Wave Physics Oscillations - Solitons - Chaos [Paperback]

This textbook gives a detailed explanation of waves and oscillations in classical physics. These classical phenomena are dealt with at a more advanced level than is customary for second-year courses. All aspects of classical wave physics are presented, including the mathematical and physical basis needed for extended understanding. Finally several chapters are devoted to important topics in current wave physics. Special attention is given to nonlinear waves, solitons, chaotic behavior and associated phenomena. The new edition contains improvements such as full development of Greens functions, a broadening of the treatment of wave mechanics and a closer integration with classical mechanics, plus more examples and problems.

This book details all mathematical and physical aspects of classical wave phenomena. Coverage in this new edition includes an explanation of Green's function, reinforcing the integration of quantum mechanics with classical physics.

This is a text for the third semester of undergraduate physics for students in accelerated programs, who typically are preparing for advanced degrees in science or engineering. The third semester is often the only opportunity for physics departments to present to students who are not physics majors a coherent background in the physics of waves, required later for confident handling of applied problems, especially applications based on quantum mechanics. Physics is a coherent subject. It is often found that the going gets easier as one goes deeper, learning the mathematical connections tying together the various phenomena. Even so, the steps that took us from classical wave physics to Heisenberg's Physical Principles of Quantum Theory were, as a matter of history, harder to take than later steps dealing with detailed applications. With these considerations in mind, the classical physics of os? cillations and waves is developed here at a more advanced mathematical level than is customary in second year clã3