Mathematical and Conceptual Foundations of 20Th-Century Physics

Gérard G. Emch (Eds.)0444875859, 9780444875853, 9780080872117

This book is primarily intended for Mathematicians, but students in the physical sciences will find here information not usually available in physics texts. The main aim of this book is to provide a unified mathematical account of the conceptual foundations of 20th-Century Physics, in a form suitable for a one-year survey course in Mathematics or Mathematical Physics. Emphasis is laid on the interlocked historical development of mathematical and physical ideas.

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Table of contents :
Content:
Edited by
Pages ii-iii

Copyright page
Page iv

Chapter Interdependence
Page vii

Preface
Pages viii-ix

Acknowledgements
Page x

Chapter 1. Mechanics
Pages 1-30

Chapter 2. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
Pages 31-66

Chapter 3. Electromagnetism
Pages 67-89

Chapter 4. Geometry
Pages 91-131

Chapter 5. The Principles of Special Relativity
Pages 133-159

Chapter 6. General Relativity
Pages 161-208

Chapter 7. The “Old” Quantum Theory
Pages 209-248

Chapter 8. The Hilbert Space Formulation of Quantum Mechanics
Pages 249-359

Chapter 9. The Algebraic Formulation of Quantum Mechanics
Pages 361-415

Chapter 10. Systems With Infinitely Many Degrees of Freedom
Pages 417-514

Bibliography
Pages 515-541

Index
Pages 543-549