The development of the action principle : a didactic history from Euler-Lagrange to Schwinger / Walter Dittrich.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dittrich, Walter.

Series:

SpringerBriefs in physics 2191-5423

SpringerBriefs in Physics, 2191-5423

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Quantum theory--History.

Quantum theory.

History.

Schwinger action principle.

Genre:

Electronic books.

History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer, 2021.

System Details:

text file PDF

Summary:

This book describes the historical development of the principle of stationary action from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Reference is made to the most important contributors to this topic, in particular Bernoullis, Leibniz, Euler, Lagrange and Laplace. The leading theme is how the action principle is applied to problems in classical physics such as hydrodynamics, electrodynamics and gravity, extending also to the modern formulation of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, especially quantum electrodynamics. A critical analysis of operator versus c-number field theory is given. The book contains many worked examples. In particular, the term "vacuum" is scrutinized. The book is aimed primarily at actively working researchers, graduate students and historians interested in the philosophical interpretation and evolution of physics; in particular, in understanding the action principle and its application to a wide range of natural phenomena.

Contents:

Short Historical Introduction

Curva Elastica

The Curva Elastica, a Curve of Least Energy

From Euler to Lagrange

Laplace and the Capillary - 1807

A Final Application in Elasticity with Jacobi Elliptic Functions

Short List of Jacobi Elliptic Functions and Constants Used in Chapter 5

Variational Methods for Periodic Motions; Mathieu Functions

Lagrangian for Isentropic Irrotational Flow

Action Principle in Classical Electrodynamics

The Two Giants in Gravity: Einstein and Hilbert

The Quantum Action Principle

The Action Principle in Quantum Field Theory

Quantum Field Theory on Space-Like Hypersurfaces

Lagrangian Formulation of Gauge Theories

Effective Actions (Lagrangians) in Quantum Field Theory

Modified Photon Propagation Function, Source Theory.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed June 3, 2021).

ISBN:

9783030691059

3030691055

9783030691066

3030691063

9783030691073

3030691071

OCLC:

1253477471

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.