute for Advanced study (Princeton), the University of Minnesota, and the Lawrence Berkeley Lab. Professor Cheng is the co-author (with Ling-Fong Li) of the book Gauge Theory of Elementary Particle Physics (Oxford, 1984) that has introduced the subject to several generations of particle physics students. Its companion book GTEPP: Problems and Solutions was published in 2000. He is also the author of Relativity, Gravitation, and Cosmology: A basic introduction, (Oxford 2005, 2nd ed. 2010). It is among the first books adopting a `physics-first approach' to the pedagogy of general relativity.

Sommaire:
Part I : Atomic nature of matter; 1 Molecular size from classical fluid; 2 The Brownian motion; Part II : Quantum theory; 3 Blackbody radiation: From Kirchhoff to Planck; 4 Einstein's proposal of light quanta; 5 Quantum theory of specific heat; 6 Waves, particles, and quantum jumps; 7 Bose-Einstein statistics and condensation; 8 Local reality and the Einstein-Bohr debate; Part III : Special relativity; 9 Prelude to special relativity; 10 The new kinematics and E = mc2; 11 Geometric formulation of relativity; Part IV : General relativity; 12 Towards a general theory of relativity; 13 Curved spacetime as gravitational field; 14 The Einstein field equation; 15 Cosmology; Part V : Walking in Einstein's steps; 16 Internal symmetry and gauge interactions; 17 The Kaluza-Klein theory and extra dimensions; Appendix A: Mathematics supplements

What a wonderful book! Cheng explains the monumental achievements of Einstein, and relates them to developments in physics since his time. All this is done in detail, yet with a minimum of pre-requisites. Physicists and physics students alike will appreciate this book: whereas most books about Einstein, whether popular or academic, make no attempt to properly explain his physics, Cheng succeeds admirably. The book brings the reader up to date with short but lucid accounts of more recent developments based on the great Albert's work, such as dark energy in modern cosmology, gauges in quantum theory, and Kaluza-Klein theory. -- Jeremy Butterfield, Trinity College, University of Cambridge

This far-reaching and fascinating textbook covers Einstein's work in depth and in context. The conscientious reader will be amply rewarded. -- Alan Heavens, Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh Einstein's contributions to modern theoretical physics are both profound and pervasive. Cheng takes a look at the full range of the famous physicist's work and sets out to explain Einstein's achievements from our modern understanding of the subject matter. The project succeeds. Cheng's explanations combine conceptual clarity with mathematical detail and historical sensitivity. -- Tilman Sauer, Einstein Papers Project, California Institute of Technology