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Continuum Mechanics: Concise Theory and Problems

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1977 Phys. Bull. 28 130

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Mathematics
Introduction to Feynman Diagrams
S M Bilenky Oxford: Pergamon 1974
pp viii-f-186 price 6
The author's aim in this book, he says in
the foreword, is to present the basic prin-
ciples of S matrix theory and field theory
in such a way that physicists (primarily
experimental physicists), and advanced
students specializing in elementary par-
ticle physics, can see easily how the Feyn-
man rules for relativistic perturbation
theory arise. The book begins with the
elements of scattering theory in the inter-
action representation, and classical field
theory. The chapter on field quantization
goes through the standard manipulations,
but I cannot believe that any genuine
beginner in the subject would be much
enlightened. The characteristic emphasis
is on algebraic detail rather than on
physical understanding.
There are several rather serious defi-
ciencies in this book. There is no discussion
of rules for massive vector particles, or for
particles of higher spin; there is not even
a hint of how to calculate a loop (only
second order processes are calculated);
and no mention of renormalization beyond
a remark that it is treated in other books.
No reference to these sources is given, and
indeed the present book is remarkable for
the complete absence of all references
(even, for example, in the case of conserved
vector current theory). In the sections
dealing with applications to physical pro-
cesses, many details are given of trace
calculations and phase space, but the
whole thing is not clinched by being tied
to experimental numbers.
In summary, all of the basic material
here is presented as accessibly, if not more
so, in several other books, and the only
distinctive feature of this book is a number
of worked examples of cross section and
decay calculations.
J R AITCHISON
Partial Differential Equations: Theory and
Technique George F Carrier and Carl E
Pearson London and New York: Academic
1976 pp xi + 320 price 9-10
This is a book about techniques for first
formulating and then solving problems of
partial differential equations, the close
connection that is maintained with physi-
cal motivations and connections being
especially noteworthy. The overall organi-
zation of the book is made apparent from
the chapter headings, set out as follows:
the diffusion equation, Laplace transform
methods, the wave equation, the potential
equation, classification of second-order
equations, first-order equations, exten-
sions, perturbations, Green's functions,
variational methods, eigenvalue problems,
more on first-order equations, more on
characteristics, finite-difference equations
and numerical methods, and singular per-
turbation methods. The book reflects the
130
authors' experience in teaching the present
subject, over several years, and at several
institutions. Their viewpoint is succinctly
that of the best combination of mathe-
matics and physics (in a general sense),
with illustrative examples drawn from a
number of fields (with exercises provided,
some with answers). Often, the authors
deliberately select novel and unusual
applications, e.g. amoebae aggregation
and glacier motion. It is most pleasing to
note the incorporation of sections on
topics such as finite element theory,
characteristics theory, and nonlinear wave
theory. The book is altogether a delight
and a reward to read, to student and
teacher alike. It reflects, strikingly, the
attitudes and approaches of Professors
Carrier and Pearson, who are well known
practitioners of the theory of partial
differential equations. This book, within
its genre, deserves an unreserved recom-
mendation.
H G HOPKINS
Mechonics
Continuum Mechanics: Concise Theory
and Problems P Chadwick Hemel Hemp-
stead: Allen and Unwin 1976pp \1A
price 5-25 {cased)
This book presents a very concise account
of the basic procedures and principles of
continuum mechanics. The account is
primarily mathematical and general, being
given under the chapter headings of:
vector and tensor theory; basic kinematics;
balance laws, field equations and jump
conditions; and constitutive equations.
Physical motivations and considerations
are kept to a minimum, deliberately. The
book has grown out of lecture courses
given at the University of East Anglia
(Norwich, England) to third-year under-
graduates in mathematics and to first-
year postgraduates in theoretical mecha-
nics. The presentation follows that now
generally adopted in modern continuum
mechanics, so that it has the appearance
of abstractness. The book is well written
and it incorporates a useful collection of
exercises (with hints and answers). It
serves as an introduction to work on
particular branches of continuum mecha-
nics, as in solid mechanics and fluid
mechanics or in other physical fields. It
provides also a useful stepping stone to
the more comprehensive texts on rational
mechanics by the Truesdell school.
H G HOPKINS
Statistical Mechanics, Fluctuations and
Noise A H W Beck London: Edward
Arnold 1976 pp xii+231 price 12-50
{cased), 7-50 (paperback)
This book introduces the statistical me-
chanical ideas necessary to a discussion of
semiconductors and the transport theory
of gases, electrons in metals, and plasmas.
It goes on to discussfluctuationsin a more
generalized way, using Fourier analysis,
autocorrelation and power spectrum me-
thods, and applies this theoretical ma-
terial to the cases of electrical and optical
noise and information carrying channels.
The level of mathematical sophistica-
tion assumed is that of a competent
graduate student in physics. The text pro-
ceeds at a very fast pace, fresh and substan-
tial physical ideas appearing on almost
every page. A large proportion of the page
space is occupied by mathematics: indeed,
if the reader desires to penetrate the under-
lying physical principles he must often do
so by studying the mathematics, as the
text is of little help.
This is one of the first books in the
publisher's 'Contemporary Engineering
Series'. The author has aimed the book at
engineers and applied physicists and
clearly intends that its readers should be
able to learn to use the techniques of
statistical mechanics without necessarily
understanding the principles. But this is
made difficult by the lack of textual expla-
nation and the complete absence of
exercises.
p GRAY
Bonds, atoms, ions
The Hydrogen Bond P Schuster, G Zundel
and C Sandorfy (eds) Amsterdam: North
Holland 1976 Vol 1 Theory/>/> viii+389
Vol 2 Structure and Spectroscopy
pp viii+391-887 Vol 3 Dynamics, Thermo-
dynamics and Special Systems
pp viii +889-1549 price $173-75
Anyone suffering under the illusion that
the hydrogen bond is not of any great
significance, and that adequate justice is
done to it by the row of dots with which it
is usually represented, will quickly change
his ideas when he sees these volumes. They
cover a wide canvas of theory and experi-
ment and as might be expected, the 29
chapters have each been written by
specialists in the particular topic which
the chapter covers. The quality is in general
good, and most of the topics which one
would expect to be included are dealt with,
although the editors have deliberately
excluded studies of hydrogen bonding in
excited states, and of the application of
relaxation kinetics to hydrogen bond
systems, and investigations with a strong
link with biology. The speed of develop-
ment of these fields, and the rapidity with
which views are changing, is the reason
given for their omission.
J H CALDERWOOD
Atoms and Molecules in Electric Fields
Nils Ryde Stockholm: Almqvist and
Wiksell International 1976 pp 455
price SwYs 315
The scope of this book is perhaps rather
narrower than the title might suggest.
Physics Bulletin March 1977