Advanced Topics in Physics: Fall 2005 - Introduction to Modern Physics
An
introduction to physics in the twentieth century including these
topics: the special theory of relativity; Bohr theory and the
semi-classical treatment of atoms, atomic structure and radiation
plus a brief excursion into quantum mechanics; nuclear physics and
nuclear radiation.
PREREQUISITES:
one term of Calculus, one term of physics
TEXTBOOK:
Rohlf, Modern Physics from A to Z,
1994
Homework problems: weekly assignments, mostly from text
Lab Experiences:
Thomson measurement of e/m
Millikan measurement of the electronic charge e
X-rays
short-lived isotopes
statistics of nuclear counting & dead
time
nuclear spectroscopy
SELECTED
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Anderson, Elmer: Modern Physics and QM,
Saunders, 1971. Some history; some formal QM; some applications; some
relativity; interesting mixture.
Ashby & Miller: Principles of
Modern Physics
Blatt: Modern Physics, 1992
Eisberg: Fundamentals of Modern
Physics. Widely used textbook for junior-senior level course
Feynman: The Feynman Lectures Vol
III. A very different first approach to quantum physics.
French & Taylor: Intro to Quantum
Physics, Norton, 1978, $19.95. Excellent intro. to quantum theory.
Krane: Modern Physics, 1996.
Landshoff; Metherell: Simple Quantum
Physics, Cambridge U, 1980, $10.95
Leighton: Principles of Modern Physics.
Famous, but out of date and sometimes difficult.
McGervey: Introduction to Modern
Physics
Ohanian: Modern Physics
Richtmeyer, Kennard et al: Introduction
to Modern Physics. Classic book, very historical approach.
Serway, Moses, Moyer: Modern Physics
Sproull & Phillips: Modern Physics
Taylor &
Zafiratos: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Tipler: Elementary Modern Physics
Tipler: Modern Physics
Weidner & Sells: Elementary Modern
Physics, Allyn & Bacon
Wehr, Richards and Adair: Physics of
the Atom (4th ed. 1984). Beautifully simple, good story line.
Wichmann: Quantum Physics (Vol. 4 of
The Berkeley Physics Course) 1967. Worthwhile.
March: Physics for Poets, 1968.
Still one of the best books of its kind; a very fast read.
More advanced, or less directly useful
references:
Beiser: Perspectives of Modern Physics,
McGraw-Hill, 1969, Lots of facts, superficial discussion. Many
applications mentioned.
Bethe; Jackiw: Intermediate QM, 3d Ed.,
Benj-Cummings, 1986, $24.95, Classic textbook.
Bohm, David: Quantum Theory, Prentice-Hall,
1951, Philosophical orientation
Born, Max: The Mechanics of the Atom,
Frederick Ungar Pub.(reprint), 1927(1960), Unique derivation via
Hamilton-Jacobi theory and quantum theory of radiating systems.
Cole, K.C.: Sympathetic Vibrations:
Reflections on Physics as a Way of Life, Bantam, 1985, $9.95
Dicke; Wittke: Introduction to QM, A-W,
1960, $25.95, Concise & clear.
Dirac: QM, 4th ed, Oxford U., 1982, $19.95
ppbk.
Flugge: Practical QM, Springer, 1974,
530.1F646p
Landau & Lifshitz: QM -
Non-Relativistic Theory (vol 3 of Course in Theoretical Physics) ,
Pergamon, 1977.
Powell; Crasemann: QM, A-W, 1961, $29.95,
Old favorite, very thorough and complete.
Semat: Introduction to Atomic &
Nuclear Physics, HRW, 1966.
Slater: Modern Physics, McGraw-Hill, 1955,
Classic text.
Slater: Quantum Theory of Molecules &
Solids, McGraw-Hill, 1963.
Slater: Concepts and Development of Quantum
Theory, Dover, 1955.
Yariv: An Introduction to Theory &
Applications of QM, Wiley, 1982, $26.95.