Bøger i Fundamental Theories of Physics serien

Maximum entropy and Bayesian methods have fundamental, central roles in scientific inference, and, with the growing availability of computer power, are being successfully applied in an increasing number of applications in many disciplines. This volume contains selected papers presented at the Thirteenth International Workshop on Maximum Entropy and Bayesian Methods. It includes an extensive tutorial section, and a variety of contributions detailing application in the physical sciences, engineering, law, and economics. Audience: Researchers and other professionals whose work requires the application of practical statistical inference.

This volume contains selected papers presented at the Second Workshop on Clifford Algebras and their Applications in Mathematical Physics. These papers range from various algebraic and analytic aspects of Clifford algebras to applications in, for example, gauge fields, relativity theory, supersymmetry and supergravity, and condensed phase physics. Included is a biography and list of publications of Mario Schenberg, who, next to Marcel Riesz, has made valuable contributions to these topics. This volume will be of interest to mathematicians working in the fields of algebra, geometry or special functions, to physicists working on quantum mechanics or supersymmetry, and to historians of mathematical physics.

Theoretical physicists allover the world are acquainted with Lande's celebrated computation of the g factor or splitting factor or, more precisely, the magne- togyric factor. The so-called anomalous Zeeman effect had intrigued, if not vexed, some of the most distinguished physicists of that time, such as Bohr, Sommerfeld, Pauli, and others. Lande realized that this recalcitrant effect was inseparable from the multiplet line structure - a breakthrough in understanding which he achieved in 1922 at the age of thirty four. It was in the same year that Lande discovered the interval rule for the separation of multiplet sublevels, a significant result that holds in all cases of Russell-Saunders coupling and renders comparatively easy the empirical analysis of spectral multiplets. In the twenties, Lande succeeded in constructing some original concepts of axiomatic thermodynamics by employing Caratheodory's somewhat esoteric approach as his guiding concept. Published in the Handbuch der Physik, his comprehensive treatise, evincing several novel ideas, has become a classic. Lande, Sommerfeld's student though never a true disciple, published two monographs on quantum mechanics that are remarkable for their content and exposition. In this connection it may be apposite to stress that Lande had sub- scribed for many years to the (infelicitously named) Copenhagen interpretation.

Everybody is current in a world surrounded by computer. Computers determine our professional activity and penetrate increasingly deeper into our everyday life. Therein we also need increasingly refined c- puter technology. Sometimes we think that the next generation of c- puter will satisfy all our dreams, giving us hope that most of our urgent problems will be solved very soon. However, the future comes and il- sions dissipate. This phenomenon occurs and vanishes sporadically, and, possibly, is a fundamental law of our life. Experience shows that indeed 'systematically remaining' problems are mainly of a complex tech- logical nature (the creation of new generation of especially perfect - croschemes, elements of memory, etc. ). But let us note that amongst these problems there are always ones solved by our purely intellectual efforts alone. Progress in this direction does not require the invention of any 'superchip' or other similar elements. It is important to note that the results obtained in this way very often turn out to be more significant than the 'fruits' of relevant technological progress. The hierarchical asymptotic analytical-numerical methods can be - garded as results of such 'purely intellectual efforts'. Their application allows us to simplify essentially computer calculational procedures and, consequently, to reduce the calculational time required. It is obvious that this circumstance is very attractive to any computer user.

The classical and quantum dynamics of conservative systems governs the behavior of much of the world around us - from the dynamics of galaxies to the vibration and electronic behavior of molecules and the dynamics of systems formed from or driven by laser radiation. Most conservative dynamical systems contain some degree of chaotic behavior, ranging from a self-similar mixture of regular and chaotic motion, to fully developed chaos. This chaotic behavior has a profound effect on the dynamics.This book combines mathematical rigor with examples that illuminate the dynamical theory of chaotic systems. The emphasis of the 3rd Edition is on topics of modern interest, including scattering systems formed from molecules and nanoscale quantum devices, quantum control and destabilization of systems driven by laser radiation, and thermalization of condensed matter systems. The book is written on a level accessible to graduate students and to the general research community.

An understanding of quantum mechanics is vital to all students of physics, chemistry and electrical engineering, but requires a lot of mathematical concepts, the details of which are given with great clarity in this book. Various concepts have been derived from first principles, so it can also be used for self-study. The chapters on the JWKB approximation, time-independent perturbation theory and effects of magnetic field stand out for their clarity and easy-to-understand mathematics. Two complete chapters on the linear harmonic oscillator provide a very detailed discussion of one of the most fundamental problems in quantum mechanics. Operator algebra is used to show the ease with which one can calculate the harmonic oscillator wave functions and study the evolution of the coherent state. Similarly, three chapters on angular momentum give a detailed account of this important problem. Perhaps the most attractive feature of the book is the excellent balance between theory and applications and the large number of applications in such diverse areas as astrophysics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular spectroscopy, solid-state physics, and quantum well structures.