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• Escape from the jungle of no imaginations
• The changeless change
• Superposition
• The zen of quantum fields
• Emergence
• If Basquiat were a physicist
• What banged?
• A dark conductor of quantum galaxies
• Cosmic virtual reality
• Embracing instabilities
• A cosmologist's view of a quantum elephant
• The cosmic biosphere
• Dark ideas on alien life
• Into the cosmic matrix
• The cosmic mind and quantum cosmology

"Where does great physics come from? As a young graduate student, cosmologist Stephon Alexander had a life-changing lesson in the subject. When asked by the legendary theoretical physicist Christopher Isham why he had attended graduate school, Alexander answered: "To become a better physicist." He could hardly have anticipated Isham's response: "Then stop reading those physics books." Instead, Isham said, Alexander should start listening to his dreams. This is only the first of a great many surprising and even shocking lessons in Fear of a Black Universe. As Alexander explains, greatness in physics requires transgression, a willingness to reject conventional expectations. He shows why progress happens when some physicists come to think outside the mainstream, and both the outsiders and insiders respond to the resulting tensions. He also shows why, as in great jazz, great physics requires a willingness to make things up as one goes along, and a willingness to rely on intuition when the path forward isn't clear. Unfortunately, most physicists are too afraid of being wrong -- and jeopardizing their careers -- to embrace this sort of improvisation. Indeed, for a long time Alexander was, too. Of course, Alexander doesn't mean that physics should be lawless. After all, even jazz musicians must respect the key and tempo of the music their fellow musicians are playing. But it does mean that not all the answers can be found, as Isham argued, as equations in a book. Drawing on Einstein's notion of principle theories -- ideas that constrain the shape that other theories take -- Alexander shows that from general relativity to quantum theory, three principles underlie everything we know about the Universe: the principle of invariance, the quantum principle, and the principle of emergence. Using these three principles as a guide, Alexander takes a stab at some of the greatest mysteries of the Universe, including what happened before the Big Bang; the quantum theory of gravity; the nature of dark energy and dark matter; and the quantum physics of consciousness. Along the way, he explains where our understanding of the universe and those principles don't jibe, as in the nature of the Big Bang, and asks what such discrepancies mean. He shows us what discoveries lie on the horizon, and crucially, calls on us not just to embrace improvisation and knowledge outside of physics but to diversify our scientific communities by reaching out to people of color. As compelling as it is necessary, Fear of a Black Universe offers us remarkable insight into the art of physics and empowers us all to theorize"-- Provided by publisher

• Contents
• 1 Linear DC Circuits 15
• 1.1 Circuit Elements. The Water Analogy
• 1.2 Ohm's Law and Power Loss in Resistors
• 1.3 The Voltage Divider. Circuit Inputs and Outputs
• 1.4 Kirchho?'s Laws
• 1.5 Equivalent Circuits and Current Sources
• 1.6 Understanding the Equipment: Multimeter 1.7 Application: Four-Lead Measurements
• 1.8 The Physics and Chemistry of Batteries
• 1.9 Extra Problems
• 2 Linear AC Circuits
• 2.1 The Water Analogy for AC Circuit Elements
• 2.2 Derivation of Capacitor Behavior
• 2.3 Derivation of Inductor Behavior
• 2.4 Intrinsic Time Constants
• 2.5 Complex Impedance
• 2.6 Decibels and Signal Level
• 2.7 Advanced Topic. Fourier Transforms
• 2.8 Resonant Circuits and Bandpass Filters
• 2.9 Understanding the Equipment: Oscilloscope
• 2.10 Understanding the Equipment: Function Generator
• 2.11 Extra Problems
• 3 Transmission Lines and Signal Propagation
• 3.1 Circuit Model of a Transmission Line
• 3.2 Impedance of a Transmission Line
• 3.3 Reection of Signals at Interfaces. Impedance Matching
• 3.4 Advanced Topic. Degradation of Signals in Transmission Lines
• 3.4.1 A Cable with Resistance
• 3.4.2 A Cable with Dispersion
• 3.5 Understanding the Equipment: Pulse Generator
• 3.6 Transformers
• 3.6.1 Inductive Transformers
• 3.6.2 Capacitive Field Coupling
• 3.7 Generators and Three-Phase Power
• 3.8 Antennas and Radiation Loss
• 3.9 Noise Reduction Methods
• 3.9.1 Balanced-Unbalanced Conversion. Ground Loops
• 3.9.2 Shielding
• 3.10 Advanced Topic. Spectral Analysis and Electrical Noise
• 3.10.1 Thermal Noise
• 3.10.2 Shot Noise
• 3.10.3 Phase Fluctuations
• 3.11 Understanding the Equipment: Spectral Analyzer
• 3.12 Extra Problems
• 4 Introduction to Nonlinear Circuit Elements
• 4.1 Water Analogy for Diodes
• 4.2 Bands and Band Gaps
• 4.3 Semiconductors
• 4.3.1 Electrons in Periodic Crystals
• 4.3.2 Holes
• 4.3.3 Semiconductor Doping 4.4 Interfaces and Band Bending
• 4.4.1 Metal-to-Metal Junctions. Thermocouples
• 4.4.2 Doped Semiconductor Interfaces
• 4.4.3 Metal Contacts and Surface States
• 4.4.4 Junctions with Undoped Semiconductors
• 4.5 Diodes and Rectiers
• 4.5.1 Rectiers
• 4.5.2 The Concept of Dynamic Resistance
• 4.5.3 Zener Diodes
• 4.5.4 Tunnel Diodes. Negative Dynamic Resistance
• 4.5.5 Schottky Diodes. Recovery Time of Diodes
• 4.6 Advanced Topic. Chaos in Diode Circuits
• 4.7 Varistors. Tunneling Resistance
• 4.8 Fuses
• 4.9 Extra Problems
• 5 Transistors
• 5.1 Water Analogy for Transistors
• 5.2 Bipolar Transistors
• 5.3 Basic Bipolar Transistor Circuits
• 5.3.1 Follower. Input and Output Impedance
• 5.3.2 Current Source. The Concept of Negative Feedback
• 5.3.3 Inverting Amplier
• 5.3.4 Di?erential Amplier
• 5.3.5 Advanced Topic. Push-Pull. Amplier Classes
• 5.3.6 Advanced Topic. Temperature Compensation
• 5.4 Field-E?ect Transistors
• 5.4.1 JFETs .
• 5.4.2 MOSFETs
• 5.4.3 Advanced Topic. Estimation of the Saturation Current in FETs
• 5.4.4 General properties of FETs
• 5.5 Understanding the Equipment: I-V Curve Tracer
• 5.6 Thyristors
• 5.7 Extra Problems
• 6 Operational Ampliers and Comparators
• 6.1 Hierarchies of Circuits. Op-Amps
• 6.2 Negative Feedback. Simple Amplier Circuits
• 6.3 Analog Math with Ampliers. Mixers
• 6.4 Positive Feedback. Comparators and Triggers
• 6.5 Oscillators
• 6.5.1 Relaxation Oscillator
• 6.5.2 Advanced Topic. Voltage-Controlled Oscillator 6.5.3 Advanced Topic. Crystal Oscillators
• 6.6 Active Frequency Filters
• 6.6.1 Articial Inductors
• 6.6.2 Single Op-Amp Filters
• 6.6.3 Advanced Topic. Cascaded and Optimized Filters 6.6.4 Advanced Topic. Tunable Bandpass Filter
• 6.7 Application: Feedback to Keep a Signal Constant
• 6.8 Open-Collector Comparators and Transistor Logic
• 6.9 Understanding the Equipment: Timing Electronics
• 6.10 The Physics of Lithography
• 6.11 Extra Problems
• 7 Digital Logic
• 7.1 Combinatorial Logic
• 7.2 Bistable Circuits and Dynamic Memory
• 7.3 Flip Flops
• 7.4 Registers. The Concept of Information
• 7.5 Binary Math. Addition Registers
• 7.6 Counters and Sequential Logic. Timing Diagrams
• 7.6.1 Ripple Counter
• 7.6.2 Advanced Topic. 555 Timer
• 7.7 Analog Versus Digital Information
• 7.8 D/A and A/D Conversion. Successive Approximation Register
• 7.9 Advanced Topic. Phase-Locked Loop
• 7.10 Application: Homodyne and Heterodyne Experiments
• 7.11 AM and FM Communication
• 7.12 Understanding the Equipment: Lock-In Detector
• 7.13 Understanding the Equipment: Sampling Scope
• 7.14 Extra Problems
• 8 Processors and Computers
• 8.1 State Machines and Turing Machines
• 8.2 Buses, Three-State Logic, and Handshaking
• 8.3 Memory Addressing
• 8.4 Basic CPU Elements
• 8.5 Advanced Topic. Machine Language Programming
• 8.6 Memory
• 8.6.1 RAM and ROM
• 8.6.2 Magnetic Memory
• 8.7 Advanced Topic. Energy Cost of Information
• 8.8 Understanding the Equipment: Parallel and Serial Buses
• 8.9 Error Correction in Communication
• 8.10 Application: General Concepts of Computer Control of Equipment
• 8.11 Extra Problems
• 9 Interfaces to the Non-Electronic World
• 9.1 Light Detection and Emission
• 9.1.1 Wave Quantization and Photons
• 9.1.2 Incandescent Light Sources
• 9.1.3 Fluorescent Light Sources and Spark Gaps
• 9.1.4 Photodiodes and LEDs
• 9.1.5 Solar Cells
• 9.1.6 Lasers
• 9.1.7 Avalanche Photon Detectors
• 9.2 Understanding the Equipment: Discriminators and Counters
• 9.3 Application: Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
• 9.4 Particle Detectors
• 9.5 Understanding the Equipment: Multichannel Analyzer
• 9.6 Imaging
• 9.6.1 CCD Imagers
• 9.6.2 LCD Displays 9.6.3 Other Displays
• 9.7 Electrical Control of Motion
• 9.7.1 AC motors
• 9.7.2 Solenoids, Stepper Motors, and Galvos
• 9.7.3 Sound systems
• 9.7.4 Piezoelectrics
• 9.8 Touch Sensors
• 9.9 Extra Problems
• 10 Coherent Electronics
• 10.1 Basic Wave Properties of Electrons
• 10.1.1 Time-Dependent Schrodinger Equation
• 10.1.2 Electron Coherence Length
• 10.1.3 Fermi Velocity of Electrons
• 10.2 Ohm's Law Revisited. Bloch Oscillations and Dephasing
• 10.2.1 Drude Model for a Fermi Gas
• 10.2.2 Bragg Reection and Bloch Oscillations
• 10.2.3 Advanced Topic. Quantitative Derivation of Bloch Oscillations
• 10.3 Advanced Topic. Anderson Localization
• 10.4 Electron Interference in Mesoscopic Circuits
• 10.4.1 Controlled Electron Interference
• 10.4.2 The Aharanov-Bohm E?ect
• 10.4.3 Advanced Topic. Equivalence of the Electric and Magnetic AB E?ects 10.5 Superconductors
• 10.5.1 Boson Coherence and Fermion Pairing
• 10.5.2 Cooper Pairing
• 10.5.3 Josephson Junctions
• 10.5.4 Magnetic Properties of Superconductors
• 10.5.5 Flux Quantization and SQUIDs
• 10.5.6 Type I and Type II Superconductors
• 10.6 Extra Problems 621
• 11 Nanoelectronics
• 11.1 Quantum Connement
• 11.2 MOSFETs and the Two-Dimensional Electron Gas
• 11.3 Quantum Hall E?ects
• 11.3.1 Cyclotron Orbitals and Magnetoresistance
• 11.3.2 Landau Levels in Magnetic Field
• 11.3.3 Shubnikov-De Haas and de Haas-van Alphen Oscillations
• 11.3.4 The Integer Quantum Hall E?ect
• 11.3.5 Advanced Topic. The Fractional Quantum Hall E?ect
• 11.4 Quantum Wires
• 11.5 Quantum Dots
• 11.5.1 Coulomb Blockade
• 11.5.2 Single Photon Emitters
• 11.6 Spin Electronics
• 11.7 Advanced Topic. Quantum Computing Concepts
• 11.8 Extra Problems.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

Electronics: A Physical Approach de-mystifies electronics by filling the gap between physical principles and pragmatic circuit design. The authors introduce students to the physics behind the electronics, rather than presenting various tips on circuit building. As a result, students develop an intuition about how devices actually work by building a strong conceptual foundation.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Introduction to the final theory
• Unification, the ancient dream
• Einstein's quest for unification
• Rise of the quantum
• Theory of almost everything
• The dark universe
• Rise of string theory : promise and problems
• Finding meaning in the universe

"Michio Kaku, renowned theoretical physicist and author of Hyperspace and The Future of Humanity, tells the story of the greatest quest in science. When Newton discovered the laws of motion and gravity, he unified the rules of heaven and earth. From then on, physicists have been discovering new forces and incorporating them into ever-greater theories. But the major breakthroughs of the 20th century--relativity and quantum mechanics--are incompatible, and so since then, physicists have been endeavoring to combine these two theories. This would ultimately tie all the forces in the universe together into one beautiful equation that can unlock the deepest mysteries of space and time. That epic journey is the story of this book"-- Provided by publisher

The essential primer for physics students who want to build their physical intuition Presented in A. Zee's incomparably engaging style, this book introduces physics students to the practice of using physical reasoning and judicious guesses to get at the crux of a problem. An essential primer for advanced undergraduates and beyond, Fly by Night Physics reveals the simple and effective techniques that researchers use to think through a problem to its solution-or failing that, to smartly guess the answer-before starting any calculations. In typical physics classrooms, students seek to master an enormous toolbox of mathematical methods, which are necessary to do the precise calculations used in physics. Consequently, students often develop the unfortunate impression that physics consists of well-defined problems that can be solved with tightly reasoned and logical steps. Idealized textbook exercises and homework problems reinforce this erroneous impression. As a result, even the best students can find themselves completely unprepared for the challenges of doing actual research. In reality, physics is replete with back of the envelope estimates, order of magnitude guesses, and fly by night leaps of logic. Including exciting problems related to cutting-edge topics in physics, from Hawking radiation to gravity waves, this indispensable book will help students more deeply understand the equations they have learned and develop the confidence to start flying by night to arrive at the answers they seek. For instructors, a solutions manual is available upon request.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Part I. Basic Energy Physics and Uses: 1. Introduction
• 2. Mechanical energy
• 3. Electromagnetic energy
• 4. Waves and light
• 5. Thermodynamics I: heat and thermal energy
• 6. Heat transfer
• 7. Introduction to quantum physics
• 8. Thermodynamics II: entropy and temperature
• 9. Energy in matter
• 10. Thermal energy conversion
• 11. Internal combustion engines
• 12. Phase-change energy conversion
• 13. Thermal power and heat extraction cycles
• Part II. Energy Sources: 14. The forces of nature
• 15. Quantum phenomena in energy systems
• 16. An overview of nuclear power
• 17. Structure, properties and decays of nuclei
• 18. Nuclear energy processes: fission and fusion
• 19. Nuclear fission reactors and nuclear fusion experiments
• 20. Ionizing radiation
• 21. Energy in the universe
• 22. Solar energy: solar production and radiation
• 23. Solar energy: solar radiation on Earth
• 24. Solar thermal energy
• 25. Photovoltaic solar cells
• 26. Biological energy
• 27. Ocean energy flow
• 28. Wind: a highly variable resource
• 29. Fluids - the basics
• 30. Wind turbines
• 31. Energy from moving water: hydro, wave, tidal, and marine current power
• 32. Geothermal energy
• 33. Fossil fuels
• Part III. Energy System Issues and Externalities: 34. Energy and climate
• 35. Earth's climate: past, present, and future
• 36. Energy efficiency, conservation, and changing energy sources
• 37. Energy storage
• 38. Electricity generation and transmission.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

The Physics of Energy provides a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the scientific principles governing energy sources, uses, and systems. This definitive textbook traces the flow of energy from sources such as solar power, nuclear power, wind power, water power, and fossil fuels through its transformation in devices such as heat engines and electrical generators, to its uses including transportation, heating, cooling, and other applications. The flow of energy through the Earth's atmosphere and oceans, and systems issues including storage, electric grids, and efficiency and conservation are presented in a scientific context along with topics such as radiation from nuclear power and climate change from the use of fossil fuels. Students, scientists, engineers, energy industry professionals, and concerned citizens with some mathematical and scientific background who wish to understand energy systems and issues quantitatively will find this textbook of great interest.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Prologue: listening to the universe
• Mathematics drives away the cloud
• Shining the torch on electricity and magnetism
• Shining the torch on gravity again
• Quantum mathematics
• The long divorce
• Revolution
• Bad company?
• Jokes and magic lead to the string
• Strung together
• Thinking their way to the Millenium
• Diamonds in the rough
• The best possible times.

How math helps us solve the universe's deepest mysteries One of the great insights of science is that the universe has an underlying order. The supreme goal of physicists is to understand this order through laws that describe the behavior of the most basic particles and the forces between them. For centuries, we have searched for these laws by studying the results of experiments. Since the 1970s, however, experiments at the world's most powerful atom-smashers have offered few new clues. So some of the world's leading physicists have looked to a different source of insight: modern mathematics. These physicists are sometimes accused of doing 'fairy-tale physics', unrelated to the real world. But in The Universe Speaks in Numbers, award-winning science writer and biographer Farmelo argues that the physics they are doing is based squarely on the well-established principles of quantum theory and relativity, and part of a tradition dating back to Isaac Newton. With unprecedented access to some of the world's greatest scientific minds, Farmelo offers a vivid, behind-the-scenes account of the blossoming relationship between mathematics and physics and the research that could revolutionize our understanding of reality. A masterful account of the some of the most groundbreaking ideas in physics in the past four decades. The Universe Speaks in Numbers is essential reading for anyone interested in the quest to discover the fundamental laws of nature.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

'A gripping new drama in science ... if you want to understand how the concept of life is changing, read this' Professor Andrew Briggs, University of Oxford When Darwin set out to explain the origin of species, he made no attempt to answer the deeper question: what is life? For generations, scientists have struggled to make sense of this fundamental question. Life really does look like magic: even a humble bacterium accomplishes things so dazzling that no human engineer can match it. And yet, huge advances in molecular biology over the past few decades have served only to deepen the mystery. So can life be explained by known physics and chemistry, or do we need something fundamentally new? In this penetrating and wide-ranging new analysis, world-renowned physicist and science communicator Paul Davies searches for answers in a field so new and fast-moving that it lacks a name, a domain where computing, chemistry, quantum physics and nanotechnology intersect. At the heart of these diverse fields, Davies explains, is the concept of information: a quantity with the power to unify biology with physics, transform technology and medicine, and even to illuminate the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe. From life's murky origins to the microscopic engines that run the cells of our bodies, The Demon in the Machine is a breath-taking journey across the landscape of physics, biology, logic and computing. Weaving together cancer and consciousness, two-headed worms and bird navigation, Davies reveals how biological organisms garner and process information to conjure order out of chaos, opening a window on the secret of life itself.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)
How does life create order from chaos? And just what is life, anyway? Leading physicist Paul Davies argues that to find the answers, we must first answer a deeper question- 'What is information?' To understand the origins and nature of life, Davies proposes a radical vision of biology which sees the underpinnings of life as similar to circuits and electronics, arguing that life as we know it should really be considered a phenomenon of information storage. In an extraordinary deep dive into the real mechanics of what we take for granted, Davies reveals how biological processes, from photosynthesis to birds' navigation abilities, rely on quantum mechanics, and explores whether quantum physics could prove to be the secret key of all life on Earth. Lively and accessible, The Demon in the Machineboils down intricate interdisciplinary developments to take readers on an eye-opening journey towards the ultimate goal of science- unifying all theories of the living and the non-living, so that humanity can at last understand its place in the universe.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Part I: 1. Historical Perspective
• 2. Thermodynamic and Statistical Aspects of Intermolecular Forces
• 3. Strong Intermolecular Forces: Covalent and Coulomb Interactions
• 4. Interactions Involving Polar Molecules
• 5. Interactions Involving the Polarization of Molecules
• 6. Van Der Waals Forces
• 7. Repulsive Steric Forces, Total Intermolecular Pair Potentials, and Liquid Structure
• 8. Special Interactions: Hydrogen Bonding, Hydrophobic, and Hydrophilic Interactions
• 9. Non-Equilibrium and Time-Dependent Interactions
• Part II: 10. Some Unifying Concepts in Intermolecular and Interparticle Forces
• 11. Contrasts Between Intermolecular, Interparticle, and Intersurface Forces
• 12. Force-Measuring Techniques
• 13. Van Der Waals Forces Between Surfaces in Liquids
• 14. Electrostatic Forces Between Surfaces in Liquids
• 15. Solvation, Structural and Hydration Forces
• 16. Steric (Polymer-Mediated) and Thermal Fluctuation Forces
• 17. Adhesion and Wetting Phenomena
• 18. Friction and Lubrication Forces
• Part III: 19. Thermodynamic Principles of Self-Assembly
• 20. Aggregation of Amphiphilic Molecules into Soft Structures
• 21. Interactions Within and Between Biological Structures
• 22. Dynamic Bio-Interactions.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

This reference describes the role of various intermolecular and interparticle forces in determining the properties of simple systems such as gases, liquids and solids, with a special focus on more complex colloidal, polymeric and biological systems. The book provides a thorough foundation in theories and concepts of intermolecular forces, allowing researchers and students to recognize which forces are important in any particular system, as well as how to control these forces. This third edition is expanded into three sections and contains five new chapters over the previous edition.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Preface Acknowledgments Author biography
• 1. Models of Nature
• 2. Randomness
• 3. Bayesian and frequentist approaches to scientific inference
• 4. The principles of inferential statistics
• 5. Parametric inference
• 6. Prior distributions and equiprobable events in the physical sciences
• 7. Conclusionsthe statistical nature of scientific knowledge Appendix AShort review of some basic concepts Appendix BAbbreviations.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

Science often deals with hard-to-see phenomena, and they only stand out and become real when viewed through the lens of complex statistical tools. This book is not a textbook about statistics applied to science - there are already many excellent books to choose from - rather, it tries to give an overview of the basic principles that physical scientists use to analyze their data and bring out the order of Nature from the fog of background noise.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• 1. Light
• 2. Wave Mechanics
• 3. The Time-Independent Schrodinger Equation
• 4. One-Dimensional Potentials
• 5. Principles of Quantum Mechanics
• 6. Quantum Mechanics in three Dimensions
• 7. Identical Particles
• 8. Solid-State Physics
• 9. Nuclear Physics
• 10. Particle Physics A. Special Relativity B. Power-Series Solutions Index.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

This brilliantly innovative textbook is intended as a first introduction to quantum mechanics and its applications. Townsend's new text shuns the historical ordering that characterizes so-called Modern Physics textbooks and applies a truly modern approach to this subject, starting instead with contemporary single-photon and single-atom interference experiments. The text progresses naturally from a thorough introduction to wave mechanics through applications of quantum mechanics to solid-state, nuclear, and particle physics, thereby including most of the topics normally presented in a Modern Physics course. Examples of topics include blackbody radiation, Bose-Einstein condensation, the band-structure of solids and the silicon revolution, the curve of binding energy and nuclear fission and fusion, and the Standard Model of particle physics. Students can see in quantum mechanics a common thread that ties these topics into a coherent picture of how the world works, a picture that gives students confidence that quantum mechanics really works, too. The book also includes a chapter-length appendix on special relativity for the benefit of students who have not had a previous exposure to this subject.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Dawn of a New Age Special Relativity Waves and Particles I: Electromagnetic Radiation Behaving as Particles Waves and Particles II: Matter Behaving as Waves Bound States: Simple Cases Unbound States: Obstacles, Tunneling and Particle-Wave Propagation Quantum Mechanics in Three Dimensions and The Hydrogen Atom Spin and Atomic Physics Statistical Mechanics Bonding: Molecules and Solids Nuclear Physics Fundamental Particles and Interactions Appendices.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

Modern Physics, Second Edition provides a clear, precise, and contemporary introduction to the theory, experiment, and applications of modern physics. Ideal for both physics majors and engineers, this eagerly awaited second edition puts the modern back into modern physics courses. Pedagogical features throughout the text focus the reader on the core concepts and theories while offering optional, more advanced sections, examples, and cutting-edge applications to suit a variety of students and courses. Critically acclaimed for his lucid style, in the second edition, Randy Harris applies the same insights into recent developments in physics, engineering, and technology.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• Preface xiii
• 1. Introduction: What Is Complexity? 1 1.1 Complexity Is Not Simple 1 1.2 Randomness Is Not Complexity 4 1.3 Chaos Is Not Complexity 10 1.4 Open Dissipative Systems 13 1.5 Natural Complexity 16 1.6 About the Computer Programs Listed in This Book 18 1.7 Suggested Further Reading 20 2 Iterated Growth 23 2.1 Cellular Automata in One Spatial Dimension 23 2.2 Cellular Automata in Two Spatial Dimensions 31 2.3 A Zoo of 2-D Structures from Simple Rules 38 2.4 Agents, Ants, and Highways 41 2.5 Emergent Structures and Behaviors 46 2.6 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 47 2.7 Further Reading 50 3 Aggregation 53 3.1 Diffusion-Limited Aggregation 53 3.2 Numerical Implementation 54 3.3 A Representative Simulation 58 3.4 A Zoo of Aggregates 60 3.5 Fractal Geometry 63 3.6 Self-Similarity and Scale Invariance 73 3.7 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 76 3.8 Further Reading 78 4 Percolation 80 4.1 Percolation in One Dimension 80 4.2 Percolation in Two Dimensions 83 4.3 Cluster Sizes 85 4.4 Fractal Clusters 98 4.5 Is It Really a Power Law? 98 4.6 Criticality 100 4.7 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 102 4.8 Further Reading 104 5 Sandpiles 106 5.1 Model Definition 106 5.2 Numerical Implementation 110 5.3 A Representative Simulation 112 5.4 Measuring Avalanches 119 5.5 Self-Organized Criticality 123 5.6 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 127 5.7 Further Reading 129 6 Forest Fires 130 6.1 Model Definition 130 6.2 Numerical Implementation 131 6.3 A Representative Simulation 134 6.4 Model Behavior 137 6.5 Back to Criticality 147 6.6 The Pros and Cons of Wildfire Management 148 6.7 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 149 6.8 Further Reading 152 7 Traffic Jams 154 7.1 Model Definition 154 7.2 Numerical Implementation 157 7.3 A Representative Simulation 157 7.4 Model Behavior 161 7.5 Traffic Jams as Avalanches 164 7.6 Car Traffic as a SOC System? 168 7.7 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 170 7.8 Further Reading 172 8 Earthquakes 174 8.1 The Burridge-Knopoff Model 175 8.2 Numerical Implementation 182 8.3 A Representative Simulation 184 8.4 Model Behavior 189 8.5 Predicting Real Earthquakes 193 8.6 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 194 8.7 Further Reading 196 9 Epidemics 198 9.1 Model Definition 198 9.2 Numerical Implementation 199 9.3 A Representative Simulation 202 9.4 Model Behavior 205 9.5 Epidemic Self-Organization 213 9.6 Small-World Networks 215 9.7 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 220 9.8 Further Reading 222 10 Flocking 224 10.1 Model Definition 225 10.2 Numerical Implementation 228 10.3 A Behavioral Zoo 235 10.4 Segregation of Active and Passive Flockers 240 10.5 Why You Should Never Panic 242 10.6 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 245 10.7 Further Reading 247 11 Pattern Formation 249 11.1 Excitable Systems 249 11.2 The Hodgepodge Machine 253 11.3 Numerical Implementation 260 11.4 Waves, Spirals, Spaghettis, and Cells 262 11.5 Spiraling Out 266 11.6 Spontaneous Pattern Formation 270 11.7 Exercises and Further Computational Explorations 272 11.8 Further Reading 273 12 Epilogue 275 12.1 A Hike on Slickrock 275 12.2 Johannes Kepler and the Unity of Nature 279 12.3 From Lichens to Solar Flares 285 12.4 Emergence and Natural Order 288 12.5 Into the Abyss: Your Turn 290 12.6 Further Reading 291 A. Basic Elements of the Python Programming Language 293 A.1 Code Structure 294 A.2 Variables and Arrays 297 A.3 Operators 299 A.4 Loop Constructs 300 A.5 Conditional Constructs 304 A.6 Input/Output and Graphics 305 A.7 Further Reading 306 B. Probability Density Functions 308 B.1 A Simple Example 308 B.2 Continuous PDFs 312 B.3 Some Mathematical Properties of Power-Law PDFs 313 B.4 Cumulative PDFs 314 B.5 PDFs with Logarithmic Bin Sizes 315 B.6 Better Fits to Power-Law PDFs 318 B.7 Further Reading 320 C Random Numbers and Walks 321 C.1 Random and Pseudo-Random Numbers 321 C.2 Uniform Random Deviates 323 C.3 Using Random Numbers for Probability Tests 324 C.4 Nonuniform Random Deviates 325 C.5 The Classical Random Walk 328 C.6 Random Walk and Diffusion 335 D Lattice Computation 338 D.1 Nearest-Neighbor Templates 339 D.2 Periodic Boundary Conditions 342 D.3 Random Walks on Lattices 345 Index 351.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

This book provides a short, hands-on introduction to the science of complexity using simple computational models of natural complex systems--with models and exercises drawn from physics, chemistry, geology, and biology. By working through the models and engaging in additional computational explorations suggested at the end of each chapter, readers very quickly develop an understanding of how complex structures and behaviors can emerge in natural phenomena as diverse as avalanches, forest fires, earthquakes, chemical reactions, animal flocks, and epidemic diseases. Natural Complexity provides the necessary topical background, complete source codes in Python, and detailed explanations for all computational models. Ideal for undergraduates, beginning graduate students, and researchers in the physical and natural sciences, this unique handbook requires no advanced mathematical knowledge or programming skills and is suitable for self-learners with a working knowledge of precalculus and high-school physics. Self-contained and accessible, Natural Complexity enables readers to identify and quantify common underlying structural and dynamical patterns shared by the various systems and phenomena it examines, so that they can form their own answers to the questions of what natural complexity is and how it arises.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• I. Newton's Laws
• 1. Concepts of Motion
• 2. Kinematics in One Dimension
• 3. Vectors and Coordinate Systems
• 4. Kinematics in Two Dimensions
• 5. Force and Motion
• 6. Dynamics I: Motion Along a Line
• 7. Newton's Third Law
• 8. Dynamics II: Motion in a Plane II. Conservation Laws
• 9. Work and Kinetic Energy
• 10. Interactions and Potential Energy
• 11. Impulse and Momentum III. Applications of Newtonian Mechanics
• 12. Rotation of a Rigid Body
• 13. Newton's Theory of Gravity
• 14. Fluids and Elasticity IV. Oscillations and Waves
• 15. Oscillations
• 16. Traveling Waves
• 17. Superposition V. Thermodynamics
• 18. A Macroscopic Description of Matter
• 19. Work, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics
• 20. The Micro/Macro Connection
• 21. Heat Engines and Refrigerators VI. Electricity and Magnetism
• 22. Electric Charges and Forces
• 23. The Electric Field
• 24. Gauss's Law
• 25. The Electric Potential
• 26. Potential and Field
• 27. Current and Resistance
• 28. Fundamentals of Circuits
• 29. The Magnetic Field
• 30. Electromagnetic Induction
• 31. Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
• 32. AC Circuits VII. Optics
• 33. Wave Optics
• 34. Ray Optics
• 35. Optical Instruments VIII. Relativity and Quantum Physics
• 36. Relativity.
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For courses in introductory calculus-based physics. A research-driven approach, fine-tuned for even greater ease-of-use and student success For the Fourth Edition of Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Knight continues to build on strong research-based foundations with fine-tuned and streamlined content, hallmark features, and an even more robust MasteringPhysics program, taking student learning to a new level. By extending problem-solving guidance to include a greater emphasis on modeling and significantly revised and more challenging problem sets, students gain confidence and skills in problem solving. A modified Table of Contents and the addition of advanced topics now accommodate different teaching preferences and course structures. Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MasteringPhysics does not come packaged with this content. Students, if interested in purchasing this title with MasteringPhysics, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information. 0133953149/ 9780133953145 Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics Plus MasteringPhysics with eText -- Access Card Package, (Chs 1 - 42), 4/e Package consists of: 0133942651 / 9780133942651 Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics, 4/e013406982X / 9780134069821 MasteringPhysics with Pearson eText -- ValuePack Access Card -- for Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach0134083164 / 9780134083162 Student's Workbook for Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics.
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• Why talk to your dog about physics? : an introduction to quantum physics
• Which way? both ways : particle-wave duality
• Where's my bone? : the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
• Schrödinger's Dog : the Copenhagen interpretation
• Many worlds, many treats : the many-worlds interpretation
• Are we there yet? : the quantum Zeno effect
• No digging required : quantum tunneling
• Spooky barking at a distance : quantum entanglement
• Beam me a bunny : quantum teleportation
• Bunnies made of cheese : virtual particles and quantum electrodynamics
• Beware of evil squirrels : misuses of quantum physics.

Who better to teach the magic of quantum physics than a talking dog? Sit down with Orzel and his dog Emmy as the author explains the laws of physics.

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Part I. Foundations. Newtonian physics : geometric viewpoint ; Special relativity : geometric viewpoint
• Part II. Statistical physics. Kinetic theory ; Statistical mechanics ; Statistical thermodynamics ; Random processes
• Part III. Optics. Geometric optics ; Diffraction ; Interference and coherence ; Nonlinear optics
• Part IV. Elasticity. Elastostatics ; Elastodynamics
• Part V. Fluid dynamics. Foundations of fluid dynamics ; Vorticity ; Turbulence ; Waves ; Compressible and supersonic flow ; Convection ; Magnetohydrodynamics
• Part VI. Plasma physics. The particle kinetics of plasma ; Waves in cold plasmas : two-fluid formalism ; Kinetic theory of warm plasmas ; Nonlinear dynamics of plasmas
• Part VII. General relativity. From special to general relativity ; Fundamental concepts of general relativity ; Relativistic stars and black holes ; Gravitational waves and experimental tests of general relativity ; Cosmology.

This first-year, graduate-level text and reference book covers the fundamental concepts and twenty-first-century applications of six major areas of classical physics that every masters- or PhD-level physicist should be exposed to, but often isn't: statistical physics, optics (waves of all sorts), elastodynamics, fluid mechanics, plasma physics, and special and general relativity and cosmology. Growing out of a full-year course that the eminent researchers Kip Thorne and Roger Blandford taught at Caltech for almost three decades, this book is designed to broaden the training of physicists. Its six main topical sections are also designed so they can be used in separate courses, and the book provides an invaluable reference for researchers. Presents all the major fields of classical physics except three prerequisites: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and elementary thermodynamics Elucidates the interconnections between diverse fields and explains their shared concepts and tools Focuses on fundamental concepts and modern, real-world applications Takes applications from fundamental, experimental, and applied physics; astrophysics and cosmology; geophysics, oceanography, and meteorology; biophysics and chemical physics; engineering and optical science and technology; and information science and technology Emphasizes the quantum roots of classical physics and how to use quantum techniques to elucidate classical concepts or simplify classical calculations Features hundreds of color figures, some five hundred exercises, extensive cross-references, and a detailed index An online illustration package is available to professors.
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• Popcorn and rockets
• What goes up must come down
• Small is beautiful
• A moment in time
• Making waves
• Why don't ducks get cold feet?
• Spoons, spirals and Sputnik
• When opposites attract
• A sense of perspective.

Take a look up at the stars on a clear night and you get a sense that the universe is vast and untouchable, full of mysteries beyond comprehension. But did you know that the key to unveiling the secrets of the cosmos is as close as the nearest toaster? Our home here on Earth is messy, mutable, and full of humdrum things that we touch and modify without much thought every day. But these familiar surroundings are just the place to look if you're interested in what makes the universe tick. In Storm in a Teacup, Helen Czerski provides the tools to alter the way we see everything around us by linking ordinary objects and occurrences, like popcorn popping, coffee stains, and fridge magnets, to big ideas like climate change, the energy crisis, or innovative medical testing. She guides us through the principles of gases ("Explosions in the kitchen are generally considered a bad idea. But just occasionally a small one can produce something delicious"); gravity (drop some raisins in a bottle of carbonated lemonade and watch the whoosh of bubbles and the dancing raisins at the bottom bumping into each other); size (Czerski explains the action of the water molecules that cause the crime-scene stain left by a puddle of dried coffee); and time (why it takes so long for ketchup to come out of a bottle). Along the way, she provides answers to vexing questions: How does water travel from the roots of a redwood tree to its crown? How do ducks keep their feet warm when walking on ice? Why does milk, when added to tea, look like billowing storm clouds? In an engaging voice at once warm and witty, Czerski shares her stunning breadth of knowledge to lift the veil of familiarity from the ordinary. You may never look at your toaster the same way.
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• * B. Webster, Geometry and categorification* Y. Li, A geometric realization of modified quantum algebras* T. Lawson, R. Lipshitz, and S. Sarkar, The cube and the Burnside category* S. Chun, S. Gukov, and D. Roggenkamp, Junctions of surface operators and categorification of quantum groups* R. Rouquier, Khovanov-Rozansky homology and 2-braid groups* I. Cherednik and I. Danilenko, DAHA approach to iterated torus links.
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The emergent mathematical philosophy of categorification is reshaping our view of modern mathematics by uncovering a hidden layer of structure in mathematics, revealing richer and more robust structures capable of describing more complex phenomena. Categorification is a powerful tool for relating various branches of mathematics and exploiting the commonalities between fields. It provides a language emphasizing essential features and allowing precise relationships between vastly different fields. This volume focuses on the role categorification plays in geometry, topology, and physics. These articles illustrate many important trends for the field including geometric representation theory, homotopical methods in link homology, interactions between higher representation theory and gauge theory, and double affine Hecke algebra approaches to link homology. The companion volume (Contemporary Mathematics, Volume 683) is devoted to categorification and higher representation theory.
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• Mechanics. Units, physical quantities, and vectors ; Motion along a straight line ; Motion in two or three dimensions ; Newton's laws of motion ; Applying Newton's laws ; Work and kinetic energy ; Potential energy and energy conservation ; Momentum, impulse, and collisions ; Rotation of rigid bodies ; Dynamics of rotational motion ; Equilibrium and elasticity ; Fluid mechanics ; Gravitation ; Periodic motion
• Waves/acoustics. Mechanical waves ; Sound and hearing
• Thermodynamics. Temperature and heat ; Thermal properties of matter ; The first law of thermodynamics ; The second law of thermodynamics
• Electromagnetism. Electric charge and electric field ; Gauss's law ; Electric potential ; Capacitance and dielectrics ; Current, resistance, and electromotive force ; Direct-current circuits ; Magnetic field and magnetic forces ; Sources of magnetic field ; Electromagnetic induction ; Inductance ; Alternating current ; Electromagnetic waves
• Optics. The nature and propagation of light ; Geometric optics ; Interference ; Diffraction
• Modern physics. Relativity ; Photons : light waves behaving as particles ; Particles behaving as waves ; Quantum mechanics I : wave functions ; Quantum mechanics II : atomic structure ; Molecules and condensed matter ; Nuclear physics ; Particle physics and cosmology
• Appendices. A: The international system of units ; B: Useful mathematical relations ; C: The Greek alphabet ; D: Periodic table of the elements ; E: Unit conversion factors ; F: Numerical constants
• Answers to odd-numbered problems.

• Acknowledgements ix Preface xi Are fashion, faith, or fantasy relevant to fundamental science? xi 1 Fashion 1 1.1 Mathematical elegance as a driving force 1 1.2 Some fashionable physics of the past 10 1.3 Particle-physics background to string theory 17 1.4 The superposition principle in QFT 20 1.5 The power of Feynman diagrams 25 1.6 The original key ideas of string theory 32 1.7 Time in Einstein's general relativity 42 1.8 Weyl's gauge theory of electromagnetism 52 1.9 Functional freedom in Kaluza-Klein and string models 59 1.10 Quantum obstructions to functional freedom? 69 1.11 Classical instability of higher-dimensional string theory 77 1.12 The fashionable status of string theory 82 1.13 M-theory 90 1.14 Supersymmetry 95 1.15 AdS/CFT 104 1.16 Brane-worlds and the landscape 117 2 Faith 121 2.1 The quantum revelation 121 2.2 Max Planck's E = hnu 126 2.3 The wave-particle paradox 133 2.4 Quantum and classical levels: C, U, and R 138 2.5 Wave function of a point-like particle 145 2.6 Wave function of a photon 153 2.7 Quantum linearity 158 2.8 Quantum measurement 164 2.9 The geometry of quantum spin 174 2.10 Quantum entanglement and EPR effects 182 2.11 Quantum functional freedom 188 2.12 Quantum reality 198 2.13 Objective quantum state reduction: a limit to the quantum faith? 204 3 Fantasy 216 3.1 The Big Bang and FLRW cosmologies 216 3.2 Black holes and local irregularities 230 3.3 The second law of thermodynamics 241 3.4 The Big Bang paradox 250 3.5 Horizons, comoving volumes, and conformal diagrams 258 3.6 The phenomenal precision in the Big Bang 270 3.7 Cosmological entropy? 275 3.8 Vacuum energy 285 3.9 Inflationary cosmology 294 3.10 The anthropic principle 310 3.11 Some more fantastical cosmologies 323 4 A New Physics for the Universe? 334 4.1 Twistor theory: an alternative to strings? 334 4.2 Whither quantum foundations? 353 4.3 Conformal crazy cosmology? 371 4.4 A personal coda 391 Appendix A Mathematical
• Appendix 397 A.1 Iterated exponents 397 A.2 Functional freedom of fields 401 A.3 Vector spaces 407 A.4 Vector bases, coordinates, and duals 413 A.5 Mathematics of manifolds 417 A.6 Manifolds in physics 425 A.7 Bundles 431 A.8 Functional freedom via bundles 439 A.9 Complex numbers 445 A.10 Complex geometry 448 A.11 Harmonic analysis 458 References 469 Index 491.
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What can fashionable ideas, blind faith, or pure fantasy possibly have to do with the scientific quest to understand the universe? Surely, theoretical physicists are immune to mere trends, dogmatic beliefs, or flights of fancy? In fact, acclaimed physicist and bestselling author Roger Penrose argues that researchers working at the extreme frontiers of physics are just as susceptible to these forces as anyone else. In this provocative book, he argues that fashion, faith, and fantasy, while sometimes productive and even essential in physics, may be leading today's researchers astray in three of the field's most important areas--string theory, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. Arguing that string theory has veered away from physical reality by positing six extra hidden dimensions, Penrose cautions that the fashionable nature of a theory can cloud our judgment of its plausibility. In the case of quantum mechanics, its stunning success in explaining the atomic universe has led to an uncritical faith that it must also apply to reasonably massive objects, and Penrose responds by suggesting possible changes in quantum theory. Turning to cosmology, he argues that most of the current fantastical ideas about the origins of the universe cannot be true, but that an even wilder reality may lie behind them. Finally, Penrose describes how fashion, faith, and fantasy have ironically also shaped his own work, from twistor theory, a possible alternative to string theory that is beginning to acquire a fashionable status, to "conformal cyclic cosmology, " an idea so fantastic that it could be called "conformal crazy cosmology." The result is an important critique of some of the most significant developments in physics today from one of its most eminent figures.
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