10.D [ Nuclear Physics 29 (1962) 627--528; (~) North-Hollas4t Publishi,g Co., Amsterdam.--..

BOOK REVIEWS

JOHN L. POWELL and BERNARD CRASEMANN,Qtgaptt@mmechanics (Addison-Wesley Publ. Co.,

Reading, Mass., 1961. x-495p. $ 9.75)
In view of the steadily increasing number of textbooks on quantum theory, one cannot expect
every new publication of this kind to offer an entirely original exposition of the subject. Judging
it against similar books, one must therefore be concerned with such aspects as the choice of
problems treated, the clarity of presentation and the trend of arguments assessed from the peda-
gogical point of view. In all these respects the present work seems to be of high standard.
The arrangement of the material follows more or less conventional lines. The first chapters,
which are mainly of historical character, precede a description of the formal development of
quantum mechanics. The last part of the book is devoted to such applications of quantum theory
as perturbation methods, theory of radiation and the treatment of systems with identical particles.
At the end of each chapter the authors present a number of problems to be solved, as well as a
gocd selection of books recommended for a more thorough-going study of the problems treated in
the text. References to original papers (even in other languages than Americanl) dealing with
special questions are given in foot-notes, and the reader is encouraged b y explanatory remarks
to study these sources.
Since textbooks are intended for the education of new generations of scientists, their authors
have a particular responsibility as regards notations. Much could be done to diminigh the existing
confusion in this respect if the textbooks would use symbols and units internationally agreed
upon and recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. This remark
arises from the fact t h a t the authors of the present book use the symbol gm for gram (instead of g).
The beautiful typography of the book, with its clear formulae and drawings, deserves special
mention.
Stefan Rozentai

S. WALKER and H. STRAW, Spectroscopy, Vol. 1 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1961. xix-
267p. 50s.)
This volume contains a chapter on atomic spectroscopy (105p.) and a short generalintroduction
(13 p.) to molecular spectra followed b y chapters on microwave spectroscopy (33 p.), electron
spin resonance (43 p.), and radio frequency spectroscopy (nuclear magnetic resonance) (52 p.).
In the present-day atmosphere of rapidly growing specialization the authors have undertaken the
difficult and rather ungrateful task of trying to introduce students of spectroscopy into the whole
field. The a t t e m p t has been markedly successful so far. This volume is well-proportioned, perhaps
except for the chapter on atomic spectra which could stand abbreviation. Most advanced students
for whom the book has been written would know most of this chapter from an elementary physics
course. The various topics of the book are well treated. Of course, not even two co-authors can
reasonably be expected to possess personal experience in all parts of the vast field of spectroscopy.
By necessity a book of this type must, therefore, be somewhat conservative in its statements.
This is, however, felt only very slightly. To mention one example, the authors state t h a t the
microwave method shows little promise for 'fairly large molecules'. The quoted examples of small
molecules treated by the microwave method lead the reader to underestimate the microwave
procedure which, at present, deals fairly successfully with, for example, substituted naphtalenes.
Aside from such unavoidable beauty spots the book is excellent b y its correctness, thorough-
ness, and its clear representation, supported b y adequate illustrations (some of which are from
the original papers). Also, there are numerous references.
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