We Shall Travel in Space-Time
The constance of light speed is the mysterious fact, discovered mainly by means of the Morley-Michelson experiment, that is destined to change, in a way actually very little understood, the future of the world; not only of mankind. And saying "world" the author does not mean only Earth planet; neither he means the actual universe. His world is world made of infinite universes, may be not parallel as already thought by Hugh Heverett, but displaced in time (distimed?) so to constitute a fractal world of a potentially infinite number of universes. "Potentially" is said because every new universal history takes place (time) starting by the arriving of every space-time vehicle at every one of infinite instants of the elapsed time in each of the potentially infinite branches of the actual history and of the branches potentially deriving from those. Mankind must begin to think about.
We Shall Travel in Space-Time
The constance of light speed is the mysterious fact, discovered mainly by means of the Morley-Michelson experiment, that is destined to change, in a way actually very little understood, the future of the world; not only of mankind. And saying "world" the author does not mean only Earth planet; neither he means the actual universe. His world is world made of infinite universes, may be not parallel as already thought by Hugh Heverett, but displaced in time (distimed?) so to constitute a fractal world of a potentially infinite number of universes. "Potentially" is said because every new universal history takes place (time) starting by the arriving of every space-time vehicle at every one of infinite instants of the elapsed time in each of the potentially infinite branches of the actual history and of the branches potentially deriving from those. Mankind must begin to think about.
Obsessed by a Dream
This Open Access biography chronicles the life and achievements of the Norwegian engineer and physicist Rolf Wider繪e. Readers who meet him in the pages of this book will wonder why he isn't better known. The first of Wider繪e's many pioneering contributions in the field of accelerator physics was the betatron, the second, the linear accelerator, both summarized in a 27 page PhD. The betatron revolutionized the fields of cancer treatment through radiation therapy and also nondestructive testing; hospitals worldwide installed Wider繪e's machine and today's modern radiation treatment equipment is based on his inventions. The most recent renaissance of the linac provides unprecedented x-ray intensities at Free Electron Laser (FEL) facilities in operation and construction worldwide. . Wider繪e's story also includes a fair share of drama, particularly during World War II when both Germans and the Allies vied for his collaboration.Wider繪e held leading positions in multinational industry groups and was one of the consultants for building the world's largest nuclear laboratory, CERN, in Switzerland. He gained over 200 patents, received several honorary doctorates and a number of international awards.The author, a professional writer and maker of TV documentaries, has gained access to hitherto restricted archives in several countries, which provided a wealth of new material and insights, in particular in relation to the war years. She tells here a gripping and illuminating story.
Ionospheric Multi-Spacecraft Analysis Tools
This open access book provides a comprehensive toolbox of analysis techniques for ionospheric multi-satellite missions. The immediate need for this volume was motivated by the ongoing ESA Swarm satellite mission, but the tools that are described are general and can be used for any future ionospheric multi-satellite mission with comparable instrumentation. In addition to researching the immediate plasma environment and its coupling to other regions, such a mission aims to study the Earth's main magnetic field and its anomalies caused by core, mantle, or crustal sources. The parameters for carrying out this kind of work are examined in these chapters. Besides currents, electric fields, and plasma convection, these parameters include ionospheric conductance, Joule heating, neutral gas densities, and neutral winds.
The Exoplanets Revolution
More than 4300 planets around nearby stars! Who could have imagined this extraordinary harvest only thirty years ago? As the vast majority of stars are surrounded by planets, we can surmise that there must be more than a hundred billion planets in our Galaxy. The Solar system is therefore very far from unique. However, it looks quite different from most of the external systems that we know today, but the variety of planetary systems is such that it is difficult to conclude that the Solar System is truly particular. Understanding how diverse planet systems were formed and how they evolved, studying the nature of exoplanets and their atmospheres, are challenges that hundreds of researchers around the world are working on. Does any of these planets harbor life? We do not yet have an answer, but the new means of observation and analysis that astronomers have and will soon have at their disposal are so powerful that they could give a first answer in a few decades, and perhaps even in a few years if we are lucky. This book gives a comprehensive vision of this complex and fascinating area of research, presented in a simple and lively way.
Foundations of Plasma Physics for Physicists and Mathematicians
A comprehensive textbook on the foundational principles of plasmas, including material on advanced topics and related disciplines such as optics, fluid dynamics, and astrophysics Foundations of Plasma Physics for Physicists and Mathematicians covers the basic physics underlying plasmas and describes the methodology and techniques used in both plasma research and other disciplines such as optics and fluid mechanics. Designed to help readers develop physical understanding and mathematical competence in the subject, this rigorous textbook discusses the underlying theoretical foundations of plasma physics as well as a range of specific problems, focused on those principally associated with fusion. Reflective of the development of plasma physics, the text first introduces readers to the collective and collisional behaviors of plasma, the single particle model, wave propagation, the kinetic effects of gases and plasma, and other foundational concepts and principles. Subsequent chapters cover topics including the hydrodynamic limit of plasma, ideal magneto-hydrodynamics, waves in MHD plasmas, magnetically confined plasma, and waves in magnetized hot and cold plasma. Written by an acknowledged expert with more than five decades' active research experience in the field, this authoritative text: Identifies and emphasizes the similarities and differences between plasmas and fluids Describes the different types of interparticle forces that influence the collective behavior of plasma Demonstrates and stresses the importance of coherent and collective effects in plasma Contains an introduction to interactions between laser beams and plasma Includes supplementary sections on the basic models of low temperature plasma and the theory of complex variables and Laplace transforms Foundations of Plasma Physics for Physicists and Mathematicians is the ideal textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in plasma physics, and a valuable compendium for physicists working in plasma physics and fluid mechanics.
Superconductivity
Targeted selection and characterisation of contemporary HTS wires for specific applications.- Pinning efficiency of artificial pinning centers in superconductor nanocomposite films.- Control of vortex pinning in YBCO thin films by incorporating APCs through surface modified target approach.- Progress in thick film 2G-HTS development.- Superconducting YBa2Cu3O7-δ Nanocomposite Films Using Preformed ZrO2 Nanocrystals via Chemical Solution Deposition.- High vortex activation energies in the AC magnetic response of superconductors close to the DC irreversibility line.- An atomic-scale perspective of the challenging microstructure of YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films.- Growth, properties, and device fabrication of iron-based superconductor thin-films.- Future potentials of new high Tc iron based superconductors.- Grain boundaries in Fe-based superconductors.- Control of the critical current density through microstructural design by Ho2O3 and Te co-addition into MgB2 processed by ex situ spark plasma sintering.- Superconductivity in the two dimensional electron gas at transition metal oxide interfaces.- Prospects of superconducting magnet technology in the medical field: a new paradigm on the horizon?.
Laser-Driven Sources of High Energy Particles and Radiation
This volume presents a selection of articles based on inspiring lectures held at the "Capri" Advanced Summer School, an original event conceived and promoted by Leonida Antonio Gizzi and Ralph Assmann that focuses on novel schemes for plasma-based particle acceleration and radiation sources, and which brings together researchers from the conventional accelerator community and from the high-intensity laser-matter interaction research fields. Training in these fields is highly relevant for ultra-intense lasers and applications, which have enjoyed dramatic growth following the development of major European infrastructures like the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) and the EuPRAXIA project. The articles preserve the tutorial character of the lectures and reflect the latest advances in their respective fields. The volume is mainly intended for PhD students and young researchers getting started in this area, but also for scientists from other fields who areinterested in the latest developments. The content will also appeal to radiobiologists and medical physicists, as it includes contributions on potential applications of laser-based particle accelerators.
Jamming and Glass Transitions
The work described in this book originates from a major effort to develop a fundamental theory of the glass and the jamming transitions. The first chapters guide the reader through the phenomenology of supercooled liquids and structural glasses and provide the tools to analyze the most frequently used models able to predict the complex behavior of such systems. A fundamental outcome is a detailed theoretical derivation of an effective thermodynamic potential, along with the study of anomalous vibrational properties of sphere systems. The interested reader can find in these pages a clear and deep analysis of mean-field models as well as the description of advanced beyond-mean-field perturbative expansions. To investigate important second-order phase transitions in lattice models, the last part of the book proposes an innovative theoretical approach, based on a multi-layer construction. The different methods developed in this thesis shed new light on important connections among constraint satisfaction problems, jamming and critical phenomena in complex systems, and lay part of the groundwork for a complete theory of amorphous solids.
Symmetries in Atomic Nuclei
The revised edition of this established work presents an extended overview of recent applications of symmetry to the description of atomic nuclei, including a pedagogical introduction to symmetry concepts using simple examples. Following a historical overview of the applications of symmetry in nuclear physics, attention turns to more recent progress in the field. Special emphasis is placed on the introduction of neutron-proton and boson-fermion degrees of freedom. Their combination leads to a supersymmetric description of pairs and quartets of nuclei. Expanded and updated throughout, the book now features separate chapters on the nuclear shell model and the interacting boson model, the former including discussion of recent results on seniority in a single-j shell. Both theoretical aspects and experimental signatures of dynamical (super)symmetries are carefully discussed. This book focuses on nuclear structure physics, but its broad scope makes it suitable for final-year or post-graduate students and researchers interested in understanding the power and beauty of symmetry methods in physics.Review of the 1st Edition: "The subject of this book, symmetries in physical systems, with particular focus on atomic nuclei, is of the utmost importance in modern physical science. In contrast to most treatments, frequently characterized by fearsome formalism, this book leads the reader step-by-step, in an easily understandable way, through this fascinating field...this book is remarkably accessible to both theorists and experimentalists. Indeed, I view it as essential reading for experimental nuclear structure physicists. This is one of the finest volumes on this subject I have ever encountered." Prof. R.F. Casten, Yale University
Problems and Solutions in Nuclear and Particle Physics
This book presents 140 problems with solutions in introductory nuclear and particle physics. Rather than being only partially provided or simply outlined, as is typically the case in textbooks on nuclear and particle physics, all solutions are explained in detail. Furthermore, different possible approaches are compared. Some of the problems concern the estimation of quantities in realistic experimental situations. In general, solving the problems does not require a substantial mathematics background, and the focus is instead on developing the reader's sense of physics in order to work out the problem in question. Consequently, sections on experimental methods and detection methods constitute a major part of the book. Given its format and content, it offers a valuable resource, not only for undergraduate classes but also for self-assessment in preparation for graduate school entrance and other examinations.
Monodisperse Highly Ordered and Polydisperse Biobased Solid Foams
This book discusses the synthesis of chitosan-based solid foams using foam templating. Solid foams with pore sizes between a few micrometres and a few millimetres are widely used in a range of established and emerging applications, including filtration, catalysis, sound and thermal insulation, human protection, and tissue engineering. They are lightweight with large surface-to-volume ratios, and have excellent mechanical, acoustic, and thermal properties. However, most foaming processes are extremely complex, and there remains a lack of sound scientific understanding of--and therefore control over--the parameters that determine the properties of the material. One route towards tailor-made solid foams is liquid foam templating, where the liquid foam is generated first (with the desired structure) before being solidified into a solid foam with the desired structure. This book describes how liquid foam templating can be used to synthesise monodisperse solid foams as well as solid foamswith a tuneable polydispersity.
The Physics of the Manhattan Project
The development of nuclear weapons during the Manhattan Project is one of the most significant scientific events of the twentieth century. This revised and updated 4th edition explores the challenges that faced the scientists and engineers of the Manhattan Project. It gives a clear introduction to fission weapons at the level of an upper-year undergraduate physics student by examining the details of nuclear reactions, their energy release, analytic and numerical models of the fission process, how critical masses can be estimated, how fissile materials are produced, and what factors complicate bomb design. An extensive list of references and a number of exercises for self-study are included. Revisions to this fourth edition include many upgrades and new sections. Improvements are made to, among other things, the analysis of the physics of the fission barrier, the time-dependent simulation of the explosion of a nuclear weapon, and the discussion of tamped bomb cores. New sections cover, for example, composite bomb cores, approximate methods for various of the calculations presented, and the physics of the polonium-beryllium "neutron initiators" used to trigger the bombs.The author delivers in this book an unparalleled, clear and comprehensive treatment of the physics behind the Manhattan project.
Basic Concepts in Nuclear Physics: Theory, Experiments and Applications
This book features material presented at the La R獺bida 2018 International Scientific Meeting on Nuclear Physics, which was based on a well-known series of triennial international summer schools on Nuclear Physics organized from 1982 to 2003 by the Basic Nuclear Physics group at the University of Seville and latter, from 2009 to 2018, by the University of Seville and the University of Huelva. The meeting offered graduate students and young researchers a broad overview of the field of nuclear physics.The book includes contributions from invited speakers on topics such as a state-of-the-art nuclear shell model and selected aspects of mass spectroscopy. Other chapters present an introduction to shell model, a review of experimental nuclear reactions, a discussion of the theory of nuclear reactions and an overview of nuclear medicine. Further, the posters and seminars presented by students offer fresh perspectives on various problems current in nuclear physics.
Concluding Papers of Yuri Mnyukh on Solid-State Physics
The articles of this book, dated between 2011 and 2020, represent the final results of an investigation of solid-state phase transitions undertaken by Yuri Mnyukh in 1959. The initial purpose of the study was to reveal how a crystal structure changes into a different structure. A number of key experimental discoveries by Mnyukh and his graduate students had shown that the process is always a crystal growth. From these experiments the nucleation-and-growth molecular mechanism of phase transitions was deducted. The results of the Mnyukh's investigations far exceeded their original purpose. The discovered mechanism of phase transitions turned out to be the universal tool to unravel the physical nature of basic phenomena of solid-state physics. The second-order phase transitions were shown to be nonexistent and the detrimental effects of their theory by Landau on solid-state physics were made evident. The origin of ferromagnetism was accounted for. The molecular mechanism of ferromagnetic transitions, as well as of a magnetization process was explained. The fallacy of the Heisenberg theory of ferromagnetism was demonstrated. The origin of ferroelectricity and the cause of its parallelism with ferromagnetism was uncovered. The mechanism of phase transitions in superconductors was specified. The great enigma of theoretical physics - "heat capacity lambda-anomalies" in solids and liquid He - was eliminated. The theories of critical phenomena in condensed matter was shown to be erroneous and superfluous. The reader will find all that in this book.
Aspetti e Scambi della Materia o Energia
Questo manoscritto, pubblicato per la prima volta a quasi 80 anni dalla sua redazione non ha perso nulla della originale attualit?. Ogni evento fisico, concreto e discreto, 癡 un discontinuo sorto dalla continuit? della materia o energia cosmica, primigenia e universale; ogni massa 癡 un mascheramento, un "aspetto" -virtuale o attuale- della materia o energia che viene specificato e determinato come corpo fisico secondo quantit? e qualit?, perch矇, sebbene ignorata dalla scienza, esiste una ben definita correlazione tra quantit? e qualit?, tra scena e retroscena del mondo fisico. Vengono affrontati e risolti problemi fondamentali tralasciati o travisati dalla Meccanica Quantistica, -come causalit? e determinismo, finalismo, vitalismo, simmetria, energia positiva ed energia negativa-, ampliando i principi della Termodinamica Classica, della Meccanica newtoniana, della Fisica Atomica e le acquisizioni dei protagonisti della fisica moderna, Planck, Einstein, Dirac, de Broglie, Morley, ecc.
Fondamenti di Relativit?
In questo lavoro si vuole porre l'attenzione sul ruolo della matematica nella conoscenza. ? indubbio che essa sia il linguaggio delle scienze ed 癡 indubbia la sua capacit? di sintesi e di chiarezza. Tuttavia bisogna ammettere che in alcuni casi sono presenti dei termini che possono suggerire contesti astratti non riferibili a realt? conosciute. L'analisi condotta fa rilevare contraddizioni e contesti ideali falsati da ipotesi non adeguatamente valutate. Si procede esaminando alcune esperienze ideali cogliendo il significato fisico che scaturisce da un procedimento dettato da una data espressione matematica presente nella legge che descrive il fenomeno in studio. Si analizzano contesti ideali introdotti per generare leggi fisiche evidenziando che la generalizzazione matematica non pu簷 basarsi solo sulla correttezza logica ma occorre tenere in considerazione il reale contesto fisico affinch矇 la legge ottenuta sia coerente con la realt?.
The Instrumental Spectrometric and Spectroscopy Analysis of Natural Food Flavourings
This is the first volume of three which examines the concepts of the atom, atomic structure and the application of infra red spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to the analyis of organic molecules which are responsible for the flavourings of many foods.
Science of Learning Physics, The: Cognitive Strategies for Improving Instruction
This book on the teaching and learning of physics is intended for college-level instructors, but high school instructors might also find it very useful.Some ideas found in this book might be a small "tweak" to existing practices whereas others require more substantial revisions to instruction. The discussions of student learning herein are based on research evidence accumulated over decades from various fields, including cognitive psychology, educational psychology, the learning sciences, and discipline-based education research including physics education research. Likewise, the teaching suggestions are also based on research findings. As for any other scientific endeavor, physics education research is an empirical field where experiments are performed, data are analyzed and conclusions drawn. Evidence from such research is then used to inform physics teaching and learning.While the focus here is on introductory physics taken by most students when they are enrolled, however, the ideas can also be used to improve teaching and learning in both upper-division undergraduate physics courses, as well as graduate-level courses. Whether you are new to teaching physics or a seasoned veteran, various ideas and strategies presented in the book will be suitable for active consideration.
Metamorphic Star
The so-called Clovis Comet that supposedly re-cooled Earth during the event of the Younger Dryas that followed the warming spell at the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age ended up capturing the imagination of both scientists and laymen during the first decade of the twenty-first century.While the present work has much to offer concerning the real cause of that occurrence, it is prefaced with additional evidence in favor of the theoretical model advanced in its three prequels, * in which it is argued that the primordial Earth had basked beneath a different sun than the one that presently shines above us.This previous sun is there shown to have been a sub-brown dwarf that, together with Earth in tow, had been wandering freely through space before it was captured into the confines of the Solar System where, in time, it devolved into the present gaseous planet Saturn.The terrestrial devastation that transpired in conjunction with the Younger Dryas decimated our Paleolithic ancestors, even while exposing the survivors to the phenomenal emanations that were transforming the sun above them. It was their endeavor in trying to understand what was transpiring above their heads that finally led them to endow their brown dwarf star with indomitable life.The fear that the upheaval instilled in them, together with their attempt to placate its heavenly source, is what led our ancestors to ritual pacification in their long climb toward a hope-filled faith that ended in religion.Stated so briefly, the above disclosures are bound to evoke adverse reactions among those of a scientific disposition. Those among them who are prepared to investigate new grounds, however, will discover much to activate their minds in the detailed deliberations presented between the covers of this work.*God Star (2006); Flare Star (2007); Primordial Star (2009)
Manhattan Project
Though thousands of articles and books have been published on various aspects of the Manhattan Project, this book is the first comprehensive single-volume history prepared by a specialist for curious readers without a scientific background. This project, the United States Army's program to develop and deploy atomic weapons in World War II, was a pivotal event in human history. The author presents a wide-ranging survey that not only tells the story of how the project was organized and carried out, but also introduces the leading personalities involved and features simplified but accurate descriptions of the underlying science and the engineering challenges. The technical points are illustrated by reader-friendly graphics.
Contributions to International Conferences on Engineering Surveying
This book presents contributions from the joint event 8th INGEO International Conference on Engineering Surveying and 4th SIG Symposium on Engineering Geodesy, which was planned to be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on April 1-4, 2020 and was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic situation. Editors, in cooperation with the Local Organisers, are decided to organize the Conference on-line at October 22-23, 2020. We would like to invite you to participation through http: //ingeo-sig2020.hgd1952.hr/index.php/2020/08/31/ingeosig2020-virtual-conference-october-22-23-2020/. The event brought together professionals in the fields of civil engineering and engineering surveying to discuss new technologies, their applicability, and operability.
Diseases from Outer Space - Our Cosmic Destiny (Second Edition)
The first edition of the monumental book Diseases from Space by Sir Fred Hoyle and N Chandra Wickramasinghe appeared some 40 years ago, encapsulating the key principles of Panspermia, and it has been the guiding principle in the new scientific field of Astrobiology.This latest edition, revised and expanded by Chandra Wickamasinghe, continues to describe the consequences of the theory of cometary panspermia that relate to the origins of epidemic disease. Available data on historic and modern plagues are analysed to show that extraterrestrial bacteria and viruses are the cause of ongoing pandemics of diseases.Adherence to an inappropriate and obsolete theory of pandemics could put in jeopardy the economic well-being of the entire world, perhaps even threatening the continued existence of our civilization.
General Relativity: A First Examination (Second Edition)
This textbook is suitable for a one-semester introduction to General Relativity for advanced undergraduates in physics and engineering. The book is concise so that the entire material can be covered in the one-semester time frame. Many of the calculations are done in detail, without difficult mathematics, to help the students. Though concise, the theory development is lucid and the readers are exposed to possible analytic calculations.In the second edition, the famous twin paradox with acceleration is solved in full from the accelerated observer's frame. The findings of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, who captured the first ever image of a black hole, are discussed in detail. The geodetic and frame drag precessions of gyroscopes in orbit about a rotating Earth are worked out and the Gravity Probe B (GPB) experiment is discussed. Also in the second edition are some new exercise problems.Resources are provided to instructors who adopt this textbook for their courses. Adopting instructors can print and copy portions of these resources solely for their teaching needs. All instructional resources are furnished for informational use only, and are subject to change without notice.
The Handy Physics Answer Book
An informative, accessible, easy-to-use guide to physics, covering the fundamental concepts and amazing discoveries that govern our universe! We don't need a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to know that everyone is governed by the laws of physics, but what are they? How do they affect us? Why do they matter? What did Newton mean when he said, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?" What is gravity? What is Bernoulli's Principle? Einstein's Theory of Relativity? How do space, time, matter, and energy all interact? How do scientific laws, theories, and hypotheses differ? Physics can often seem difficult or complex, but it's actually beautiful and fun-and it doesn't need to be hard to understand. Revised for the first time in a decade, the completely updated third edition of The Handy Physics Answer Book makes physics and its impact on us, the world, and the universe entertaining and easy to grasp. It disposes with the dense jargon and overly-complicated explanations often associated with physics, and instead it takes an accessible, conceptual approach-never dumbing down the amazing science, yet all written in everyday English. The Handy Physics Answer Book tackles big issues and concepts, like motion, magnetism, sound, and light, and lots of smaller topics too-like, why don't birds or squirrels on power lines get electrocuted?-and makes them enlightening and enjoyable for anyone who picks up this informative book. For everyone who has ever wondered about the sources of energy production in the United States, or how different kinds of light bulbs shine, or why wearing dark-colored clothes is warmer than light-colored ones, or even what happens when you fall into a black hole, The Handy Physics Answer Book examines more than 1,000 of the most frequently asked, most interesting, and most unusual questions about physics, including ... How can I be moving even while I'm sitting still? If the Sun suddenly disappeared, what would happen to the Sun's gravity? What is the energy efficiency of the human body? Why do golf balls have dimples? How can ice help keep plants warm? What kinds of beaches are best for surfing? What do 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G wireless networks mean? Why shouldn't metal objects be placed in microwave ovens? Why does my voice sound different on a recording? Can a light beam be frozen in time? Why are soap bubbles sometimes so colorful? Why does a charged balloon stick to a wall? Is Earth a giant magnet? What are gamma rays? What happens when antimatter strikes matter? What is quantum teleportation? Are artificial intelligence systems able to think on their own? What happens when two black holes collide? How will the universe end? Useful and informative, The Handy Physics Answer Book also includes a glossary of commonly used terms to cut through the jargon, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index. Ideal for students, curious readers of all ages, and anyone reckoning with the essential questions about the universe. This handy resource is an informative primer for applications in everyday life as well as the most significant scientific theories and discoveries of our time. And, we promise, no whiteboard needed.
The Handy Physics Answer BookTheHandy Physics Answer Book
An informative, accessible, easy-to-use guide to physics, covering the fundamental concepts and amazing discoveries that govern our universe! We don't need a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to know that everyone is governed by the laws of physics, but what are they? How do they affect us? Why do they matter? What did Newton mean when he said, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?" What is gravity? What is Bernoulli's Principle? Einstein's Theory of Relativity? How do space, time, matter, and energy all interact? How do scientific laws, theories, and hypotheses differ? Physics can often seem difficult or complex, but it's actually beautiful and fun-and it doesn't need to be hard to understand. Revised for the first time in a decade, the completely updated third edition of The Handy Physics Answer Book makes physics and its impact on us, the world, and the universe entertaining and easy to grasp. It disposes with the dense jargon and overly-complicated explanations often associated with physics, and instead it takes an accessible, conceptual approach-never dumbing down the amazing science, yet all written in everyday English. The Handy Physics Answer Book tackles big issues and concepts, like motion, magnetism, sound, and light, and lots of smaller topics too-like, why don't birds or squirrels on power lines get electrocuted?-and makes them enlightening and enjoyable for anyone who picks up this informative book. For everyone who has ever wondered about the sources of energy production in the United States, or how different kinds of light bulbs shine, or why wearing dark-colored clothes is warmer than light-colored ones, or even what happens when you fall into a black hole, The Handy Physics Answer Book examines more than 1,000 of the most frequently asked, most interesting, and most unusual questions about physics, including ... How can I be moving even while I'm sitting still? If the Sun suddenly disappeared, what would happen to the Sun's gravity? What is the energy efficiency of the human body? Why do golf balls have dimples? How can ice help keep plants warm? What kinds of beaches are best for surfing? What do 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G wireless networks mean? Why shouldn't metal objects be placed in microwave ovens? Why does my voice sound different on a recording? Can a light beam be frozen in time? Why are soap bubbles sometimes so colorful? Why does a charged balloon stick to a wall? Is Earth a giant magnet? What are gamma rays? What happens when antimatter strikes matter? What is quantum teleportation? Are artificial intelligence systems able to think on their own? What happens when two black holes collide? How will the universe end? Useful and informative, The Handy Physics Answer Book also includes a glossary of commonly used terms to cut through the jargon, a helpful bibliography, and an extensive index. Ideal for students, curious readers of all ages, and anyone reckoning with the essential questions about the universe. This handy resource is an informative primer for applications in everyday life as well as the most significant scientific theories and discoveries of our time. And, we promise, no whiteboard needed.
The Janus Point
In a universe filled by chaos and disorder, one physicist makes the radical argument that the growth of order drives the passage of time -- and shapes the destiny of the universe. Time is among the universe's greatest mysteries. Why, when most laws of physics allow for it to flow forward and backward, does it only go forward? Physicists have long appealed to the second law of thermodynamics, held to predict the increase of disorder in the universe, to explain this. In The Janus Point, physicist Julian Barbour argues that the second law has been misapplied and that the growth of order determines how we experience time. In his view, the big bang becomes the "Janus point," a moment of minimal order from which time could flow, and order increase, in two directions. The Janus Point has remarkable implications: while most physicists predict that the universe will become mired in disorder, Barbour sees the possibility that order -- the stuff of life -- can grow without bound. A major new work of physics, The Janus Point will transform our understanding of the nature of existence.
Cognitive Underwater Acoustic Networking Techniques
This book summarizes the latest research on cognitive network-layer methods and smart adaptive physical-layer methods in underwater networks. Underwater communication requires extendable and delay-tolerant underwater acoustic networks capable of supporting multiple frequency bands, data rates and transmission ranges. The book also discusses a suitable foreground communication stack for mixed mobile/static networks, a technology that requires adaptive physical layer waveforms and cognitive network strategies with underlying cooperative and non-cooperative robust processes. The goal is to arrive at a universally applicable standard in the area of Underwater Internet-of-Things [ISO/IEC 30140, 30142, 30143]. The book is the second spin-off of the research project RACUN, after the first RACUN-book "Underwater Acoustic Networking Techniques" (https: //link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-642-25224-2)
Day at Cern, A: Guided Tour Through the Heart of Particle Physics
What lies within CERN's entrails? What is the path followed by the particles that are accelerated before they collide? What does the ATLAS detector look like? Does research at CERN find applications in everyday life? From the accelerator control room to the huge Computing Centre, via the auditorium where the discovery of the Higgs boson was announced in July 2012, I invite you to experience for one day an immersion in the world of research in particle physics! Discovering emblematic installations at CERN, walking through the places where people spend every working day, meeting with researchers in various fields, descending into the ATLAS cavern ... Our visit, whose path will mimic that of the particles during their journey, will be full of anecdotes and surprises. Follow me for a guided tour of CERN, the largest scientific collaboration in the world!
Astrophysics: Theories and Applications
Astrophysics is the sub-field of astronomy that uses the principles of physics and chemistry to ascertain the nature of various astronomical objects instead of their positions in space. The objects that are studied under astrophysics are sun, galaxies, stars, extrasoler planets, the cosmic microwave background, etc. The properties that are studied in this field include luminosity, temperature, density and chemical composition. However the modern astronomical studies often involve a substantial amount of work in the domains of theoretical and observational physics. Observational astrophysics includes radio astronomy, infrared astronomy, optical astronomy, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma ray astronomy, etc. Some other areas of study in this discipline include the properties of dark energy, black holes, dark matter and other celestial bodies. This book unravels the recent studies in the field of astrophysics. Also included herein is a detailed explanation of the various theories and applications of astrophysics. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.
Principles of Atomic Physics
The field of physics which studies atoms as an atomic nucleus and an isolated system of electrons is known as atomic physics. Its fundamental concern is the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus and the mechanisms through which these arrangements change. Both neutral atoms and ions are studied under this discipline. The processes of ionization and excitation by photons or collisions with atomic particles are also dealt within this field. The underlying theory in plasma physics and atmospheric physics has been provided by atomic physics. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of atomic physics. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make it an invaluable source of knowledge. This book is an essential guide for both academicians and those who wish to pursue this discipline further.
Introduction to Spectroscopy
The study of interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation is known as spectroscopy. It measures the radiation intensity as a function of wavelength. Spectroscopy is used as a basic exploratory tool in various fields such as physics, chemistry and astronomy. It allows the electronic structure, composition and physical structure of matter to be analyzed at atomic, macro and molecular scale. Some of the measurement devices that are used in this field are spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectral analyzers. There are various types of spectroscopy which are characterized by the nature of interaction between the material and energy. A few of these types are absorption spectroscopy, emission spectroscopy, impedance spectroscopy and reflection spectroscopy. The topics included in this book on spectroscopy are of utmost significance and bound to provide incredible insights to readers. Different approaches, evaluations and methodologies related to this field have been included herein. The book is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.
New Frontiers in Astronomy
Astronomy is the natural science that involves the observation and explanation of various events occurring outside Earth and its atmosphere. It applies chemistry, mathematics and physics to study the origin, phenomena and evolution of celestial bodies. The celestial objects studied under this discipline include nebulae, planets, stars, moons, galaxies and comets. It also studies phenomena like quasars, cosmic microwave background radiation, supernova, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts. Astronomy can be further classified into solar astronomy, astrophysics, stellar astronomy, astrochemistry, galactic astronomy, astrobiology and cosmology. This book attempts to understand the multiple branches that fall under the discipline of astronomy and how such concepts have practical applications. It strives to provide a fair idea about this field and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances within this area of study. Scientists and students actively engaged in this field will find it full of crucial and unexplored concepts.
Statistical Field Theory for Neural Networks
I. IntroductionII. Probabilities, moments, cumulantsA. Probabilities, observables, and momentsB. Transformation of random variablesC. CumulantsD. Connection between moments and cumulantsIII. Gaussian distribution and Wick's theoremA. Gaussian distributionB. Moment and cumulant generating function of a GaussianC. Wick's theoremD. Graphical representation: Feynman diagramsE. Appendix: Self-adjoint operatorsF. Appendix: Normalization of a GaussianIV. Perturbation expansionA. General caseB. Special case of a Gaussian solvable theoryC. Example: Example: "phi^3 + phi^4" theoryD. External sourcesE. Cancellation of vacuum diagramsF. Equivalence of graphical rules for n-point correlation and n-th momentG. Example: "phi^3 + phi^4" theoryV. Linked cluster theoremA. General proof of the linked cluster theoremB. Dependence on j - external sources - two complimentary viewsC. Example: Connected diagrams of the "phi^3 + phi^4" theoryVI. Functional preliminariesA. Functional derivative1. Product rule2. Chain rule3. Special case of the chain rule: Fourier transformB. Functional Taylor seriesVII. Functional formulation of stochastic differential equationsA. Onsager-Machlup path integral*B. Martin-Siggia-Rose-De Dominicis-Janssen (MSRDJ) path integralC. Moment generating functionalD. Response function in the MSRDJ formalismVIII. Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process: The free Gaussian theoryA. DefinitionB. Propagators in time domainC. Propagators in Fourier domainIX. Perturbation theory for stochastic differential equationsA. Vanishing moments of response fieldsB. Vanishing response loopsC. Feynman rules for SDEs in time domain and frequency domainD. Diagrams with more than a single external legE. Appendix: Unitary Fourier transformX. Dynamic mean-field theory for random networksA. Definition of the model and generating functionalB. Property of self-averagingC. Average over the quenched disorderD. Stationary statistics: Self-consistent autocorrelation of as motion of a particle in a potentialE. Transition to chaosF. Assessing chaos by a pair of identical systemsG. Schr繹dinger equation for the maximum Lyapunov exponentH. Condition for transition to chaosXI. Vertex generating functionA. Motivating example for the expansion around a non-vanishing mean valueB. Legendre transform and definition of the vertex generating function GammaC. Perturbation expansion of GammaD. Generalized one-line irreducibilityE. ExampleF. Vertex functions in the Gaussian caseG. Example: Vertex functions of the "phi^3 + phi^4"-theoryH. Appendix: Explicit cancellation until second orderI. Appendix: Convexity of WJ. Appendix: Legendre transform of a GaussianXII. Application: TAP approximationInverse problemXIII. Expansion of cumulants into tree diagrams of vertex functionsA. Self-energy or mass operator SigmaXIV. Loopwise expansion of the effective action - Tree levelA. Counting the number of loopsB. Loopwise expansion of the effective action - Higher numbers of loopsC. Example: phi^3 + phi^4-theoryD. Appendix: Equivalence of loopwise expansion and
Advances in Molecular Biophysics
Molecular biophysics is an interdisciplinary domain of research which combines the principles of physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and biology. It aims to explain bimolecular systems and biological functions in terms of dynamic behaviour, molecular structure and structural organization. This field seeks to understand biological processes and functions at different levels of complexity, such as from viruses to small living systems, and from single molecules to supramolecular structures. The study of allosteric interactions, molecular forces, molecular associations, cable theory and Brownian motion are also addressed by molecular biophysics. Procedures that enable imaging and manipulation of living structures aid research in molecular biophysics. Spectroscopic techniques comprising of laser Raman, FT-NMR, FT-infrared, spin label electron spin resonance, etc. are widely used to understand structural dynamics of biomolecules and their intermolecular interactions. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts and emerging trends in the field of molecular biophysics. The various advancements in this field are glanced at and their applications as well as ramifications are looked at in detail. Students, researchers, experts and all associated with molecular biophysics will benefit alike from this book.
Heat Transfer: Fundamentals and Applications
The discipline of thermal engineering which is concerned with the generation, use, conservation and exchange of thermal energy between physical systems is referred to as heat transfer. The transfer of mass of varying chemical species to achieve heat transfer is also explored under this field. The fundamental modes of heat transfer include advection, conduction, convection and radiation. Advection is the transport mechanism of fluid that depends on its motion and momentum. Conduction is the transfer of energy between objects that are in physical contact. Convection refers to the transfer of energy between an object and its environment due to fluid motion. The transfer of energy by the emission of electromagnetic radiation is known as radiation. This book covers in detail some existent theories and innovative concepts revolving around heat transfer. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by it. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this textbook an invaluable source of knowledge.
Uncovering Early Galaxy Evolution in the Alma and Jwst Era (Iau S352)
The first three billion years of cosmic time were the prime epoch of galaxy formation. Characterising galaxies at this epoch is therefore crucial to achieving a major goal of modern astrophysics: to understand how galaxies such as our Milky Way emerged from the primordial density fluctuations in the early Universe and how they evolved through cosmic time. Recent major international investments in observing facilities such as the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) promise to provide the next leap in our understanding of this topic. This volume gathers the scientific contributions to the International Astronomical Union Symposium 352, which was devoted to this topic. The community of theoretical and observational experts discuss how we can make the most of ALMA and JWST synergies in advancing our understanding of galaxy evolution in the young Universe.
Domain Walls
Technological evolution and revolution are both driven by the discovery of new functionalities, new materials and the design of yet smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient components. Progress is being made at a breathtaking pace, stimulated by the rapidly growing demand for more powerful and readily available information technology. High-speed internet and data-streaming, home automation, tablets and smartphones are now "necessities" for our everyday lives. Consumer expectations for progressively more data storage and exchange appear to be insatiable. Oxide electronics is a promising and relatively new field that has the potential to trigger major advances in information technology. Oxide interfaces are particularly intriguing. Here, low local symmetry combined with an increased susceptibility to external fields leads to unusual physical properties distinct from those of the homogeneous bulk. In this context, ferroic domain walls have attracted recent attention as a completely new type of oxide interface. In addition to their functional properties, such walls are spatially mobile and can be created, moved, and erased on demand. This unique degree of flexibility enables domain walls to take an active role in future devices and hold a great potential as multifunctional 2D systems for nanoelectronics. With domain walls as reconfigurable electronic 2D components, a new generation of adaptive nano-technology and flexible circuitry becomes possible, that can be altered and upgraded throughout the lifetime of the device. Thus, what started out as fundamental research, at the limit of accessibility, is finally maturing into a promising concept for next-generation technology.
New Frontiers in Photoenergy
Photoenergy is the renewable energy which is derived from sunlight using a variety of technologies such as photovoltaics, solar architecture and solar heating. Photovoltaics refer to the conversion of light energy into electricity by using semiconductors which show photovoltaic effect. The solar cells in the photovoltaic system produce DC electricity from sunlight which can be used to charge batteries or power equipment. Solar architecture incorporates principles from architecture in order to harness clean and renewable solar power. Solar heaters make use of solar thermal collectors for collecting heat using sunlight. A few examples of solar heaters are solar parabolic troughs, solar water heaters and solar air heaters. This book provides comprehensive insights into the field of photoenergy. It presents researches and studies performed by experts across the globe. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.
General Relativity: A First Examination (Second Edition)
This textbook is suitable for a one-semester introduction to General Relativity for advanced undergraduates in physics and engineering. The book is concise so that the entire material can be covered in the one-semester time frame. Many of the calculations are done in detail, without difficult mathematics, to help the students. Though concise, the theory development is lucid and the readers are exposed to possible analytic calculations.In the second edition, the famous twin paradox with acceleration is solved in full from the accelerated observer's frame. The findings of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration, who captured the first ever image of a black hole, are discussed in detail. The geodetic and frame drag precessions of gyroscopes in orbit about a rotating Earth are worked out and the Gravity Probe B (GPB) experiment is discussed. Also in the second edition are some new exercise problems.Resources are provided to instructors who adopt this textbook for their courses. Adopting instructors can print and copy portions of these resources solely for their teaching needs. All instructional resources are furnished for informational use only, and are subject to change without notice.
The Chemistry of Polymers
The scientific field that is concerned with the chemical synthesis, structure, and the physical and chemical properties of polymers and macromolecules is known as polymer chemistry. Its principles and methods are also applicable in a variety of sub-disciplines of chemistry such as organic chemistry, physical chemistry and analytical chemistry. On the basis of their origin, polymers are subdivided into biopolymers and synthetic polymers. The functional and structural materials that make most of the organic matter in organisms are biopolymers. Synthetic polymers are the structural materials that are manifested in synthetic fibers, paints, building materials, furniture, plastics, mechanical parts and adhesives. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts in the field of polymer chemistry. Some of the diverse topics covered herein address the varied branches that fall under this category. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by this book.
Geometry of Black Holes
Black holes present one of the most fascinating predictions of Einstein's general theory of relativity. There is strong evidence of their existence through observation of active galactic nuclei, including the centre of our galaxy, observations of gravitational waves, and others. There exists a large scientific literature on black holes, including many excellent textbooks at various levels. However, most of these steer clear from the mathematical niceties needed to make the theory of black holes a mathematical theory. Those which maintain a high mathematical standard are either focused on specific topics, or skip many details. The objective of this book is to fill this gap and present a detailed, mathematically oriented, extended introduction to the subject. The book provides a wide background to the current research on all mathematical aspects of the geometry of black hole spacetimes.
Brownian Motion and Molecular Reality
Between 1905 and 1913, French physicist Jean Perrin's experiments on Brownian motion ostensibly put a definitive end to the long debate regarding the real existence of molecules, proving the atomic theory of matter. While Perrin's results had a significant impact at the time, later examination of his experiments questioned whether he really gained experimental access to the molecular realm. The experiments were successful in determining the mean kinetic energy of the granules of Brownian motion; however, the values for molecular magnitudes Perrin inferred from them simply presupposed that the granule mean kinetic energy was the same as the mean molecular kinetic energy in the fluid in which the granules move. This stipulation became increasingly questionable in the years between 1908 and 1913, as significantly lower values for these magnitudes were obtained from other experimental results like alpha-particle emissions, ionization, and Planck's blackbody radiation equation. In this case study in the history and philosophy of science, George E. Smith and Raghav Seth here argue that despite doubts, Perrin's measurements were nevertheless exemplars of theory-mediated measurement-the practice of obtaining values for an inaccessible quantity by inferring them from an accessible proxy via theoretical relationships between them. They argue that it was actually Perrin more than any of his contemporaries who championed this approach during the years in question. The practice of theory-mediated measurement in physics had a long history before 1900, but the concerted efforts of Perrin, Rutherford, Millikan, Planck, and their colleagues led to the central role this form of evidence has had in microphysical research ever since. Seth and Smith's study thus replaces an untenable legend with an account that is not only tenable, but more instructive about what the evidence did and did not show.
Mass
Everything around us is made of 'stuff', from planets, to books, to our own bodies. Whatever it is, we call it matter or material substance. It is solid; it has mass. But what is matter, exactly? We are taught in school that matter is not continuous, but discrete. As a few of the philosophers of ancient Greece once speculated, nearly two and a half thousand years ago, matter comes in 'lumps', and science has relentlessly peeled away successive layers of matter to reveal its ultimate constituents. Surely, we can't keep doing this indefinitely. We imagine that we should eventually run up against some kind of ultimately fundamental, indivisible type of stuff, the building blocks from which everything in the Universe is made. The English physicist Paul Dirac called this 'the dream of philosophers'. But science has discovered that the foundations of our Universe are not as solid or as certain and dependable as we might have once imagined. They are instead built from ghosts and phantoms, of a peculiar quantum kind. And, at some point on this exciting journey of scientific discovery, we lost our grip on the reassuringly familiar concept of mass. How did this happen? How did the answers to our questions become so complicated and so difficult to comprehend? In Mass Jim Baggott explains how we come to find ourselves here, confronted by a very different understanding of the nature of matter, the origin of mass, and its implications for our understanding of the material world. Ranging from the Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus, and their theories of atoms and void, to the development of quantum field theory and the discovery of a Higgs boson-like particle, he explores our changing understanding of the nature of matter, and the fundamental related concept of mass.
The Large Hadron Collider
Since 2008 scientists have conducted experiments in a hyperenergized, 17-mile supercollider beneath the border of France and Switzerland. The Large Hadron Collider (or what scientists call "the LHC") is one of the wonders of the modern world--a highly sophisticated scientific instrument designed to re-create in miniature the conditions of the universe as they existed in the microseconds following the big bang. Among many notable LHC discoveries, one led to the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for revealing evidence of the existence of the Higgs boson, the so-called God particle.Picking up where he left off in The Quantum Frontier, physicist Don Lincoln shares an insider's account of the LHC's operational history and gives readers everything they need to become well informed on this marvel of technology.Writing about the LHC's early days, Lincoln offers keen insight into an accident that derailed the operation nine days after the collider's 2008 debut. A faulty solder joint started a chain reaction that caused a massive explosion, damaged 50 superconducting magnets, and vaporized large sections of the conductor. The crippled LHC lay dormant for over a year, while technical teams repaired the damage.Lincoln devotes an entire chapter to the Higgs boson and Higgs field, using several extended analogies to help explain the importance of these concepts to particle physics. In the final chapter, he describes what the discovery of the Higgs boson tells us about our current understanding of basic physics and how the discovery now keeps scientists awake over a nagging inconsistency in their favorite theory.As accessible as it is fascinating, The Large Hadron Collider reveals the inner workings of this masterful achievement of technology, along with the mind-blowing discoveries that will keep it at the center of the scientific frontier for the foreseeable future.
Day at Cern, A: Guided Tour Through the Heart of Particle Physics
'This brief book offers an interesting, fun, and widely accessible first-person tour of CERN, the European Center for Nuclear Research, the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. The facilities at CERN include the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 27-kilometer particle accelerator that straddles the border between Switzerland and France. The LHC was famously used to discover the Higgs boson, a long-sought fundamental particle. Physics historian Depambour (University of Paris) is enthusiastic about all aspects of CERN, especially its role as an agent for peace and international cooperation. The book focuses mainly on the physical layout of the CERN campus and its experimental facilities, but Depambour also includes an introduction to the standard model of particle physics and a history of the search for the Higgs boson. Supporting illustrations and interviews help convey the atmosphere and culture of CERN. The book can be read and enjoyed by virtually anyone interested in modern science, starting with students currently in high school. It will also be welcome as a useful orientation for undergraduates and graduate students whose research interests might eventually take them to CERN. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.'CHOICEWhat lies within CERN's entrails? What is the path followed by the particles that are accelerated before they collide? What does the ATLAS detector look like? Does research at CERN find applications in everyday life?From the accelerator control room to the huge Computing Centre, via the auditorium where the discovery of the Higgs boson was announced in July 2012, I invite you to experience for one day an immersion in the world of research in particle physics! Discovering emblematic installations at CERN, walking through the places where people spend every working day, meeting with researchers in various fields, descending into the ATLAS cavern ... Our visit, whose path will mimic that of the particles during their journey, will be full of anecdotes and surprises.Follow me for a guided tour of CERN, the largest scientific collaboration in the world!
Nasa’s First Space Shuttle Astronaut Selection
Unofficially they called themselves the TFNG, or the Thirty-Five New Guys. Officially, they were NASA's Group 8 astronauts, selected in January 1978 to train for orbital missions aboard the Space Shuttle. Prior to this time only pilots or scientists trained as pilots had been assigned to fly on America's spacecraft, but with the advent of the innovative winged spacecraft the door was finally opened to non-pilots, including women and minorities. In all, 15 of those selected were categorised as Pilot Astronauts, while the other 20 would train under the new designation of Mission Specialist. Altogether, the Group 8 astronauts would be launched on a total of 103 space missions; some flying only once, while others flew into orbit as many as five times. Sadly, four of their number would perish in the Challenger tragedy in January 1986. In their latest collaborative effort, the authors bring to life the amazing story behind the selection of the first group of Space Shuttle astronauts, examining their varied backgrounds and many accomplishments in a fresh and accessible way through deep research and revealing interviews. Throughout its remarkable 30-year history as the workhorse of NASA's human spaceflight exploration, twice halted through tragedy, the Shuttle fleet performed with magnificence. So too did these 35 men and women, swept up in the dynamic thrust and ongoing development of America's Space Shuttle program. "This book on the Group 8 Astronauts, the TFNGs, is an excellent summation of the individuals first selected for the new Space Shuttle Program. It provides insight into what it took to first get the Space Shuttle flying. For any space enthusiast it is a must read." - Robert L. Crippen PLT on STS-1 "As a reader, I had many moments where long, lost memories of the triumph and tragedy of the space shuttle program were brilliantly reawakened at the turn of a page. Loved it! This is a must-have book for every space enthusiast's library." - TFNG Mission Specialist Astronaut Richard 'Mike' Mullane, author of Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut "Many of the anecdotes in the book brought back memories of challenges, opportunities, and a team of men and women who were committed not just to the space program, but to one another...I've gone back to it several times as a reference source." - TFNG Steve Hawley, 5-time Space Shuttle Mission Specialist Astronaut "The TFNG book is incredible and amazingly thorough! The detail in the book is awesome! It is my go-to book for any of the details I've forgotten." - TFNG Dr. Rhea Seddon, 3-time Space Shuttle Mission Specialist Astronaut. "I can't believe how detailed and complete it is!!! FANTASTIC work!!!" - TFNG Robert L."Hoot" Gibson, 5-time Space Shuttle Pilot & Commander and former Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office
Microphysics of Magnetic Reconnection in Near-Earth Space
This book presents recent advances in the physics of magnetic reconnection, investigated via both in situ spacecraft observations and fully kinetic numerical simulations. Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process in plasma physics during which the topological reconfiguration of the magnetic field leads to energy conversion and particle energization. The book focuses on the physics of the electron diffusion region (EDR), a crucial region where the electrons are decoupled from the magnetic field and efficiently accelerated by the electric field. By using recent, high-resolution measurements provided by NASA's Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission (MMS), the book investigates the structure of the EDR at the Earth's magnetopause. The presented analysis provides evidence for an inhomogeneous and patchy EDR structure. The structure of the EDR appears to be more complex than the in laminar picture suggested by previous observations and simulations. Then, electrons dynamics inthe EDR is studied using a novel, fully kinetic Eulerian Vlasov-Darwin model that has been implemented in the Vlasov-DArwin numerical code (ViDA), explained in detail in the book. Lastly, the book covers the testing of this new code, and investigates the contributions of the different terms in the generalized Ohm's law within the EDR, highlighting the role of the electron inertia term.
