Particle Physics: Concepts, Technology and Applications
The branch of physics which focuses on the study of the nature of particles which comprise radiation and matter is known as particle physics. It also studies the fundamental interactions which are necessary to explain the behavior of the irreducibly small particles. Some of the subatomic particles studied within this field are protons, electrons, neutrons, quarks and leptons. The classification of these particles is done using the theory of the Standard Model of particle physics. There are numerous other theories which are also studied within this field like quantum field theory, effective field theory and lattice field theory. Particle physics is applied in varied sectors such as medicine, computing and national security. This book includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on various topics related to particle physics. It is an upcoming field of science that has undergone rapid development over the past few decades. This book will help the readers in keeping pace with the rapid changes in this field.
Introduction to Atomic Physics
Atomic physics deals with the study of atoms as an isolated system of electrons and an atomic nucleus. Atomic models in this discipline consist of a single nucleus that can be surrounded by one or more bound electrons. These electrons exist in a notional shell around the nucleus, and are considered to be in bound state. Atomic physics deals with the study of processes such as ionization and excitation by photons and collisions with atomic particles. The process of ionization involves an atom or molecule obtaining negative or positive charge by gaining or losing electrons. Atomic physics is closely related to the fields of molecular and optical physics. This book explores all the important aspects of atomic physics in the present day scenario. The topics covered herein deal with the core subjects of this field. The coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge.
Active Matter Within and Around Us
This book presents a comprehensive review of various aspects of the novel and rapidly developing field of active matter, which encompasses a wide variety of self-organized self-driven energy-consuming media or agents. Most naturally occurring examples are of biological origin, spanning all scales from intracellular structures to swimming and crawling cells and microorganisms, to living tissues, bacterial colonies and flocks of birds. But the field also encompasses artificial systems, from colloids to soft robots. Intrinsically out of equilibrium and free of constraints of time-reversal symmetry, such systems display a range of surprising and unusual behaviors.​ In this book, the author emphasizes connections between fluid-mechanical, material, biological and technological aspects of active matter. He employs a minimum of mathematical tools, ensuring that the presentation is accessible to a wider scientific community. Richly illustrated, it gives the reader a clear picture of this fascinating field, its diverse phenomena and its open questions.
The Universe
This volume provides a detailed description of some of the most active areas in astrophysics from the largest scales probed by the Planck satellite to massive black holes that lie at the heart of galaxies and up to the much awaited but stunning discovery of thousands of exoplanets. It contains the following chapters: - Jean-Philippe UZAN, The Big-Bang Theory: Construction, Evolution and Status - Jean-Loup PUGET, The Planck Mission and the Cosmic Microwave Background - Reinhard GENZEL, Massive Black Holes: Evidence, Demographics and Cosmic Evolution - Arnaud CASSAN, New Worlds Ahead: The Discovery of ExoplanetsReinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez shared the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy'", alongside Roger Penrose "for the discovery that black hole formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity". The book corresponds to the twentieth Poincar矇 Seminar, held on November 21, 2015, at Institut Henri Poincar矇 in Paris. Originally written as lectures to a broad scientific audience, these four chapters are of high value and will be of general interest to astrophysicists, physicists, mathematicians and historians.
Magnetism and Accelerator-Based Light Sources
This open access book collects the contributions of the seventh school on Magnetism and Synchrotron Radiation held in Mittelwihr, France, from 7 to 12 October 2018. It starts with an introduction to the physics of modern X-ray sources followed by a general overview of magnetism. Next, light / matter interaction in the X-ray range is covered with emphasis on different types of angular dependence of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scattering. In the end, two domains where synchrotron radiation-based techniques led to new insights in condensed matter physics, namely spintronics and superconductivity, are discussed. The book is intended for advanced students and researchers to get acquaintance with the basic knowledge of X-ray light sources and to step into synchrotron-based techniques for magnetic studies in condensed matter physics or chemistry.
Pde Control of String-Actuated Motion
New adaptive and event-triggered control designs with concrete applications in undersea construction, offshore drilling, and cable elevators Control applications in undersea construction, cable elevators, and offshore drilling present major methodological challenges because they involve PDE systems (cables and drillstrings) of time-varying length, coupled with ODE systems (the attached loads or tools) that usually have unknown parameters and unmeasured states. In PDE Control of String-Actuated Motion, Ji Wang and Miroslav Krstic develop control algorithms for these complex PDE-ODE systems evolving on time-varying domains. Motivated by physical systems, the book's algorithms are designed to operate, with rigorous mathematical guarantees, in the presence of real-world challenges, such as unknown parameters, unmeasured distributed states, environmental disturbances, delays, and event-triggered implementations. The book leverages the power of the PDE backstepping approach and expands its scope in many directions. Filled with theoretical innovations and comprehensive in its coverage, PDE Control of String-Actuated Motion provides new design tools and mathematical techniques with far-reaching potential in adaptive control, delay systems, and event-triggered control.
Covid-19 Pandemic Dynamics
Introduction 1. Data used for calculations, comparisons and verifications 2. Early stages of epidemics and exponential growth 3. Comparisons of the early stages of Covid-19 pandemic in different regions 4. Classical SIR model and the exact solution of differential equations 5. Statistics-based procedure of the parameter identification for the classical SIR model 6. Probability of meeting an infected person 7. Estimations of the effective reproduction number 8. Results of SIR simulation for the pandemic dynamics in different countries and regions 9. Hidden periods of Covid-19 pandemic 10. Long-time predictions for the pandemic dynamics 11. Identification of the new waves of the Covid-19 pandemic 12. General SIR model and its exact solution 13. Procedures of the parameter identification for the waves of epidemics 14. Applications of the general SIR model for calculations of the Covid-19 epidemic waves in Ukraine 15. Global waves of Covid-19 pandemic 16. Conclusions
Topics and Solved Exercises at the Boundary of Classical and Modern Physics
Chapter 1. Atoms.- Chapter 2. Matter-Radiation Interaction.- Chapter 3. Black Body Radiation.- Chapter 4. Thermodynamics.- References.- Appendix A. Michelson and Morley's experiment.- Appendix B. Useful mathematical reminders in physics.- Index.
A Mathematical Introduction to General Relativity
The book aims to give a mathematical presentation of the theory of general relativity (that is, spacetime-geometry-based gravitation theory) to advanced undergraduate mathematics students. Mathematicians will find spacetime physics presented in the definition-theorem-proof format familiar to them. The given precise mathematical definitions of physical notions help avoiding pitfalls, especially in the context of spacetime physics describing phenomena that are counter-intuitive to everyday experiences.In the first part, the differential geometry of smooth manifolds, which is needed to present the spacetime-based gravitation theory, is developed from scratch. Here, many of the illustrating examples are the Lorentzian manifolds which later serve as spacetime models. This has the twofold purpose of making the physics forthcoming in the second part relatable, and the mathematics learnt in the first part less dry. The book uses the modern coordinate-free language of semi-Riemannian geometry. Nevertheless, to familiarise the reader with the useful tool of coordinates for computations, and to bridge the gap with the physics literature, the link to coordinates is made through exercises, and via frequent remarks on how the two languages are related.In the second part, the focus is on physics, covering essential material of the 20th century spacetime-based view of gravity: energy-momentum tensor field of matter, field equation, spacetime examples, Newtonian approximation, geodesics, tests of the theory, black holes, and cosmological models of the universe.Prior knowledge of differential geometry or physics is not assumed. The book is intended for self-study, and the solutions to the (over 200) exercises are included.
About the Biggest, the Smallest, and Everything Else: Travelling Through the Universe with a Physicist Guide
This is a popular science book on physics, astronomy and related sciences, designed for a wider audience.It is written as a guide for a tour along the ladder of scales from the Universe as a whole to the microcosm. The main scales are the Universe, Solar System, the Earth, normal human size, atoms, and elementary particles. Exotic objects such as black holes and neutron stars are also considered, as well as the foundations of the scientific method, its connection with philosophy, and a story about how modern science arose. This book contains many useful illustrations.The basic concepts of physics are discussed: forces, fields, quantum phenomena, structure of matter, phase transitions, atoms, molecules, dark matter, and dark energy. And also galaxies, supernova explosions, the Sun, planets, exoplanets, black holes, neutron stars, white dwarfs, the possibility of space expansion of mankind. The book also discusses phenomena like rainbow, mirages, lightning, climate on Earth, as well as practical applications like nuclear and thermonuclear reactors, superconductivity and helium-3 mining on the Moon. This book has included the latest results.
Thermal Engineering Volume 2
This highly informative and carefully presented book offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of thermal engineering. The book focuses both on the fundamentals and more complex topics such as the basics of thermodynamics, Zeroth Law of thermodynamics, first law of thermodynamics, application of first law of thermodynamics, second law of thermodynamics, entropy, availability and irreversibility, properties of pure substance, vapor power cycles, introduction to working of IC engines, air-standard cycles, gas turbines and jet propulsion, thermodynamic property relations and combustion. The author has included end-of-chapter problems and worked examples to augment learning and self-testing. This book is a useful reference to undergraduate students in the area of mechanical engineering.
Daily Energy Use and Carbon Emissions
Provides an accessible and relatable approach for understanding how much energy we use in our day-to-day lives Daily Energy Use and Carbon Emissions enables readers to directly evaluate their energy use, estimate the resulting carbon emissions, and use the information to better appreciate and address the impact their activities have on climate change. Using quantities and terms rooted in everyday life, this easy-to-understand textbook helps readers determine the energy they consume driving a car, preparing a meal, charging electronic devices, heating and cooling a house or apartment, and more. Throughout the text, clear explanations, accurate information, and numerous real-world examples help readers to answer key energy questions such as: How much energy does your house use in a month? What impact will turning off lightbulbs in your home have on energy conservation? Which car emits more CO2 into the atmosphere per mile, a 50 MPG gasoline car or a 100 MPG equivalent electric car? Demonstrating the relation between daily energy use, carbon emissions, and everyday activities in a new way, this innovative textbook: Examines daily activities within the context of the basic needs: energy, food, air, and water Covers topics such as daily water use, renewable energy, water and energy sources, transportation, concrete and steel, and carbon capture and storage Includes discussion of energy and CO2 emissions relative to infrastructure and population growth Provides supplemental teaching material including PowerPoint slides, illustrative examples, homework assignments, discussion questions, and classroom quizzes with answersDaily Energy Use and Carbon Emissions: Fundamentals and Applications for Students and Professionals is a perfect textbook for students and instructors in Environmental Engineering programs, and an essential read for those pursuing careers in areas related to energy, environment, and climate change.
Thermal Engineering Volume 1
This highly informative and carefully presented book offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of thermal engineering. The book focuses both on the fundamentals and more complex topics such as the basics of thermodynamics, Zeroth Law of thermodynamics, first law of thermodynamics, application of first law of thermodynamics, second law of thermodynamics, entropy, availability and irreversibility, properties of pure substance, vapor power cycles, introduction to working of IC engines, air-standard cycles, gas turbines and jet propulsion, thermodynamic property relations and combustion. The author has included end-of-chapter problems and worked examples to augment learning and self-testing. This book is a useful reference to undergraduate students in the area of mechanical engineering.
National Geographic Stargazer's Atlas
Witness the wonder of the night skies with a complete, fully-illustrated atlas from National Geographic. Find more than 200 maps and graphics of every planet and constellation visible from Earth, plus guides for finding the best places to view the stars. From the basics of space science and maps of every planet in our solar system, to sky charts for all four seasons, Stargazer's Atlas has it all. Including more than 350 photographs taken from Earth and outer space, plus more than 200 maps and graphics for observing the sky, this atlas is practical, comprehensive, and perfect for stargazers everywhere. Find inside: sky charts for all four seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheresdetails on all 88 constellations visible from Earthguides to dark-sky preserves around the worldcutting-edge maps of every planet in the solar system, plus dwarf planets Ceres and Plutoadvice and tips for observing night-sky phenomenaspecial pages detailing "deep-sky treasures"--how to see galaxies, star clouds, and supernovae
Extraterrestrial
New York Times Bestseller Wall Street Journal Bestseller Publishers Weekly Bestseller Publishers Marketplace 2020 Buzz Book Amazon Best Book of the Year Longlisted for the 2022 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing AwardHarvard's top astronomer lays out his controversial theory that our solar system was recently visited by advanced alien technology from a distant star."Provocative and thrilling ... Loeb asks us to think big and to expect the unexpected."--Alan Lightman, New York Times bestselling author of Einstein's Dreams and Searching for Stars on an Island in MaineIn late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed an object soaring through our inner solar system, moving so quickly that it could only have come from another star. Avi Loeb, Harvard's top astronomer, showed it was not an asteroid; it was moving too fast along a strange orbit, and left no trail of gas or debris in its wake. There was only one conceivable explanation: the object was a piece of advanced technology created by a distant alien civilization.In Extraterrestrial, Loeb takes readers inside the thrilling story of the first interstellar visitor to be spotted in our solar system. He outlines his controversial theory and its profound implications: for science, for religion, and for the future of our species and our planet. A mind-bending journey through the furthest reaches of science, space-time, and the human imagination, Extraterrestrial challenges readers to aim for the stars--and to think critically about what's out there, no matter how strange it seems.
Planetary Systems
Not long ago, the Solar System was the only example of a planetary system - a star and the bodies orbiting it - that we knew. Now, we know thousands of planetary systems, and have even been able to observe planetary systems at the moment of their birth. This Very Short Introduction explores this new frontier, incorporating the latest research. The book takes the reader on a journey through the grand sweep of time, from the moment galaxies begin to form after the Big Bang to trillions of years in the future when the Universe will be a dilute soup of dim galaxies populated mostly by red dwarf stars. Throughout, Raymond T. Pierrehumbert introduces the latest insights gained from a new generation of telescopes that catch planetary systems at the moment of formation, and to the theoretical advances that attempt to make sense of these observations. He explains how the elements that make up life and the planets on which life can live are forged in the interiors of dying stars, and make their way into rocky planets. He also explores the vast array of newly discovered planets orbiting stars other than our own, and explains the factors that determine their climates. Finally, he reveals what determines how long planetary systems can live, and what happens in their end-times. bVery Short Introductionsb: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring /b ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
What the Ear Hears (and Doesn't)
"You'll never listen to the world the same way again. A truly ear-opening experience!" --Chris Ferrie, award-winning physicist and author of Where Did the Universe Come From? And Other Cosmic QuestionsFor readers of Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill O'Neill, What the Ear Hears (and Doesn't) is a fascinating science book for adults that explores the physics principle of frequency and the (sometimes weird) role it plays in our everyday lives.What do the world's loneliest whale, a black hole, and twenty-three people doing Tae Bo all have in common?In 2011, a skyscraper in South Korea began to shake uncontrollably without warning and was immediately evacuated. Was it an earthquake? An attack? No one seemed quite sure. The actual cause emerged later and is utterly fascinating: Twenty-three middle-aged folks were having a Tae Bo fitness class in the office gym on the twelfth floor. Their beats had inadvertently matched the building's natural frequency, and this coincidence--harnessing a basic principle of physics--caused the building to shake at an alarming rate for ten minutes. Frequency is all around us, but little understood.Musician, composer, TV presenter, and educator Richard Mainwaring uses the concept of the Infinite Piano to reveal the extraordinary world of frequency in a multitude of arenas--from medicine to religion to the environment to the paranormal--through the universality of music and a range of memorable human (and animal) stories laced with dry humor. Whether you're science curious, musically inclined, or just want to know what a Szechuan pepper has to do with physics, What the Ear Hears (and Doesn't) is an immensely enjoyable read filled with "did you know?" trivia you'll love to share with friends.
Plasma-Catalysis for Environmental and Energy-Related Applications
Plasma catalysis has been a topic of research for many years due to its potential for applications in a wide range of chemical, environmental, and energy-related processes. Non-thermal plasma offers an unconventional way to initiate chemical reactions in gas and in liquid due to the energetic electrons generated in the plasma; however, it suffers from low selectivity. The coupling of plasma with catalysis can steer the reactions in the desired direction, thus ensuring improved selectivity towards the target products and reducing unwanted ones. Environmental applications of plasma catalysis have been focused on the removal of various air and water pollutants, while energy applications include hydrogen, syngas and ammonia production.This Special Issue demonstrates plasma catalysis as a solution to environmental problems caused by the greenhouses gases CO2 and CH4, which can be converted to value-added products and fuels, air pollution with stable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, and water pollution with pharmaceutical products.
Introduction to Unified Mechanics Theory with Applications
This text describes the mathematical formulation and proof of the unified mechanics theory (UMT) which is based on the unification of Newton's laws and the laws of thermodynamics. It also presents formulations and experimental verifications of the theory for thermal, mechanical, electrical, corrosion, chemical and fatigue loads, and it discusses why the original universal laws of motion proposed by Isaac Newton in 1687 are incomplete. The author provides concrete examples, such as how Newton's second law, F = ma, gives the initial acceleration of a soccer ball kicked by a player, but does not tell us how and when the ball would come to a stop. Over the course of Introduction to Unified Mechanics Theory, Dr. Basaran illustrates that Newtonian mechanics does not account for the thermodynamic changes happening in a system over its usable lifetime. And in this context, this book explains how to design a system to perform its intended functions safely over its usable life time and predicts the expected lifetime of the system without using empirical models, a process currently done using Newtonian mechanics and empirical degradation/failure/fatigue models which are curve-fit to test data. Written as a textbook suitable for upper-level undergraduate mechanics courses, as well as first year graduate level courses, this book is the result of over 25 years of scientific activity with the contribution of dozens of scientists from around the world including USA, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Spain, China, India and U.K.
Large-Scale System Analysis Under Uncertainty
Discover a comprehensive set of tools and techniques for analyzing the impact of uncertainty on large-scale engineered systems. Providing accessible yet rigorous coverage, it showcases the theory through detailed case studies drawn from electric power application problems, including the impact of integration of renewable-based power generation in bulk power systems, the impact of corrupted measurement and communication devices in microgrid closed-loop controls, and the impact of components failures on the reliability of power supply systems. The case studies also serve as a guide on how to tackle similar problems that appear in other engineering application domains, including automotive and aerospace engineering. This is essential reading for academic researchers and graduate students in power systems engineering, and dynamic systems and control engineering.
High-Energy Astrophysics
This textbook is designed to serve as a link between the basic disciplines of physics and the frontier topics within high energy astrophysics, aiming at a level of difficulty congruent with that of other physics topics studied at undergraduate level. Therefore, this preparatory and introductory text serves as a gateway to a more detailed study of many of the most interesting and complex phenomena being investigated by contemporary astrophysics. Among others, these include: the evolution of stars, supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, solar neutrinos, and - importantly - the exciting new field of gravitational wave astronomy.The book is supplemented by a collection of problems with which students can test their understanding of the material presented.
Mechanisms of Fire
This textbook on fire dynamics provides a comprehensive description of fuels involved in fires, definitions related to fire, thermodynamics for fire calculations, basics of transport processes and fundamental aspects of combustion related to fire, physical descriptions of premixed and non-premixed flames, detailed analysis of the characteristics of fires from solid and liquid fuels, including ignition, spread and burning rates and physical aspects of fire plumes, compartment fires and dust fires. The contents also highlight fundamental aspects related to the evaporation of liquid fuels and pyrolysis of solid fuels which are explained with simplified mathematical expressions. The book includes pedagogical features such as worked examples to illustrate mathematical calculations involved in fire analysis and end-of-chapter review questions. This book proves useful for students, researchers and industry professionals alike.
The Physics of Dew, Breath Figures and Dropwise Condensation
In this book, the author focuses on the physics behind dew, breaths figures, and dropwise condensation phenomena to introduce scientists, engineers and students to the many original processes involved in condensation. Consisting of 15 Chapters, 18 Appendices and over 500 references, the reader learns the needed theoretical backgrounds and formulae to understand the complexity of dropwise condensation. Heat and mass transfer, nucleation and growth on various substrates are considered (solid, liquid, plastic, undergoing phase change or micro-patterned substrates). The particular role of thermal or geometrical discontinuities where growth can be enhanced or reduced, dynamical aspects of self-diffusion, problems related to drop collection by gravity and the optics of dropwise condensation are all discussed. Although the content mainly deals with condensation from humid air, it can readily be generalized to condensation of any substance. The specificities of pure vapor condensation (e.g. steam) are also examined. Numerous images are provided within the text to illustrate the physics. This book is meant for those studying or researching dew and dropwise condensation, but also for individuals wishing to develop their knowledge on the subject.
Dynamic System Modeling and Analysis with MATLAB and Python
Dynamic System Modeling & Analysis with MATLAB & Python A robust introduction to the advanced programming techniques and skills needed for control engineering In Dynamic System Modeling & Analysis with MATLAB & Python: For Control Engineers, accomplished control engineer Dr. Jongrae Kim delivers an insightful and concise introduction to the advanced programming skills required by control engineers. The book discusses dynamic systems used by satellites, aircraft, autonomous robots, and biomolecular networks. Throughout the text, MATLAB and Python are used to consider various dynamic modeling theories and examples. The author covers a range of control topics, including attitude dynamics, attitude kinematics, autonomous vehicles, systems biology, optimal estimation, robustness analysis, and stochastic system. An accompanying website includes a solutions manual as well as MATLAB and Python example code. Dynamic System Modeling & Analysis with MATLAB & Python: For Control Engineers provides readers with a sound starting point to learning programming in the engineering or biology domains. It also offers: A thorough introduction to attitude estimation and control, including attitude kinematics and sensors and extended Kalman filters for attitude estimation Practical discussions of autonomous vehicles mission planning, including unmanned aerial vehicle path planning and moving target tracking Comprehensive explorations of biological network modeling, including bio-molecular networks and stochastic modeling In-depth examinations of control algorithms using biomolecular networks, including implementation Dynamic System Modeling & Analysis with MATLAB & Python: For Control Engineers is an indispensable resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students seeking practical programming instruction for dynamic system modeling and analysis using control theory.
Thermal System Design and Optimization
This highly informative and carefully presented textbook introduces the general principles involved in system design and optimization as applicable to thermal systems, followed by the methods to accomplish them. It introduces contemporary techniques like Genetic Algorithms, Simulated Annealing, and Bayesian Inference in the context of optimization of thermal systems. There is a separate chapter devoted to inverse problems in thermal systems. It also contains sections on Integer Programming and Multi-Objective optimization. The linear programming chapter is fortified by a detailed presentation of the Simplex method. A major highlight of the textbook is the inclusion of workable MATLAB codes for examples of key algorithms discussed in the book. Examples in each chapter clarify the concepts and methods presented and end-of-chapter problems supplement the material presented and enhance the learning process.
A Traveler's Guide to the Stars
A brief guide to the real science of interstellar travel With known exoplanets now numbering in the thousands and initiatives like 100 Year Starship and Breakthrough Starshot advancing the idea of interstellar travel, the age-old dream of venturing forth into the cosmos and perhaps even colonizing distant worlds may one day become a reality. A Traveler's Guide to the Stars reveals how. Les Johnson takes you on a thrilling tour of the physics and technologies that may enable us to reach the stars. He discusses the latest exoplanet discoveries, promising interstellar missions on the not-so-distant horizon, and exciting new developments in space propulsion, power, robotics, communications, and more. But interstellar travel will not be easy, and it is not for the faint of heart. Johnson describes the harsh and forbidding expanse of space that awaits us, and he addresses the daunting challenges--both human and technological--that we will need to overcome in order to realize tomorrow's possibilities. A Traveler's Guide to the Stars is your passport to the next great frontier of human discovery, providing a rare inside look at the remarkable breakthroughs in science and technology that will help tomorrow's space travelers chart a course for the stars.
Lunar Orbiter Photographic Atlas of the Near Side of the Moon
In 1967, Lunar Orbiter Mission 4 sent back to Earth a superb series of photographs of the surface of the Moon. Using 21st century computer techniques, Charles Byrne - previously System Engineer of the Apollo Program for Lunar Orbiter Photography - has removed the scanning artifacts and transmission imperfections to produce a most comprehensive and beautifully detailed set of images of the lunar surface. To help practical astronomers, all the photographs are systematically related to an Earth-based view. The book has been organized to make it easy for astronomers to use, enabling ground-based images and views to be compared with the Orbiter photographs. Every astronomer - amateur and professional - who is interested in the Moon will want this book in his library!
The Stardust Revolution
In 1957, as Americans obsessed over the launch of the Soviet Sputnik satellite, another less noticed space-based scientific revolution was taking off. That year, astrophysicists solved a centuries-old quest for the origins of the elements, from carbon to uranium. The answer they found wasn't on Earth, but in the stars. Their research showed that we are literally stardust. The year also marked the first conference that considered the origin of life on Earth in an astrophysical context. It was the marriage of two of the seemingly strangest bedfellows--astronomy and biology--and a turning point that award-winning science author Jacob Berkowitz calls the Stardust Revolution.In this captivating story of an exciting, deeply personal, new scientific revolution, Berkowitz weaves together the latest research results to reveal a dramatically different view of the twinkling night sky--not as an alien frontier, but as our cosmic birthplace. Reporting from the frontlines of discovery, Berkowitz uniquely captures how stardust scientists are probing the universe's physical structure, but rather its biological nature. Evolutionary theory is entering the space age.From the amazing discovery of cosmic clouds of life's chemical building blocks to the dramatic quest for an alien Earth, Berkowitz expertly chronicles the most profound scientific search of our era: to know not just if we are alone, but how we are connected. Like opening a long-hidden box of old family letters and diaries, The Stardust Revolution offers us a new view of where we've come from and brings to light our journey from stardust to thinking beings.
Welcome Back Pluto! We're glad that you're a planet again.
We call them strawberries, even though they are not berries. Scientifically, they're not even a fruit. Tomatoes are technically a fruit, but tomato paste is legally classified as a vegetable. If we're being scientific, peanuts are not nuts, and hermit crabs are not crabs. So why is it so important that Pluto can't be called a planet? Don't blame science. Do you know the scientific definition of a metal? Or a continent? or a mountain? Or a river? Or a species? Or a civilization? It turns out, none of these words have any scientifically rigorous definitions. Do we need a rigorous, scientific definition for the word "planet"? Maybe not. The vast majority of planetary scientists recognize a subtle truth about the IAU's definition; it's about as useful as the fuzzy green casserole leftovers from last month growing in the back of someone's fridge. It should be thrown out with the garbage. In terms of scientific utility, it is utterly worthless. When it comes to defining terms that don't need to be defined, or naming insignificant things like the 97,058th asteroid, the IAU is very persnickety. But when it comes to naming the largest features in the solar system, like the Kuiper Belt, it seems that no one is in charge. Most astronomers agree that Kuiper was the wrong name for it. Gerard Kuiper wasn't the first to describe it, didn't discover any Kuiper Belt objects, and believed it didn't even exist. So how did we get stuck with that name?Why was it so important to change the status of Pluto, but not fix this blunder? If Pluto is just another Kuiper Belt object, then Clyde Tombaugh discovered the first Kuiper Belt Object when he discovered Pluto. Maybe the Kuiper Belt should be called the Tombaugh Belt. There are political forces within the IAU to prevent that from happening, but politics should have no place in science. If we are going to be scientific, we must also give up the obvious falsehood that the four gas giants belong in the same category as the four terrestrial planets. Literally everything about them is different, often by orders of magnitude. Composition, density, scale, topology, celestial neighborhoods... These are clearly two separate categories of things. Putting them in the same category is profoundly bad science. The only similarity they share is that they look like stars when viewed from Earth with naked eyes.Regarding the status of Pluto, there is only one obvious solution to this conundrum. The word 'planet' belongs more to the realm of history and literature than to science. We must divorce the word 'planet' from any hard, rigorous scientific meaning. We can do better. Biology, chemistry, meteorology and more have logical and useful systems of taxonomy, while astronomy's taxonomy is an ad-hoc kludge. This book does not solve that problem. It only exposes the truth of it and suggests ideas for other people to ponder. Perhaps one of those people can become the Carl Linnaeus of astronomy.
Applied Physics and Technology
The branch of physics which is intended for a particular practical or technological use is termed as applied physics. It is rooted in the fundamental concepts of the physical sciences but focuses on the utilization of scientific principles in actual devices and systems. It functions as a bridge between physics and engineering. Applied physics contributes significantly towards technological advances such as the development of electronics and photonics. It is also involved in the improvement of practical investigations such as experimental particle physics and experimental nuclear physics. Some of the other major research areas where applied physics is used are microscopy, semiconductors, electromagnetic propulsion and lasers. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of applied physics and technology. It will also provide interesting topics for research which interested readers can take up. This book will help the readers in keeping pace with the rapid changes in this field.
Acoustics: Principles and Applications
The branch of physics that focuses on the study of mechanical waves in gases, liquids and solids is referred to as acoustics. It includes topics such as vibration, sound, infrasound and ultrasound. Acoustics is used in numerous industries such as audio and noise control industries. It is also used in various other sectors such as medicine, architecture, industrial production and warfare. A few of the major sub-disciplines of acoustics are archaeoacoustics, architectural acoustics, aeroacoustics and psychoacoustics. Archaeoacoustics involves the testing of the acoustic properties of prehistoric sites. Architectural acoustics seeks to control and regulate sound within a building. Aeroacoustics studies the noise produced by air movement and psychoacoustics deals with the perception of sounds by humans. This textbook provides comprehensive insights into the field of acoustics. Some of the diverse topics covered herein address the varied branches that fall under this category. This book will provide comprehensive knowledge to the readers.
Quantum f-Divergences in von Neumann Algebras
1 Introduction.- 2 Standard f -Divergences.- 3 R矇nyi Divergences and Sandwiched R矇nyi Divergences.- 4 Maximal f -Divergences.- 5 Measured f -Divergences.- 6 Reversibility and Quantum Divergences.- 7 Reversibility and Measurements.- 8 Preservation of Maximal f -Divergences.- A Preliminaries on von Neumann Algebras.- B Preliminaries on Positive Self-Adjoint Operators.- C Operator Convex Functions on (0,1).- D Operator Connections of Normal Positive Functionals.
Supernova
A concise illustrated introduction to the history and physics of supernovae, the brilliant explosions of stars; with striking color illustrations. Supernovae are the explosions of stars. They are some of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, rivaling the combined light of billions of stars. Supernovae have been studied for centuries, and they have also made appearances in popular culture: a glimpse of a supernova in a painting provides Sherlock Holmes with a crucial clue, for example. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, astrophysicist Or Graur offers a concise and accessible introduction to these awe-inspiring astronomical phenomena. Graur explains that a deep observational understanding of supernovae--why and how they shine and how their brightness changes over time--allows us to use them as tools for experiments in astrophysics and physics. A certain type of supernova, for example, brightens and fades in such a predictable manner that we can measure the distances to their host galaxies. We owe our existence to supernovae--they give us iron for our blood and calcium for our bones. But supernovae may also have caused a mass extinction event on Earth 2.6 million years ago. Graur shows how observations of supernovae played a role in the transformation of astronomy from astrology to astrophysics; surveys the tools used to study supernovae today; and describes the lives and deaths of stars and the supernova remnants, neutron stars, and black holes they leave behind. Illustrations in both color and black and white, many from Graur's own Hubble Space Telescope data, make this account of supernovae particularly vivid.
Relativity
Albert Einstein needs no introduction. He is known for the great marvels when it came to his area of expertise, that is, physics. The book, by Albert Einstein, talks about much debated and deliberated topic, Relativity. Einstein has presented a detailed descriptions and explanation of the concept which has won him most praise compared to any other concepts presented by him. Even though this book and the theories presented in it, where vehemently opposed on religious ground, but Einstein gave the
Introductory Incompressible Fluid Mechanics
This introduction to the mathematics of incompressible fluid mechanics and its applications keeps prerequisites to a minimum - only a background knowledge in multivariable calculus and differential equations is required. Part One covers inviscid fluid mechanics, guiding readers from the very basics of how to represent fluid flows through to the incompressible Euler equations and many real-world applications. Part Two covers viscous fluid mechanics, from the stress/rate of strain relation to deriving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, through to Beltrami flows, the Reynolds number, Stokes flows, lubrication theory and boundary layers. Also included is a self-contained guide on the global existence of solutions to the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Students can test their understanding on 100 progressively structured exercises and look beyond the scope of the text with carefully selected mini-projects. Based on the authors' extensive teaching experience, this is a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate students across mathematics, science, and engineering.
Aerothermodynamics and Jet Propulsion
Get up to speed with this robust introduction to the aerothermodynamics principles underpinning jet propulsion, and learn how to apply these principles to jet engine components. Suitable for undergraduate students in aerospace and mechanical engineering, and for professional engineers working in jet propulsion, this textbook includes consistent emphasis on fundamental phenomena and key governing equations, providing students with a solid theoretical grounding on which to build practical understanding; clear derivations from first principles, enabling students to follow the reasoning behind key assumptions and decisions, and successfully apply these approaches to new problems; practical examples grounded in real-world jet propulsion scenarios illustrate new concepts throughout the book, giving students an early introduction to jet and rocket engine considerations; and online materials for course instructors, including solutions, figures, and software resources, to enhance student teaching.
Finite Volume Methods for the Incompressible Navier-Stokes Equations
The book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the most recent developments in finite volume methods. Its focus is on the development and analysis of these methods for the two- and three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations, supported by extensive numerical results. It covers the most used lower-order finite element pairs, with well-posedness and optimal analysis for these finite volume methods.The authors have attempted to make this book self-contained by offering complete proofs and theoretical results. While most of the material presented has been taught by the authors in a number of institutions over the past several years, they also include several updated theoretical results for the finite volume methods for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. This book is primarily developed to address research needs for students and academic and industrial researchers. It is particularly valuable as a research reference in the fields of engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer sciences.
The World Formula
Surely the reader had come across situations where he would have given his life to get the "final answer", the reason for our existence, a Theory of Everything, a true World Formula that contains it all... So did the author of this book. There was this deep-seated and forever unquenchable thirst for fundamental explanations on the one hand, and then there was this very special motivation from somebody else who needed this knowledge, on the other: "How to explain the world to my dying child?" Perhaps this provided the driving force to actually start this million-mile-long journey with the first small--and very tentative--step.Considering all the efforts taken, money spent, disputes fought, papers and books written, and conferences held, it is almost shocking to find that, in principle, the World Formula was already there. It was David Hilbert who wrote it down during World War I in November 1915. The complexity of the math involved was not the only thing that obscured what should have been obvious. This book explains why apparently only very few people had realized his immortal stroke of genius.
Modularity and Dynamics on Complex Networks
Complex networks are typically not homogeneous, as they tend to display an array of structures at different scales. A feature that has attracted a lot of research is their modular organisation, i.e., networks may often be considered as being composed of certain building blocks, or modules. In this Element, the authors discuss a number of ways in which this idea of modularity can be conceptualised, focusing specifically on the interplay between modular network structure and dynamics taking place on a network. They discuss, in particular, how modular structure and symmetries may impact on network dynamics and, vice versa, how observations of such dynamics may be used to infer the modular structure. They also revisit several other notions of modularity that have been proposed for complex networks and show how these can be related to and interpreted from the point of view of dynamical processes on networks.
A Field Book of the Stars
This book has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and future generations. This whole book has been reformatted, retyped and designed. These books are not made of scanned copies and hence the text is clear and readable.
Lasers Physics
Prof. Albert Einstein's concept on stimulated emission in 1918 became a reality in 1960 with the advent of masers and lasers. Subsequently, scientific commu-nity found many applications of lasers in various fields of science. Although, laser is a non-ionizing radiation, its power and energy may cause severe injuries if it is used carelessly at operation theatres, beauty par-lours and in our daily life. Hence, laser knowledge is of utmost importance to those personnel who are in the medical as
Solid State Physics
In preparing the book, the author has taken special care to present the topics in a coherent, simple and straightforward manner. SI units have been used throughout this book. Numericalproblems are solved in each chapter wherever necessary for the better understanding of thesubject. Exercises including problems have been given at the end of each chapter. This book is intended as a textbook for B.Sc and M.Sc Physics curriculum. It is also helpfulto the students of Chemistry, Materials Science and
Atomic Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is an indispensable tool in understanding physical and chemical structure, and today verysophisticated spectroscopic instruments are available with modern data processing techniques. This bookcovers the elementary and basic aspects of atomic spectroscopy like Bohr's theory and atomic physics up to thelatest developments including laser cooling, Bose-Einstein condensates and atom lasers. Spectroscopy playsa major role in every field of science and this book would be valuable for phys
Physics and Finance
This book introduces physics students to concepts and methods of finance. Despite being perceived as quite distant from physics, finance shares a number of common methods and ideas, usually related to noise and uncertainties. Juxtaposing the key methods to applications in both physics and finance articulates both differences and common features, this gives students a deeper understanding of the underlying ideas. Moreover, they acquire a number of useful mathematical and computational tools, such as stochastic differential equations, path integrals, Monte-Carlo methods, and basic cryptology. Each chapter ends with a set of carefully designed exercises enabling readers to test their comprehension.
Water and Earthquakes
This open access book explores the interactions between water and earthquakes, including recent concerns about induced seismicity. It further highlights that a better understanding of the response of the water system to disturbances such as earthquakes is needed to safeguard water resources, to shield underground waste repositories, and to mitigate groundwater contamination. Although the effects of earthquakes on streams and groundwater have been reported for thousands of years, this field has only blossomed into an active area of research in the last twenty years after quantitative and continuous documentation of field data became available. This volume gathers the important advances that have been made in the field over the past decade, which to date have been scattered in the form of research articles in various scientific journals.
Superconductor/Ferromagnet Nanostructures
It used to be difficult to reliably fabricate clean heterostructures using magnetic and superconducting layers. Today this is no longer the case; such reproducible superconductor/ferromagnet heterostructures enable the quantitative study of the rich and varied phenomena associated with ferromagnet/superconductor proximity effects. These structures are eminent, suitable candidates for many switching devices, ranging from non-volatile low power memory elements to quantum computing applications involving Josephson junctions.This book's main purpose is to explain how the equilibrium and transport properties of these heterostructures can be accurately calculated starting from a standard BCS type Hamiltonian. The main techniques, including both analytical and numerical methods, are discussed in detail. Results obtained from these calculations are shown to be in excellent quantitative agreement with experiment.This is a theory book, but the theory is neither abstruse nor esoteric. Knowledge of only introductory graduate physics has been assumed; a solid undergraduate training and a bit of perseverance would also be enough. This book can easily be read and understood by experimentalists, and just about anybody can grasp the basics by referring to the figures and explanations. Quite apart from the manifold applications of superconductor/ferromagnet nanostructures, studying them provides us with considerable insights into fundamental physics and the general study of hybrid nanomaterials.
