Book Description

In Particles: A Very Short Introduction, best-selling author Frank Close provides a compelling and lively introduction to the fundamental particles that make up the universe. The book begins with a guide to what matter is made up of and how it evolved, and goes on to describe the fascinating and cutting-edge techniques used to study it. The author discusses particles such as quarks, electrons, and the neutrino, and exotic matter and antimatter. He also investigates the forces of nature, accelerators and detectors, and the intriguing future of particle physics. This book is essential reading for general readers interested in popular science, students of physics, and scientists at all levels. ... Read more

Book Description

Metal Vapour Lasers Christopher E. Little University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland Since the first successful demonstration of a metal vapour laser (MVL) in 1962, this class of laser has become widely used in a broad range of fields including precision materials processing, isotope separation and medicine. The MVLs that are used today have a range of impressive characteristics that are not readily available using other technologies. In particular, the combination of high average output powers, pulse recurrence frequencies and beam quality available from green/yellow Cu vapour lasers (CVLs) and Cu bromide lasers, coupled with the high-quality, multiwatt ultraviolet (265-289 nm) radiation that can be produced using simple nonlinear optical techniques, means that Cu lasers will continue to be important for many years. Metal Vapour Lasers covers all the most commercially important and scientifically interesting pulsed and continuous wave (CW) gas-discharge MVLs, and includes device histories, operating characteristics, engineering, kinetics, commercial exploitation and applications. Short descriptions of gas discharges and excitation techniques make this volume self-consistent. A comprehensive bibliography is also provided. The greater part of this book is devoted to CVLs and their variants, including new sealed-off, high-power 'kinetically enhanced' CVLs and Cu bromide lasers. However, many other self-terminating MVLs are also discussed, including the red AuVL, green/infrared MnVL and infrared BaVL. Pulsed, high-gain, high average power lasers in the UV/violet (373.7, 430.5 nm) spectral regions are represented by Sr¯+ and Ca¯+ discharge-afterglow recombination lasers. The most commercially successful of the MVLs - the CW, UV/blue cataphoretic He-Cd¯+ ion laser - is described. Hollow cathode lasers are represented in two guises: 'white light' (blue/green/red) He-Cd¯+ ion lasers and UV/infrared Ne/He-Cu¯+ ion lasers. This unique volume is an essential reference source for all those working on metal vapour lasers, and all those who use them, from postgraduate students through to experienced scientists and engineers. It will also be extremely useful to all those working in other gas laser technologies, and in gas discharge physics. ... Read more

Book Description

This primer provides an introduction to the subject of surfaces at the level of undergraduates and first year postgraduates. There are four chapters, the first concerns basic thermodynamic material used to understand the properties of surfaces including; surface tension, Gibbs adsorption, surface pressure and surface phase equilibria, surfactants and micelles, wetting, detergency, and contact angle. The second chapter concentrates on gas adsorbtion at solid surfaces and covers topics including adsorbtion, Langmuir isotherms, heats of adsorbtion, BET isotherms, physisorbtion, chemisorbtion, precursor adsorbtion kinetics, well-defined surfaces, UHV, surface sensitivity and selectivity, surface diffusion and electrons interacting with matter. Chapter three then outlines the physico- chemical principles of XPS, AES, LEED, STM, AFM, work function measurements, UPS, TPD, molecular beams, HREELS and PAIRS and the types of fundamental surface information each of these techniques provides. The final chapter contains a series of worked examples and problems, bringing together the various strands developed in Chapters 1-3 in order to elucidate surface phenomena. The book is unique in its mix of 'Classical' and 'Modern' surface science and should be relevant to physicists, chemists and material scientists. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

scratching the surface
i am an organic chemist considering expanding my research to surface chemistry. as such, i was looking for a straightforward introduction to the field. this book accomplishes that admirably. ... Read more

Book Description

Molecular biophysics is a rapidly growing field of research that plays an important role in elucidating the mysteries of life's molecules and their assemblies, as well as the relationship between their structure and function. Introduction to Molecular Biophysics fills a an urgent need for a text that provides students with the modern theoretical tools they need to understand life processes from a physical viewpoint. The authors use a combination of biological information with physical models and theories to provide a rigorous description of biological structures. The theme throughout Introduction to Molecular Biophysics is the hierarchical organization of all living systems starting with single cells and building up to systems and organisms. The text begins by presenting the structural, biochemical, and biophysical properties of the building blocks of all living systems, along with their functions in living cells. The authors also review the structure and function of the living cell with emphasis on its organization and functional interdependence of the subcellular structures, along with the examination of the role of diffusion processes in cell functions. Following the discussion of single cell organization and function, the text covers the biophysics of tissues, organs, organisms, and viruses. The text reviews numerous topics of relevance to the field of biophysics, ranging from peptide chains to DNA structure and function, cytoplasm, membranes, and motor proteins. In addition, since nonlinear physicists have developed new physical concepts that have been evaluated as a possible theoretical framework within which living systems can be better understood, the authors have provided three appendices that summarize the most important ideas and results involved in nonlinear physics, phase transitions, and diffusion. Introduction to Molecular Biophysics is richly illustrated and includes numerous examples, references, and experimental tools that make the book an outstanding text for upper-level and graduate students in biophysics, biology, and biochemistry. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting topics, insufficient depth
I am a cell biologist that was looking for a comprehensive biophysics resource. The description of the book and the table of contents gave me reason to hope that this was the book I was seeking. Unfortunately, despite the book's stated aim to foster dialogue between physicists and biologists, this book assumes far too much of its readers. There is no glossary. Several terms are introduced without being defined or illustrated. Some sections are extremely short, while others spend a considerable amount of time describing examples of questionable relevance to the stated topic. That said, I did find several passages of the book stimulating and thought provoking. I very much liked the description of dead cells being "at equilibrium." This book is appropriate for graduate students and higher. I don't think this book would be very useful as a course text. ... Read more

Book Description

Boasting more than three hundred illustrations, the majority in full color, The Particle Odyssey takes us on an exhilarating tour of the subatomic world. The pictures here are truly marvelous--over 100 of the best images ever taken of particle 'events'--mysterious, abstract, often beautiful photographs of the tracks of subatomic particles as they speed, curve, dance, or explode through cloud and bubble chambers, stacks of photographic emulsion, and giant multi-element detectors. There are illustrations of spiraling electrons, the tell-tale 'vees' of strange particles, matter and antimatter born from raw energy, energetic jets of particles spraying out from the decay points of quarks and gluons.Complementing the illustrations is a vividly written account of the key experiments and fundamental discoveries that have led to our current understanding of the nature of the universe.There are individual portraits of all the major subatomic particles, from the electron to the newly discovered top quark. The authors describe the history of experimental particle physics: its origins in the discovery of X-rays in 1895; the dissection of the atom by Rutherford and others; the unexpected revelations of the cosmic rays; the discovery of quarks and the rise of the 'standard model' in the last part of the 20th century. And they also look at the great questions that face physicists today--Where did antimatter go? What is dark matter? Can there be a theory of everything? A perfect gift for science buffs, The Particle Odyssey will enthrall everyone eager for a glimpse into the previously unknown the world of the atom. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Pictures alone more than pay for the book
I want to write a review of this book because there are only two
other reviews. A book of this quality deserves many reviews to encourage
people to at least look at it.

Particle physics is extremely abstruse, really only for physicists
and people who like knowledge for its own sake. Many particle physicists
do the best they can to explain their subject in "English," but I don't
think that laypeople (incl. myself) can really grasp the subject w/o
going through the rigors of deriving its basics and knowing how
to use its tools, like QED and QCD, etc. (and I don't!).

So personally I may be moving away from studying the subject, but
I'm very glad I came across "The Particle Odyssey." They say a picture
tells a thousand words - truer words could be spoken as concerns the
book. The reader (even the peruser) can learn an incredible amount at
whatever level he/she is at, just by looking at the pictures and reading
the concise descriptions. We see pictures of the founders of modern physics,
their inventions, also great shots of particle accelerators and particle
tracks, and much more. The book would make a superb coffee-table addition.
It could entertain, even blow the minds of people who looked at it, maybe
spark some interest in younger people, and as I said, anyone can learn
something at the same time (perhaps unlike a familar coffee table favorite,
"A Brief History of Time"!).

The text is about as easy to read, given the complicated subject,
as possible, thorough, and enjoyable. Together with the pictures, the
authors cover the subject (and I do feel qualified to say this) more
than thoroughly.

Anyone with even a passing interest in particle physics would do
quite well to have this amazing, remarkable book.

Good introduction to particle physics and its history
The book is aimed at the intelligent layperson. It would be too basic for a physics professional or even for a physics graduate student. However, it is not basic. Anyone who is not seriously interested in particle physics will quickly bog down and find it boring. For those who are "seriously interested" it will most likely feed their interest. The book is thick with information, but is written in an accessible style. It is roughly 50% text and 50% photos (some full page, most quarter page or smaller), but this is not a coffee table book. The photos support the text and include captions that explain the photo (not merely summarize the text). Throughout the book, the photos demonstrate significant events (eg, Röntgen's first X-ray, the apparatus Chadwick used to discover the neutron, Anderson working with his cloud chamber, Lawrence's first cyclotron) or show portions of the large accelerators or detectors with descriptions of the components pictured.

As the authors state "This book is the story of how a century of discovery and invention has brought us to our modern understanding of the subatomic particles and the nature of the material Universe." Four chapters (3, 5, 7, 9) provide "individual portraits of all the major particles" so far discovered. Chapter 3 covers the basic structure of the atom: electrons, protons, neutrons, and photons. Chapter 5 covers particles discovered in cosmic radiation: positrons, muons, pions, kaons, the lambda, the xi, and the sigma. Chapter 7 covers particles or phenomenon discovered in accelerators: the neutral pion, the neutral cascade, antimatter, resonance, omega-minus, neutrinos, and quarks. Chapter 9 covers the particles discovered in modern accelerators: charmed quarks, tau, bottom quarks, gluons, the W and Z particles, and top quarks. Chapters 2, 4, 6, and 8 describe the history of particle physics. Each of these history chapters introduces the people and the devices they used to make the discoveries described in the subsequent chapter. Two chapters (10, 11) "describe the questions that are aborbing particle physicists today" (eg, What is Mass?, Is there a theory of everything?, Issues in particle astromony). The final chapter (titled "Particles at Work") describes specific applications in society (eg, TVs, diagnostic scans)

The book is as much about how the discoveries are made (ie, the physicists and their experimental apparatuses) as it is about particle physics itself. I read the book with almost no background in particle physics (having read just a few encyclopedia entries on the topic) and found most of the book to be accessible, though never an easy read (about the same reading difficulty as The Economist magazine: economist.com). However, chapter 7 was more difficult and chapter 9 was a difficult read for me (requiring re-reads of many sentences). My knowledge of particle physics is significantly enhanced having read this book and I now have a good appreciation of the accelerators in current use.

Absolutely Gorgeous
The reason I got into physics in the first place was the combined allure of subatomic strangeness and huge machines at the edge of technology and cleverness. This book distills those attractions in beautiful descriptions and stunning photography. If I ever needed reaffirmation in my choice to become a particle physicist, this book would surely do the trick. ... Read more

Book Description

A concise introduction to the spectroscopy of atoms and molecules. Treatment emphasizes an intuitive understanding of topics and the development of problem-solving techniques. Provides background material on time-dependent perturbation theory and second quantization, and incorporates many illustrative spectra from the literature. Examines electronic band spectra and polyatomic rotations, which makes accessible the energy levels and selection rules that govern microwave spectroscopy without recourse to detailed rotational eigenstates. Also covers triatomic molecules, aromatic hydrocarbons, lasers, multiphoton spectroscopies, and diagrammatic perturbation techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perfect Reference on Spectroscopy
The undergraduate physical chemistry lab course required us to perform at least 2 experiments on spectroscopy. Experiments could be drawn from infrared spectra, electronic-vibrational absorption spectrum, Raman spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility of transition metal ions in solution.

While introductory physical (quantum) chemistry course only gives students an overview of spectroscopy and its applications, this book provides excellent information about different types of spectroscopy and their usages in laboratory. Many will find it very useful to consult this book before proceeding on spectroscopy experiments. It will also serve as a reference tool for practicing chemists and professionals who need a refresher in the subject.

It covers basic spectroscopy techniques, vibrational spectroscopy, rotational spectroscopy, infrared, Raman on diatomic molecules and polyatomic molecules. One great tool.

Clear introduction to molecular spectroscopy
I took my first Graduate laser spectroscopy course, and I used Dr. Struve's Fundamentals of Molecular Spectroscopy as a supplement. I studied his text more frequently than the assigned text. I would not have survived without it. ... Read more

Book Description

The amount of information that can be obtained by using moleculartechniques in evolution, systematics and ecology has increasedexponentially over the last ten years. The need for more rapid andefficient methods of data acquisition and analysis is growing accordingly.This manual presents some of the most important techniques for dataacquisition developed over the last years. Data analysis is also animportant and widely used molecular part of this volume. It is mainlywritten for students and researchers from evolutionary biology in search for methods to acquire data, butalso from molecular biology who might be looking for information on howdata are analyzed in an evolutionary context.To aid the user, information on web-locatedsites is included wherever possible. Approaches that will push the amount of informationsystematics will gather in the next few years by using high throughputmethods. Access to genomics information are also discussed in the manual.In summary, this book is a comprehensive account of practical vs theoretical and modern vs future achievements ofmolecular systematics in evolutionary biology.Features:·*describes recent techniques for dataacquisition and analysis in evolutionary biology and systematics·*detailed protocols to guide the reader step by step·*broad theoretical background information on applications·*gives prospects for future approaches·*information on important websites·*thorough survey of the state of the art ... Read more

Book Description

Offering an historical and philosophical perspective on an important recent discovery in particle physics, the first evidence for the elementary particle known as the top quark, this study draws on published reports, oral histories, and internal documents. Kent Staley explores in detail the controversies and politics that surrounded the major scientific result. His book defends an objective theory of scientific evidence based on error probabilities. ... Read more

Book Description

This new work presents an eclectic treatment of quantum optics, quantum measurements, and mesoscopic physics. Beginning with the fundamentals of quantum optics, the book then provides scientists and engineers with the latest experimental work in the area of optical measurements. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents an in-depth discussion on molecular electronics in an easy-to-understand manner, aiming at chemists, computer scientists, surface scientists, physicists, and applied mathematicians. Lighter overviews are provided for the science-minded layperson and the high tech entrepreneur in this nanoscale science. The author has included a detailed synthetic chemistry treasure chest, protocols of self-assembling routes for bottom-up fabrication atop silicon platforms, representative current-voltage and memory readouts from molecular devices, and overviews of present architectural and mathematical approaches to programming molecular computing machines. The investment and commercial insertion landscape is painted along with a "Who's Who" in the molecular electronics business space. Advice and forewarnings are provided in a practical yet witty manner for the aspiring academic corporate founder and the business CEO wannabe seeking to establish a high tech company while wading through the idiosyncratic morass of university personalities and university-owned intellectual property. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book!
This book is great! Everyone should buy it! It combines both corporate and scientific information! This is a must-buy! ... Read more

Book Description

Semiclassical Physics explores a way of doing quantum mechanics using a simplified path-integral formalism, with a focus on the classical motion of the particle. This book attempts to convey to the reader that semiclassical physics can be fun, as well as useful for understanding quantum fluctuations in interacting many-body systems. The text is addressed to graduate students with a basic knowledge of classical and quantum mechanics, and to scientists with an interest in semiclassical methods. The book's approach is informal, guided largely by simple solvable models and by practical applications to real physical phenomena. The new, paperback edition includes corrections to misprints, errors, unclear formulations, and some inconsistencies of notation, as well as the addition of recent references that are of direct relevance to the examples in the book. A new section on Bose-Einstein condensation in a harmonic trap has been added in the context of the Thomas-Fermi model. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Contents
1. Introduction 2. Quantization of integrable systems 3. The single-particle level density 4. The extended Thomas-Fermi model 5. Gutzwiller's trace formula for isolated orbits 6. Extensions of the Gutzwiller theory 7. Quantization of nonintegrable systems 8. Shells and periodic orbits in finite fermion systems 9. Concluding Remarks A - The self-consistent mean field approach B - Inverse Laplace transforms C - More about the monodromy matrix D - Calculation of Maslov indices for isolated orbits ... Read more

Book Description

This series, established in 1965, is concerned with recent developments in the general area of atomic, molecular and optical physics. The field is in a state of rapid growth, as new experimental and theoretical techniques are used on many old and new problems.

Topics covered include related applied areas, such as atmospheric science, astrophysics, surface physics and laser physics. Articles are written by distinguished experts who are active in their research fields.

The articles contain both relevant review material and detailed descriptions of important recent developments. ... Read more

Book Description

Properties of Optical and Laser-Related Materials-A Handbook offers the reader a self-contained, concise and up-to-date collection of the key properties of 125 of the most common and important optical materials used in modern optics, laser physics and technology, spectroscopy and laser spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, quantum electronics and laser applications. This comprehensive volume presents not only the classical properties but also those that have appeared in the three decades since the invention of the laser. The presentation of the material is given in a clear tabular form with more than 1000 references. A wide variety of readers, ranging from workers in both industry and academia, to lecturers and students at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, will find Properties of Optical and Laser-Related Materials-A Handbook an invaluable resource. ... Read more

Book Description

Leading scientists provide the most up-to-date information.

This richly detailed book is the first complete review of molecular systematics and phylogeography of mollusks. Ten chapters cover a full range of issues such as research opportunities, molecules and evolution, bivalve evolution, gastropod evolution, and how mollusks have evolved into so many species.

The concluding title in the Smithsonian Series of Comparative Evolutionary Biology, this book brings together experts from around the world. Each explores their topic in a way that reveals not only the evolutionary history of mollusks, but also how evolution operates. Anyone seriously interested in living mollusks, fossilized shells, or evolution will find this book to be an invaluable resource. 40 b/w illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

Molecular beam epitaxy was initially developed by J.R.Arthur and A.Y. Choover 20years ago for growth of GaAs and GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs heterostructures. It has subsequently been extended to an ever-widening variety of materials while maintaining key advantages over other techniques of epitaxial film growth such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), liquid phase epitaxy (LPE), metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) and related techniques. These advantages include the ability to control growth reproducibly to atomic monolayer dimensions and to monitor the growth process in real time. For example, the ultra-high vacuum growth environment of MBE makes it possible to study the dynamics of the growth process itself using modulated molecular beam techniques and RHEED (reflection high energy electron diffraction). In addition, other in situ techniques such as XPD (x-ray photoelectron diffraction) can be used to examine the formation of interfaces and film growth modes.

In this volume the Editor and Contributors have set out to describe the use of MBE for a range of key materials systems which are of interest for both technological and fundamental reasons. Prior books on MBE have provided an introduction to the basic concepts and techniques of MBE and emphasize growth and characterization of GaAs-based structures. The aim in this book is somewhat different; it is to demonstrate the versatility of the technique by showing how it can be utilized to prepare and explore a range of distinct and diverse materials. For each of these materials systems MBE has played a key role both in their development and application to devices.

Book Description

In 1998 Thomas Hales dramatically announced

the solution of a problem which has long teased

eminent mathematicians: what is the densest

possible arrangement of identical spheres? In this

book Denis Weaire and Tomaso Aste recount the

story of this problem and many others which have

to do with packing things together. The examples

range through mathematics, physics, biology and

engineering; they include the arrangement of

soap bubbles in a foam, atoms in a crystal, the

architecture of the bee's honeycomb, and the

structure of the Giant's Causeway. While

conveying all of the essential information in each

case, with key references, the style is informal.

Included are brief accounts of the lives of many of

the scientists who devoted themselves to

problems of packing over many centuries,

together with wry comments on their efforts. It is

an entertaining introduction to the field for both

specialists and the more general public. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Introduction to mysteries and myths of packing!
The text is packed with both ordered and disorderly discussions of several packing problems that arise in daily life as well as in crystallography, physics and abstract mathematics. A nice introduction to the solved and unsolved mysteries and myths of packing problems!! The text is an easy read, suitable for even high school kids, though graduate students and teachers will find it more illuminating and informative!

Excellent introduction to packing
A good starting discussion for packing problems, even though several issues are not covered (look at Erich's Packing Center for the next edition). Chapters cover Circle packings, sphere packings, the Hales proof, seed shapes, honeycombs, bubbles, atoms and crystals, fractal aggregates, The Giant's Causeway, buckyballs, higher dimensional packings, and various odds and ends. There are lots of illustrations and good discussions. I would have prefered for more to be packed into the book. Still, it's the best introductory book on packing I know of. ... Read more