Book Description

A revision of the defining book covering the physics and classical mathematics necessary to understand electromagnetic fields in materials and at surfaces and interfaces. The third edition has been revised to address the changes in emphasis and applications that have occurred in the past twenty years. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

The Classical text for E & M
Jackson's text still remains as the classic text for E & M. The problems are challenging and difficult I do admit. I found that having the mathematics background helped when it came to solving some of Jackson's problems. From the other reviews that I saw that gave this book low ratings probably didn't have the mathematical background to tackle this text. Before attempting to read and solve the problems of Jackson, you should have an excellent working knowledge of Multivariable calculus including vector calculus, differential equations (including partial differential equations),complex variables, Legendre and Bessel functions. If you don't have this background, you will have a very difficult time with this book.

What's the purpose?
I fail to understand the purpose of writing such a book as Jacksons'. The physics is many times neglected in favor of mathematics, and yet the mathematics itself is poorly explained. It feels like studying E&M while being drunk: "you take the div of the curl, then the curl of the curl and the div of the div of the . . . " Also, Jackson takes the rather uninspiring view of teaching E&M from the unrelativistic point of view, a real shame, considering the conceptual simplification such an approach offers. Classical Electrodynamics by Julian Schwinger outrivals Jackson's book from the mathematical point of view, and is more comprehensive. Schwartz's "Principles of Electrodynamics" and Ohanian's text (forgot the name) explain the physics much better (Ohanian's book is also at a nice mathematical level). So what's the purpose of using this text?

EECCCHHHH!!!!!
This book (I use the term loosely) stinks. Some reviewers suggest that you can only appreciate this book if you already have a solid foundation in math and Electromagnetics. Baloney! Truth is, Jackson should never have been allowed to even think of writing such a textbook. From what I have seen so far, painful is not a strong enough word to describe the act of sifting through this mess. I feel for the students who had this assigned as their classroom text. As one reviewer put it, the students had to take other books out of the library to get through the course or to determine what the hell Jackson is talking about. There is a difference between a well presented, intelligent style of writing and a pretentious "Look how smart I appear to be, try try try to figure out what I am saying; I'm not going to tell you, that's for sure" style of writing, where Jackson adopts the latter, exclusively. There are far better books out there. Go look for them.

Excellence in Physics
First off, this is either a graduate book or a senior undergraduate book in Physics. The book assumes at least 2 years of college math, preferably for engineering or physics folks.

What sets this book apart is the focus on physics is perfect as we understand E&M theory at this point. Unlike other imperfect college texts like Lorraine and Courson, this book contains no errors. While some may no like "and the proof is left to the reader", the book is meant to teach people who are focused on physics but can describe the process mathematically as well as in regular language.

The assumption is that there has already been a rigorous introduction of both physics and mathematics so this book is NOT a casual read.

The beauty of this book is that it's not just teaching knowledge but it teaches one how to think. To those who can rise to the occasion and draw upon their education, professors and peers, there is the satisfaction of really understanding E&M clearly and concisely.

To those who only seek rote knowledge, this book will be too challenging.

Good old Jackson
I like Jackson, but I think that most people don't.

Anyway, the reason I'm writing this is to tell the
Reviewer from July 12, 2000 that Jackson DID write
another book. It's called
"The Physics of Elementary Particles." ... Read more

Book Description

Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity provides a lucid and thoroughly modern introduction to general relativity. With an accessible and lively writing style, it introduces modern techniques to what can often be a formal and intimidating subject.Readers are led from the physics of flat spacetime (special relativity), through the intricacies of differential geometry and Einstein's equations, and on to exciting applications such as black holes, gravitational radiation, and cosmology.For advanced undergraduates and graduate students, or anyone interested in astronomy, cosmology, physics, or general relativity. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

To learn GR, read this one first...
I may be biased (as a student there), but the University of Chicago has the market for textbooks on GR cornered. Between Sean Carroll and Bob Wald, the student has everything he needs. I do have to reccomend reading this one first though, as the explanations are more physical (where Wald is more formal) and the style is more readable and easier to digest. In short it is probably the best book on the market from which to learn GR. Once you finish this book, add Wald's to your library for a more complete reference set (Wald's book is likely the best on the market once you already know GR).

Great GR Book!
This book has helped me long before it was ever published! It is based off of lecture notes that Carroll gave for a graduate level General Relativity course. These notes are still freely available at:

http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/gr-qc/9712019

But you miss out on extras like better diagrams, more examples and exercises, so this is still a great buy!

Stellar
This is a fantastic book on cosmology both to learn cosmology for the first time and to use later as a reference book. Most useful text I have bought in a long time.

Fabulous!
Fantastic introduction to the topic -- even for the non-physicist who likes to dabble in such subjects.

Buy This Book
if you want to learn GR and have fun learning it.

Of course this review is completely unhelpful, but I've never reviewed books on Amazon before, and I felt obliged to review this book for various reasons better kept to myself. (Edit : It turned out that a long time ago, I reviewed Nakahara. My memory is failing me...)

If you are looking for a real reason, then here it is :

Pages 281-286 on degrees of freedom in linearized GR.

Oh, again, don't forget to buy this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the publication of the first edition over 50 years ago, Introduction to Solid State Physics has been the standard solid state physics text for physics students.The author's goal from the beginning has been to write a book that is accessible to undergraduates and consistently teachable. The emphasis in the book has always been on physics rather than formal mathematics. With each new edition, the author has attempted to add important new developments in the field without sacrificing the book's accessibility and teachability.

* A very important chapter on nanophysics has beenwritten by an active worker in the field. This field is the liveliest addition to solid state science during the past ten years
* The text uses the simplifications made possible by the wide availability of computer technology.Searches using keywords on a search engine (such as Google) easily generate many fresh and useful references ... Read more

Reviews (31)

An Ok book
I used this book in a Senior-level Solid State course, and believe it is OK, but not as great as Thermal Physics by Kittel. Though the homework problems at the end of the chapter are the same level of difficulty, i.e., easy.

His proofs are a bit lacking on clarity and there really arent many of them, so you might want Ashcroft & Mermin instead if you like to see them.

However, the course I took wasnt big on the math, and was more conceptual, and here Kittel does things simply enough for you to learn the material and make a good grade.

But if this is your research area, you probably wont like this book.

comprehensive but not well explained
It covers more stuff than the other books I read. But there are too many conclusions without clear explanations. It's not a good book for the newcomers in this field. It's tough to read. It may help you get something new if you've already studied SS. I think Ashcroft&Mermin and Ibach&Luth's books are much much better.

Introduction to Hell
This book is terrible.It is pedantic in parts handwaving in others.I recommend you drop the class you are buying it for.

This is THE classic text in Solid State!
I've taken solid state as an undergrad physics student, a grad at CSUF, a grad at University of Denver, and again as a grad at University of Washington. I have figured out why I just don't seem to grasp Solid State; I've always used this book! ;-) (Different editions) My prof agrees, there are better books out there.

IMHO, the presentation is choppy and not coherant. Concepts are just thrown out and the student is left wondering, "What was THAT all about?!" It makes a GREAT reference if you already know solid state. I think thatis why it is used so often.

Not an Intro book
This book is an awful introduction to solid state physics.I would recommend Ashcroft and Mermin's version.Kittel dives right into equations without deriving them at all and assumes prior knowledge of quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and E&M.I am a senior engineering college student at the school Kittel taught (UC Berkeley) and we are forced to use his book because it's a "classic" in the field but it is just a terrible book to try to learn from. ... Read more

Book Description

Why everything we think about fundamental physical laws needs to change, and why the greatest mysteries of physics are not at the ends of the universe but as close as the nearest ice cube or grain of salt.

Not since Richard Feynman has a Nobel Prize-winning physicist written with as much panache as Robert Laughlin does in this revelatory and essential book. Laughlin proposes nothing less than a new way of understanding fundamental laws of science. In this age of superstring theories and Big-Bang cosmology, we're used to thinking of the unknown as being impossibly distant from our everyday lives. The edges of science, we're told, lie in the first nanofraction of a second of the Universe's existence, or else in realms so small that they can't be glimpsed even by the most sophisticated experimental techniques. But we haven't reached the end of science, Laughlin argues-only the end of reductionist thinking. If we consider the world of emergent properties instead, suddenly the deepest mysteries are as close as the nearest ice cube or grain of salt. And he goes farther: the most fundamental laws of physics-such as Newton's laws of motion and quantum mechanics -are in fact emergent. They are properties of large assemblages of matter, and when their exactness is examined too closely, it vanishes into nothing.

A Different Universe takes us into a universe where the vacuum of space has to be considered a kind of solid matter, where sound has quantized particles just like those of light, where there are many phases of matter, not just three, and where metal resembles a liquid while superfluid helium is more like a solid. It is a universe teeming with natural phenomena still to be discovered. This is a truly mind-altering book that shows readers a surprising, exquisitely beautiful and mysterious new world. ... Read more

Book Description

Providing the first self-contained introduction to the physical concepts, techniques and applications of nanotechnology, this is of interest to readers grounded in college chemistry and physics. As such, it is suitable for students and professionals of engineering, science, and materials science and to research workers of varied backgrounds in the interdisciplinary areas that make up nanotechnology.
The author covers the spectrum from the latest examples of nanoscale systems, quantum concepts and effects, self-assembled nanosystems, manufacturing, scanning probe methods of observation and fabrication, to single-electron and molecular electronics. In so doing, he not only comprehensively presents the scientific background, but also concludes with a look at the long-term outcomes. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first book that can be considered a textbook on thin film science, complete with exercises at the end of each chapter.Ohring has contributed many highly regarded reference books to the AP list, including Reliability and Failure of Electronic Materials and the Engineering Science of Thin Films.The knowledge base is intended for science and engineering students in advanced undergraduate or first-year graduate level courses on thin films and scientists and engineers who are entering or require an overview of the field.

Since 1992, when the book was first published, the field of thin films has expanded tremendously, especially with regard to technological applications.The second edition will bring the book up-to-date with regard to these advances.Most chapters have been greatly updated, and several new chapters have been added. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

good
This is a very good book for coating engineers. The richness of the explanation of a variety of subjects is worthy of reading it carefully, from beginning to the end.

And in addition, I find the process of reading the book is quite a happy thing of enjoying the beauty of English, though I am not a native speaker.(I'd like to look forward to reading similar comments so as to confirming this impression of mine)

The book is precise and in depth. ... Read more

Book Description

An indispensable resource for scientists and engineers concerned with high vacuum technology

Vacuum technology has evolved significantly over the past thirty years and is now indispensable to various fields of scientific research as well as the medical technology, food processing, aerospace, and electronics industries.

Foundations of Vacuum Science and Technology offers a comprehensive survey of the physical and chemical principles underlying the production, measurement, and use of high vacuums. It also provides a valuable critical survey of important developments that have occurred in the field over the past several decades.

Comprising contributions from many of the world's leading specialists in vacuum techniques, Foundations of Vacuum Science and Technology:
* Reviews the laws of kinetics, the principles of gas flow over a wide range of pressures, and the behaviors of both compressible and turbulent flows
* Features exhaustive coverage of vacuum pump technology, including liquid ring pumps, dry pumps, turbo pumps, getter pumps, and cryo pumps
* Describes leak detectors used in industry
* Examines all types of pressure measurement techniques, including the latest quadrupole mass spectrometer techniques for partial pressure analysis
* Explores the state of the art in calibration and standards. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good Introduction to Vacuum System
I have used this book as an undergraduate and graduate student. This is a great book that takes you from the basics to the more advanced technologies. A must have for a lab.

Foundations of Vacuum Science and Technology
This is a very useful book for the people who is interested in Vacuum technoloyies. ... Read more

Book Description

A new edition of the almost legendary textbook by Schilchting completely revised by Klaus Gersten is now available. This book presents a comprehensive overview of boundary-layer theory and its application to all areas of fluid mechhanics, with emphasis on the flow past bodies (e.g. aircraft aerodynamics). It contains the latest knowledge of the subject based on a thorough review of the literature over the past 15 years. Yet again, it will be an indispensable source of inexhaustible information for students of fluid mechanics and engineers alike. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Must-have Book for Fluid Mechanics Researchers!
This is the best and the most classical fluid mechanics book that i have read. Read it through carefully and you will get much from it. Reading it from time to time can give you many new knowledge every time.

Applause
An excellent resource. A tough act to follow for any other author of BLT books.

Another ChE classic!
This book is as much as a classic as BSL's "Transport Phenomena" (the bible) - it surely is a "holy" book to me! ... Read more

Book Description

This self-confessed introduction provides technical administrators and managers with a broad, practical overview of the subject and gives researchers working in different areas an appreciation of developments in nanotechnology outside their own fields of expertise. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Presents abridged versions of other reviews
This book merely presents abridged versions of other reviews on nanotechnology. For example, the chapter on self-assembly misses most if not all if the initial discoveries and describes second and third generation reports that merely duplicate the concepts with new chemical building blocks. If one reads the reviews cited at the end of the chapters one will get a better view of the respective topics. ... Read more

Book Description

This fascinating book explains why the materials we can see and touch behave as they do. In a completely nontechnical style, using only basic arithmetic, the author explains how the properties of materials result from the way they are composed of atoms and why it is they have the properties they do: for example, why copper and rubies are colored, why metals conduct heat better than glass, why magnets attract an iron nail but not a brass pin, and how superconductors are able to conduct electricity without resistance.The book is intended for general readers, and uses mainly words, pictures and analogies, with only a minimum of very simple mathematics.The author explains how it is possible to understand the basic properties of matter, and translates the technical jargon of physics into a language that can be understood by anyone with an interest in science who wants to know why the world around us behaves in the way that it does. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very Clear
This book provides a clear and interesting description of how quantum mechanics explains the workings and properties of light and matter. Learn why copper is the color it is and why glass is transparent to light, among other things. These explanations are provided in a mostly non-mathematical way but at the same time are not fluff. Its nice to see a book explain how quantum theory effects everyday life instead of the usual round of mystical pronouncements. I was actually surprised at how engaging the book was, actually at times I could hardly put it down. Hard to believe getting all that interested into why things are the way they are but if you are interested in physics and engineering you will find this an enjoyable book. I would like to see the author write more books on other aspects of physics and quantum theory.

The Little Big Book
Most people may find certain aspects of Physics as overbearing , too confusing,and mathematically FORBIDING.Anybody who has studied Physics knows that Quantum Physics is the foundation of modern physics.I found this book inviting,imformative,and very helpful in my self study of modern physics ,without the mazes of mathematical formulations,matrics,transformations,and operators overcoming my train of thought. The skill of the author as a writer makes this book a smooth and educating read.I recommend this book to anybody interested in physics.

very smooth explanations
This is very interesting book about somee selected concepts and physics of the materials. There are no formulas, everything is in narrative format. Author starts with crystal structures, particle wave concepts, atom, some quantum mechanical concepts and than application of quantum concepts to heat transfer, magnetism, conduction, electric current and super conductivity.Author provides very nice descriptive pictures and diagrams. Any one who wants to read more about similar subjects with more formulas, still easy reading could also profit from " Understanding Properties of Matter by De posta".

Quantum Mechanics made Understandable
I am a network engineer with little rememberance of my college physics. I'm in the process of reacquainting myself with physics and picked up this book. I found it exceptionally interesting, understandable, well explained, and well illustrated. The development is exceptionally smooth, starting from first principles and carefully building concepts. It was sophisticated enough so that there is real meat, not just fluff. I feel it has prepared me to dive into more rigorous QM textbooks because I have an understanding of some of the consequences of QM.

Great for my journey on a Self Directed education
I agree with Mr. Anderson somewhat. It is a very good introduction to solid state physics. It is friendly, attractive, and it has faithfully kept my interest. 'The Nature of Solids' complements this well. See my 'Listmania Lists' or 'Shared Purchases' in my 'About IndiAndy' section of Amazon for good, attractive and friendly books of this spirit. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is based on the modern conceptual understanding of crystal fields. It clarifies several issues that have historically produced confusion in this area, particularly the effects of covalency and ligand polarization on the energy spectra of magnetic ions. This comprehensive volume provides readers with clear instructions and a set of computer programs for the phenomenological analysis of energy spectra of magnetic ions insolids. Readers are shown how to employ a hierarchy of parametrized models to extract as much information as possible from observed lanthanide and actinide spectra. All computer programs included in the volume are freely available on the Internet. It will be of particular interest to graduate students and researchers working in the development of opto-electronic systems and magnetic materials. ... Read more

Book Description

This graduate textbook designed for students in physics, chemistry and materials science provides a modern treatment of the theory of solids dealing with the physics of electron and phonon states in crystals and how they determine the structure and properties of solids.The first part of the book deals with electrons and atoms in a crystal, and the second part extends the discussion to defects in crystals and to structures without crystalline symmetry. There are numerous exercises throughout and appendices to provide the necessary background. ... Read more

Book Description

* Picks up where the classic Photoshop 7 Bible (0-7645-3694-X) ends, with bonus color pages and topics for highend users
* Graphic artists and Web designers will flock to this special Bible edition-a peerless professional resource from a bestselling Photoshop guru
* Includes 320 color pages of exciting images and instruction for the experienced user
* Provides expanded coverage of advanced topics such as creating and optimizing Web graphics, using filters, convolution kernels and displacement maps, actions and batch processing, ImageReady, and more ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Definitely NOT the bible
First of all it's very disappointing that the publisher has stopped adding a cd with 'the bible' (which used to be the case in previous editions). As 'the bible' aims for beginner and intermediate users it's always nice you've got the pictures in the book on cd, so you can compare your results with the result you should aim at.

Secondly there is not nearly a word about 'Image Ready' in this book. When you bought this book expecting to learn how to make animated gifs or weboriented design you will be very disappointed because knowing Image Ready is necessary to complete this task. The title 'the bible' is there for misleading, as Image Ready comes standard with Photoshop for weboriented tasks.

Thirdly, Deke has a chapter by chapter approach which although he throrougly explains all the functions of a certain item, this does not lead to exercises in combination of all the parts. Combining the parts is exactly where Photoshop is at it's best.

Motivating new users of Photoshop is best done by project approach, as you learn more and will be more motivated to experiment when you understand the interaction between different techniques, but this is where the book fails miserabely. Deke has certainly an enormous knowledge about Photoshop, but the approach he takes for leading new users into the graphic domain will only lead to boredom. Definitely not recommended for new users, as you will very easily get bored by the academic approach.

Go for a basis project oriented approach and you will gave fun learning Photoshop, go for this book and you will get overwhelmed and demotivated.

It's not a holy book, except if you only use it as a reference point (and in this case I would go for the professional edition).

it's not the "wanna be" edition
I am shocked by the handful of bad reviews I've seen here. I am going to suppose the bad reviews are written by people whose idea of using Photoshop means applying enough filters until it looks cool. My friends, it's called the "Professional Edition" for a reason; if you would take the time to read the Preface you would find it clearly explained. Deke McClelland is the best Photoshop instructor, period. This book deserves more than 5 stars!

Content Worthy of its Title
Photoshop is a gem of a program. To extract its maximum editing value for your photos, you will have to dig. For most of us, that entails a book that contains a trove of techniques that use the program's brushes, color correction, effects, masks, filters, layers and distortions.

As a novice Photoshop user, this is the first volume I consult when I have a question. More often than not, I find an answer. Plus, I also find an understandable explanation. The result is two fold. First, I accomplish the effect I want with my image. Second, I recover a jewel that can be applied to a future problem.

Many of my most daunting challenges are rendered simple after consulting this book. In my mind that is the only book worthy of the appellation "Bible."

Comprehensive, yes - but comprehensible?
After dabbling in Photoshop for a while the thing that has become most clear to me is that it isn't an easy program to learn, and no doubt it isn't an easy one to explain either. So I won't blame Deke McClelland for not turning me into a Photoshop genius overnight (which he didn't) - but even if that is too much to expect of any book, this one is a mixed bag in more ways than that. On the plus side, it certainly is comprehensive. Just about every option available in Photoshop is explained - and that is the major downside at the same time. This book is very much written from the viewpoint of the program, not that of the user. If you want to know how to achieve a particular effect, you will just have to browse the 1000+ pages hoping you will stumble on the right tools. Reversely, you may read many an explanation of a tool without ever getting into the clear why you would want to use it. For instance, the chapters on selections, paths and masks made it abundantly clear to me that there are some 5,000 or so ways of selecting part of an image in Photoshop, but I remained in the dark as to which ones are useful under which circumstances. Much of the text on paths and masks actually seemed highly esoteric to me. I can understand that it is impossible to illustrate each and every option visually, but unfortunately the illustrative examples that are given often don't seem to be very compelling (e.g., the possible use of stroking a path is demonstrated by the creation of a tapering line underneath an image of a planet, an effect that could just as easily have been achieved with a simple paint brush.) In fact (and ironically), the graphics are one of the major weaknesses of the book (just take a peek at the hideous cover!). I found them mostly unimaginative, and often too small and badly printed to show up the differences between several effects they were supposed to demonstrate.
The accessibility of the book is not helped by the fact that after introducing a function, the author stops naming it and reverts to a mere mention of the keyboard shortcut - so when you're new to this, soon enough you no longer know what he is doing (also, I would urge the publisher to please create separate Windows and Mac editions of this book: the ubiquitous additions of the Mac alternative to Windows shortcuts is highly irritating!).
The order of chapters/subjects doesn't seem to be guided by any pedagogical considerations. Layers are not discussed until page 633, even though (as everyone who has ever tried Photoshop or any similar program knows) you really can't do anything at all without an understanding of this function. The style of writing is informal and chatty, and by page 500 or thereabouts the author's facetiousness started to wear thin on me. Maybe after I have gained more experience with Photoshop I will come to appreciate more of McClelland's suggestions. However, as a novice, plowing through this book yielded to me no more than 8 or 9 new insights that I found directly useful.

Brilliant reference book!
Deke McClelland has done it again! As an Adobe Certified Photoshop Instructor, I felt compelled to write this review in lieu of the others. This book does what it is supposed to and that is explain why and how things happen in Photoshop 7 (YES, it is a reference book - similar to an encyclopedia). There are two types of books you can buy for graphics programs: reference and tutorial. Those that try to combine both come up short. This one sticks to its purpose and is written in a humorous/ fun way, not with the typical 'put me to sleep encyclopedia method'. It is a must have for the Photoshop library. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive textbook utilizes Green's functions and the equations derived from them to solve real physical problems in solid-state theoretical physics. Green's functions are used to describe processes in solids and quantum fluids and to address problems in areas such as electron gas, polarons, electron transport, optical response, superconductivity and superfluidity.The updated third edition features several new chapters on different mean-free paths, Hubbard model, Coulomb blockade, and the quantum Hall effect. New sections have been added, while original sections have been modified to include recent applications.This text is ideal for third- or fourth-year graduate students and includes numerous study problems and an extensive bibliography. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Containing too many misprints.
Unfortunately, the 3rd edition of Mahan's book contains enormous number of misprints. Sometimes, it is impossible to understand what is meant by the author without consulting the previous edition. For example, in Sec. 4.1.5. the author refers in the text to the equation which apparently should be between Eqs. (4.126) and (4.127) but which had been omitted. At the same time, some evident drawbacks of the previous edition have not been corrected. For example, the definition of the thermodynamic average used in Sec. 3.6 is different from that used in the previous sections, although it is not mentioned in the text. Despite the book is an excellent introduction into the field of Many-Particle Physics, I would recommend to the customer to either buy the previous edition or to wait for a new one.

Bien detaille, comprehensible.
Un excellent livre sur un sujet d'actualite. G. Mahan discute de nombreuses en detaillant a chaque fois les etapes necessaires et en ne negligeant pas les explications ni les liens entre les differentes theories. Vu le prix, courez a votre bibliotheque pour vous le procurer! ... Read more

Book Description

This Second Edition provides solid state scientists, who are not necessarily experts in crystallography, with an understandable and comprehensive guide to the new International Tables for Crystallography. The basic ideas of symmetry, lattices, point groups, and space groups are explained in a clear and detailed manner. Notation is introduced in a step-by-step way so that the reader is supplied with the tools necessary to derive and apply space group information. Of particular interest in this second edition are the discussions of space groups application to such timely topics as high-temperature superconductors, phase transitions, semiconductor superlattices, incommensurate modulation, and icosahedral symmetry.

Key Features
* Explains the use of space groups to non-crystallographers
* Applies space groups to current topics, such as high-temperature superconductors and phase transitions
* Includes extensive appendixes, covering all aspects of space groups, including incommensurate modulations and disorder ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not for beginners
If you have never taken a basic crystallography course then this book will not make any sense.Although the authors attempt to make crystallography understandable, they fail miserably.Their style is very fractured and there is little transition between chapters so it seems as if nothing is connected.In short, the book makes perfect sense if you are ALREADY a crystallographer, but if you are new to the field then I would recommend some other text.

Best pedagogical book on Space Groups
This book provides a good, clear introduction to Space Groups that will make using International Tables straightforward.The applications are almost entirely crystallographic (very few applications to solid state physics), but a reader can move to that area after studying this book.
I like this treatment better than any I've seen for graduate students and practicing nontheorists.

An excellent book for applied scientists & engineers
If I needed to characterize this book in a single word, I would say...excellent. Space groups are a rather abstract discipline in crystallography and hence, many books dealing with the subject are usually very theoretical. Burns' book is written for the applied scientist or engineer who needs a working knowledge on a sophisticated concept such as Space groups. The book is structured in a quite pedagogical style which lends itself to a pleasant self-study perfectly well. Worked-out examples are plenty which helps the reader to familiarize him/herself with the use of the International Tables for Crystallography. The level of the treatment is elementary, yet its scope is comprehensive and the treatment is rigorous. The book is ideally suited for those working in the solid state sciences.

excellent for the beginner
Great book for the beginner who does'nt know very much about space groups or the International tables.The book goes through and shows you examples and step by step of what all that stuff means. It's got some examples at the end, but I skipped that.One annoying thins about this book is that all the settings are in 1st setting for monoclinic so you get p21/a instead of the standard p21/c.If you become a crystallographer you'll know what I mean.Besides that though, it's a great book, very easy reading.Recommended for the beginner. ... Read more

Book Description

Professor Phillips provides an accurate exploration and solid foundation for students and researchers of this fast-growing field.

Solid state physics continues to be the fastest-growing sub-discipline in physics. This much anticipated new book provides ample background that underpins the principles of solid state physics, and moves quickly to an overview of current research in this fast-moving field. Upper division undergraduates and graduate students in physics who wish to pursue solid state physics research must master old topics, as well as problems of current interest. This book serves that purpose, and fills students' needs. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A friendly, good introduction for all the modern concepts
The author gives a very good introduction to the topics most researchers in the Condensed Matter community are intersted in. This is good for both theorists and experimentalists as beginners. For theorists, this book gives quickly physics images, which is relatively much easier than reading all the original papers; for experimentalists, this gives very good reviews what the theorists are working about and how are they related to the real world, while NOT MUCH MATH is needed for going through this book.
So this book helps any beginner in the Condensed Matter research to go to the frontier quickly.
I also llike the free-style language the author used in this book --- reading the book is like talking with a friend in the tea time.
One thing I don't like about the book is, for some critical topics (like the localizations), the author tried to explain some hard problems in an easy way, while sometimes he failed in doing it clearly and precisely. But again this book is not a math book, and the clear physics pictures it describes already make it one of the best introductory textbooks for these "advanced" topics.

A friendly, good introduction for all the modern concepts
The author gives a very good introduction to the topics most researchers in the Condensed Matter community are intersted in. This is good for both theorists and experimentalists as beginners. For theorists, this book gives quickly physics images, which is relatively much easier than reading all the original papers; for experimentalists, this gives very good reviews what the theorists are working about and how are they related to the real world, while NOT MUCH MATH is needed for going through this book.
So this book helps any beginner in the Condensed Matter research to go to the frontier quickly.
I also llike the free-style language the author used in this book --- reading the book is like talking with a friend in the tea time.
One thing I don't like the book is, for some critical topics (like the localizations), the author tried to explain some hard problems in an easy way, while sometimes he failed in doing it clearly and precisely. But again this book is not a math book, and the clear physics pictures it describe already make it one of the best introductory textbooks for these "advanced" topics.

A concise but thorough treatment of Adv. Solid State !
I just attended a course based on this book and all I can say is wow.
P. Philips avoids falling into excessive formalism and manages to present
the essence of each subject.

Readers with preparation in the introductory S. State will certainly
benefit from the straight and insightful treatment of the subjects.

It gives solid state physics a new look
This book is a really good one. It gives a really new look for solid state physics. It covers most branches of last develop of solid state physics but it isn't so hard to be understant. ... Read more

Book Description

Chaos, that is irregular dynamical behaviour, is ubiquituous in nature and occurs in a wide range of systems including lasers, fluids, etc., heart beats and brain waves. Before 1990 the emergence of chaos in a system was mostly considered as a nuisance because chaotic systems are hard to predict due to their sensitivity to small perturbations. After 1990it became clear that this sensitive dependence offers the unique possibility to control these systems with a minimum of additional energy.

This handbook provides a comprehensive up-to-date overview of the field. It starts with an introduction to chaos theory, and covers all known methods of chaos control from parametric feedback to neuronal networks. A large part of the handbook is devoted to applications which range from control of electronic circuits, the control of lasers and chemical plants up to "antichaos control" in biological systems which offers the possibility to avoid epileptic seizures. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Controlling a Chaotic System
A few years ago, researchers studying chaos came to a realisation that it might be possible to apply some elements of control systems onto it, taking advantage of the intrinsic chaotic nature to minimise the amount of energy input needed.

In essence, researchers were trying to take the paradigm of a butterfly flapping its wings and affecting a cyclone an ocean away, and use it. The book seems to have a well chosen summary of such research intents, applied across various fields. Progress has been good; though currently no headline grabbers.

While it does provide a quick introduction to chaos theory at the start of the book, you might need prior acquaintance. It is not the aim of the book to teach you chaos theory but to apply it. ... Read more

Book Description

* Unlike most books on the topic, this one utilizes a "top down" approach--general concepts are presented first and details follow
* For the most user-friendly and clear style possible, formulas and equations are used when necessary, but mathematics does not overwhelm the presentation ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent home-schooling text
My two sons both used this book to help them understand their high school physics. It fills in some of the gaps that other books leave. The approach is unique, especially because the author lets the reader know that study is necessary in order to learn any subject. The text questions are helpful.

Good basic overview
Good basic overview of basic physics concepts (and the math behind them). Practice problems are useful as well.

Not a self teaching guide.
This book has a lot of material that makes it worthy to be called a reference book, but as a self teaching guide it really comes up short. There is quite a bit of math (which is good in a physics book), but too little in the way of helping someone new to physics really understand the concepts. I considered returning this book for a refund, but decided to hang on to it for future reference. I think it will be useful to me after I've used some other book(s) to help be learn the fundamentals.

Lots of math, too little physics
I bought this book to help me cram for a physics final and was disappointed by the book's content. The author devotes a large portion to many basic math concepts which can be helpful if you need to brush up. However, once I got to the real physics, it was just a brief overview of the simple topics. Most of the concepts are there but he does not go into them in more detail. For example, he does not go into at all 2D kinematics which I was looking for. Also, concepts like torque and springs are ignored. Overall, this book is best for those who want an introduction into physics.

Good quizzes and tests
This book is unique because of its "Part Zero" section on mathematics. I already knew this stuff (I learned it in high school) but the author says "Take what you can use and skip the rest." The quizzes and tests are in-depth and cover the subject well. I like this book. It does not assume I am stupid and it does not talk down. ... Read more

Book Description

Electromagnetic surface modes are present at all surfaces and interfaces between material of different dielectric properties. These modes have very important effects on numerous physical quantities: adhesion, capillary force, step formation and crystal growth, the Casimir effect etc. They cause surface tension and wetting and they give rise to forces which are important e.g. for the stability of colloids.
This book is a useful and elegant approach to the topic, showing how the concept of electromagnetic modes can be developed as a unifying theme for a range of condensed matter physics. The author concentrates in finding out the basic origin of the force and how they are developed from the collective excitations of the solids. Different materials are treated, e.g. metals, semiconductors, plasmas, liquids and gases all with different collective modes. In close relation to the theoretical background, the reader is served with a broad field of applications. The book servesreaders who are concerned with applications to real world problems with a deep knowledge on surface modes, and inspires new developments of the field.
... Read more

Book Description

Theoretical understanding of electronic properties of metallic alloys is of great importance from both fundamental and technological points of view. All the chapters in this book are developed from the fundamentals and are coherently interrelated in a meticulous manner. The book gives a brief account of the crystal structure of both the pure metals and metals with impurities. Physical effects produced by impurities in metals are described in detail. The electronic structure of pure simple and transition metals is described with special reference to rare-earth metals. ... Read more