Fundamentals Of Statistical Mechanics: Manuscript And Notes Of Felix Bloch

by John Dirk Walecka

Overview

The 1952 Nobel physics laureate Felix Bloch (1905-83) was one of the titans of twentieth-century physics. He laid the fundamentals for the theory of solids and has been called the “father of solid-state physics.” His numerous, valuable contributions include the theory of magnetism, measurement of the magnetic moment of the neutron, nuclear magnetic resonance, and the infrared problem in quantum electrodynamics.Statistical mechanics is a crucial subject which explores the understanding of the physical behaviour of many-body systems that create the world around us. Bloch's first-year graduate course at Stanford University was the highlight for several generations of students. Upon his retirement, he worked on a book based on the course. Unfortunately, at the time of his death, the writing was incomplete.This book has been prepared by Professor John Dirk Walecka from Bloch's unfinished masterpiece. It also includes three sets of Bloch's handwritten lecture notes (dating from 1949, 1969 and 1976), and details of lecture notes taken in 1976 by Brian Serot, who gave an invaluable opinion of the course from a student's perspective. All of Bloch's problem sets, some dating back to 1933, have been included.The book is accessible to anyone in the physical sciences at the advanced undergraduate level or the first-year graduate level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789810244200
Publisher:	World Scientific / Imperial College Press
Publication date:	11/08/2000
Edition description:	New
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.74(h) x 0.65(d)

Editorial Reviews

Walecka (The College of William and Mary) prepared this book from the papers of Bloch (1905-1983, 1952 Nobel physics laureate). It explores the understanding of the physical behavior of many-body systems. The book draws from Bloch's unfinished manuscripts, and includes three sets of his handwritten lecture notes (dating from 1949, 1969, and 1976), and details of lecture notes taken in 1976 by one of Bloch's students. All of Bloch's problem sets, some dating back to 1933, have been included. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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