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Lectures on Theoretical Physics
AuthorArnold Sommerfeld
Original title
Vorlesungen über Theoretische Physik
CountryGermany
LanguageGerman
DisciplinePhysics
PublisherAcademic Press
Published1943–1952
Published in English1949–1964
Media typePrint
No. of books6
Photo of Sommerfeld in 1897

Lectures on Theoretical Physics is a six volume series of physics textbooks translated from Arnold Sommerfeld's classic German texts Vorlesungen über Theoretische Physik. The series includes the volumes Mechanics, Mechanics of deformable bodies, Electrodynamics, Optics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, and Partial Differential Equations in Physics. Sommerfeld wrote all six textbooks in German based on his three-year lecture series given at the University of Munich.

Background

Sommerfeld was a well known German theoretical physicist who played a major role in developing old quantum theory.[1][2] He was renowned as a great teacher of theoretical physics in the early 20th century.[3][4][5][6] Wolfgang Pauli wrote in 1951 that Sommerfeld was "the epitome of the scholar and the teacher".[7] Another physicist, summarizing "the roles of the most important exponents of theoretical physics in its 'golden age'",[8] wrote that "Planck was the authority, Einstein the genius, and Sommerfeld the teacher" in a 1973 biography of Max Planck.[6] The textbooks, originally published in German, were based on series of his lectures, which were made to be self-consistent within each section, at the University of Munich that ran over a three-year cycle.[5] In addition to specialized classes, The set of lectures presented by the book represent Sommerfeld's standard introductory courses in physics that he gave in Munich, with each subject taught over one semester for a total of three years.[9] In addition to his normal lectures, Sommerfeld also specialized courses as well, included courses in atomic physics that form the subject of another of his books: Atomic structure and spectral lines, which was published in 1919. His other previous works included another lecture series titled Three lectures on atomic physics, which was published in 1926 by Methuen Publishing.[10] He had also edited the book series Die Theorie des Kreisels, which was based on a set of lectures given by his mentor Felix Klein.[11]

Volumes

Mechanics

Mechanik, the first volume of Sommerfeld's 'Vorlesungen über Theoretische Physik, was published in 1947 by Akademische Verlagegesellschaft Becker und Erler and subsequently translated into English by Martin O. Stern and published as Mechanics in 1953 by the Academic Press. The book was reviewed by Robert Bruce Lindsay,[12] Rudolf Peierls,[5][13] and several others.[14][15][16][17]

  • Table of contents:
  1. Mechanics of a Particle
  2. Mechanics of Systems, Principle Of Virtual Work, and d'alembert's Principle
  3. Oscillation Problems
  4. The Rigid Body
  5. Relative Motion
  6. Integral Variational Principles Of Mechanics and Lagrange's Equations For Generalized Coordinates

Mechanics of deformable bodies

Mechanics of deformable bodies, the second volume of the series, was published in English in 1950 by Academic Press. The book was translated from the German volume Mechanik der deformierbaren Medien by G. Kuerti. The volume was reviewed by Rudolf Peierls.[5] The second volume covers topics including hydrodynamics and elasticity, which are discussed together, as well as more advanced topics like supersonic flow and shock waves. In his review, Peierls argued that covering hydrodynamics and elastics together allowed for the "general principles" to "be treated in a concise and transparent way".[5] Peierls went on to note that it emphasizes physical principles even to the detriment of its treatment of mathematical techniques.[5] At the end of his review of several of four of the book's volumes, Peierls closed by saying: "To me these volumes represent an almost perfect choice of topics for a basic course on theoretical physics".[5]

  • Table of contents:
  1. Kinematics of Deformable Bodies
  2. Statics of Deformable Bodies
  3. Dynamics of Deformable Bodies
  4. Vortex Theory
  5. Theory of Waves
  6. Flow With Given Boundaries
  7. Supplementary Notes On Selected Hydrodynamic Problems
  8. Supplements To The Theory Op Elasticity

Electrodynamics

Lectures on Theoretical Physics: Electrodynamics, published in 1964 by Academic Press, is the third volume of its series and covers topics in electrodynamics. The book was translated from the German volume Elektrodynamik by Edward Ramberg. The book was reviewed by Rudolf Peierls,[5] among several others.[18][19][20][21][22]

  • Table of contents:
  1. Fundamentals and Basic Principles of Maxwell's Electrodynamics
  2. Derivation of the Phenomena from the Maxwell Equations
  3. Theory of Relativity and Electron Theory
  4. Maxwell's Theory for Moving Bodies and other Addenda

Optics

The series' fourth volume, Lectures on Theoretical Physics: Optics, was published in 1964 by Academic Press after being translated from the German textbook Optik by Otto Laporte and Peter A. Moldauer. The book was reviewed by Karl Meissner,[23] Rudolf Peierls,[24] and several others.[25][26][27] Max Born wrote in 1952 that the book gives "a very elegant outline" of Tcherenkov radiation.[28]

  • Table of contents:
  1. Reflection and Refraction of Light
  2. Optics of Moving Media and Sources. Astronomical Topics
  3. Theory of Dispersion
  4. Crystal Optics
  5. The Theory of Diffraction
  6. Addenda, Chiefly to the Theory of Diffraction

Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Lectures on Theoretical Physics: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, the fifth volume of the series, was published by Academic Press in 1964. The book was translated from the German volume Thermodynamik und Statistik by Joseph Kestin and subsequently edited by Fritz Bopp and Josef Meixner. The book was reviewed by Rudolf Peierls[29] and several others.[30][31][32][33][34]

  • Table of contents:
  1. Thermodynamics. General Considerations
  2. The Application of Thermodynamics To Special Systems
  3. The Elementary Kinetic Theory of Gases
  4. General Statistical Mechanics: Combinatorial Method
  5. Outline of an Exact Kinetic Theory of Gases

Partial Differential Equations in Physics

Lectures on Theoretical Physics: Partial Differential Equations in Physics was published by Academic Press in 1949 as the sixth and final volume of its series. The book was translated from the German textbook Partielle Differentialgleichungen in der Physik by Ernest G. Straus. The book was reviewed by George F. Carrier,[35] Michael Golomb,[36] Rudolf Peierls,[5] and Lincoln LaPaz.[37]

  • Table of contents:
  1. Fourier Seribs and Integrals
  2. Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
  3. Boundary Value Problems in Heat Conduction
  4. Cylinder and Sphere Problems
  5. Eigenfunctions and Eigen Values
  6. Problems of Radio

Publication history

Original German editions

  1. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1947). Mechanik [Mechanics]. Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik (in German). Vol. 1. Leipzig: Akademische Verlagegesellschaft Becker and Erler. OCLC 491677632.
  2. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1943). Mechanik der deformierbaren Medien [Mechanics of Deformable Bodies]. Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik (in German). Vol. 2. Wiesbaden: Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. OCLC 760037487.
  3. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1948). Elektrodynamik [Electrodynamics]. Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik (in German). Vol. 3. Wiesbaden: Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. OCLC 760037491.
  4. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1950). Optik [Opticcs]. Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik (in German). Vol. 4. Wiesbaden: Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. OCLC 450242968.
  5. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1952). Bopp, Fritz; Meixner, Josef (eds.). Thermodynamik und Statistik [Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics]. Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik (in German). Vol. 5. Wiesbaden: Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. OCLC 602728833.
  6. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1947). Partielle Differentialgleichungen der Physik [Partial Differential Equations in Physics]. Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik (in German). Vol. 6. Wiesbaden: Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. OCLC 441643966.

Original English translations

  1. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1952). Mechanics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics. Vol. 1. Translated by Stern, Martin O. (1st ed.). New York: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-654668-1. OCLC 13466875. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  2. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1950). Mechanics of deformable bodies. Lectures on Theoretical Physics. Vol. 2 (1st ed.). New York: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-654650-7. OCLC 610683657. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  3. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1964). Electrodynamics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics. Vol. 3. Translated by Ramberg, Edward G. (1st ed.). New York: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-654664-4. OCLC 761255842. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  4. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1964). Optics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics. Vol. 4. Translated by Laporte, Otto; Moldauer, Peter A. (1st pbk. ed.). New York: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-323-15239-6. OCLC 840490686. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  5. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1964). Bopp, Fritz; Meixner, Josef (eds.). Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics. Vol. 5. Translated by Kestin, Joseph (1st ed.). New York: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-323-13773-7. OCLC 834542530. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  6. Sommerfeld, Arnold (1949). Partial differential equations in physics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics. Vol. 6. Translated by Straus, Ernest G. (1st ed.). New York: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-654658-3. OCLC 339897. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

See also

References

  1. ^ Sommerfeld, A.; Bopp, F. (1951-01-26). "Fifty Years of Quantum Theory". Science. 113 (2926): 85–92. doi:10.1126/science.113.2926.85. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17808940.
  2. ^ Born 1952, pp. 282–283
  3. ^ Eckert 2013, p. 420, 433"Planck was the authority, Einstein the genius, and Sommerfeld the teacher"
  4. ^ Born 1952, pp. 275, 286, 287
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Peierls, R. E. (November 1951). "Lectures on Theoretical Physics". Nature. 168 (4282): 887–887. doi:10.1038/168887a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  6. ^ a b Hermann, Armin (2017). Max Planck mit Selbstzeugnissen und Bilddokumenten (in German). p. 56. ISBN 978-3-499-50198-2. OCLC 1073826264.
  7. ^ Eckert 2013, p. 420
  8. ^ Eckert 2013, p. 433
  9. ^ Born 1952, pp. 286
  10. ^ L.e.p. (1 June 1928). "Three lectures on atomic physics: By Arnold Sommerfeld, F.R.S., Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Munich, translated by Dr. Henry L. Brose. 70 pages, 18 × 12 cm., cloth. New York, E. P. Dutton and Company. Price, $1". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 205 (6): 898–899. doi:10.1016/S0016-0032(28)91283-1. ISSN 0016-0032.
  11. ^ Born 1952, pp. 278
  12. ^ Lindsay, R. B. (February 1954). "Mechanics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics, Volume I". Physics Today. 7 (2): 18–19. doi:10.1063/1.3061512. ISSN 0031-9228.
  13. ^ Peierls, R. E. (May 1954). "[Short Reviews]". Nature. 173 (4411): 932–932. doi:10.1038/173932d0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  14. ^ Byers, A. C. (April 1953). "Mechanics. Lectures on theoretical physics, Volume I". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 255 (4): 354–355. doi:10.1016/0016-0032(53)90411-6.
  15. ^ Houston, W. V. (May 1953). "Mechanics, Lectures on Theoretical Physics". American Journal of Physics. 21 (5): 399–399. doi:10.1119/1.1933476. ISSN 0002-9505.
  16. ^ Leggett, D. M. A. (1953). "Review of Mechanics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics, Vol. 1". Science Progress (1933- ). 41 (163): 515–516. ISSN 0036-8504.
  17. ^ Prager, W. (1953). "Review of Mechanics". Quarterly of Applied Mathematics. 11 (3): 373–373. ISSN 0033-569X.
  18. ^ Twersky, Vic (22 January 2009). "Electrodynamics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics: Vol. III". Physics Today. 6 (12): 21. doi:10.1063/1.3061081. ISSN 0031-9228.
  19. ^ "[Book Reviews]". Nature. 173 (4408): 747–747. April 1954. doi:10.1038/173747a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  20. ^ F., H. T. (1954). "Review of Electrodynamics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics, Vol. III". Science Progress (1933- ). 42 (165): 133–134. ISSN 0036-8504.
  21. ^ Levy, Sheldon L. (1956). "Review of Electrodynamics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics, Vol. III". Quarterly of Applied Mathematics. 14 (3): 258–258. ISSN 0033-569X.
  22. ^ Bowden, T. J. (January 1953). "Electrodynamics". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 255 (1): 81–82. doi:10.1016/0016-0032(53)90748-0.
  23. ^ Meissner, K. W. (October 1955). "Optics. Lectures on Theoretical Physics, Vol. IV". American Journal of Physics. 23 (7): 477–478. doi:10.1119/1.1934064. ISSN 0002-9505.
  24. ^ Peierls, R. E. (November 1955). "[Book Reviews]". Nature. 176 (4488): 850–850. doi:10.1038/176850d0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  25. ^ Domenicali, C.A. (March 1955). "Optics. Lectures on theoretical physics, Vol. IV". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 259 (3): 265. doi:10.1016/0016-0032(55)90855-3.
  26. ^ "Optics: Vol. 5 of Lectures on Theoretical Physics". Physics Today. 8 (3): 16–16. March 1955. doi:10.1063/1.3061948. ISSN 0031-9228.
  27. ^ "Optics: Vol. 5 of Lectures on Theoretical Physics". Physics Today. 8 (3): 16. 14 January 2009. doi:10.1063/1.3061948. ISSN 0031-9228.
  28. ^ Born 1952, pp. 280
  29. ^ Peierls, R. E. (August 1956). "[Book Reviews]". Nature. 178 (4528): 288–288. doi:10.1038/178288b0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  30. ^ Emmons, H. (1957). "Review of Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics". Quarterly of Applied Mathematics. 15 (1): 64–64. ISSN 0033-569X.
  31. ^ Ross, A. W. (1956). "Review of Lectures on Theoretical Physics. vol. V, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics". Science. 124 (3211): 84–84. ISSN 0036-8075.
  32. ^ R., G. S. (1957). "Review of Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Academic Books". Science Progress (1933- ). 45 (178): 348–349. ISSN 0036-8504.
  33. ^ Nachtrieb, Norman H. (August 1956). "Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Vol. V". Physics Today. 9 (8): 39–40. doi:10.1063/1.3060071. ISSN 0031-9228.
  34. ^ Silver, R S (August 1956). "Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics by Arnold Sommerfeld". Physics Bulletin. 7 (8): 222–223. doi:10.1088/0031-9112/7/8/005. ISSN 0031-9112.
  35. ^ Carrier, G. F. (1952). "Review of Partial differential equations in physics". Quarterly of Applied Mathematics. 10 (2): 193–193. ISSN 0033-569X.
  36. ^ Golomb, Michael (1950). "Review of Partial Differential Equations in Physics". Science. 111 (2886): 414–415. ISSN 0036-8075.
  37. ^ La Paz, Lincoln (1950). "Review of Partial Differential Equations in Physics". Mathematics Magazine. 24 (2): 99–102. doi:10.2307/3029562. ISSN 0025-570X.

Further reading

  1. Mechanics
  2. Mechanics of deformable bodies
  3. Electrodynamics
  4. Optics
  5. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
  6. Partial Differential Equations in Physics
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