The Special Theory of Relativity : Foundations, Theory, Verification, Applications / by Costas Christodoulides.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Christodoulides, Costas, Author.

Series:

Undergraduate Lecture Notes in Physics, 2192-4791

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gravitation.

Astronomy--Observations.

Astronomy.

Astronomy—Observations.

Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory.

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques.

Local Subjects:

Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory.

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XVII, 480 p. 130 illus.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2016.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book offers a comprehensive, university-level introduction to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. In addition to the purely theoretical aspect, emphasis is also given to its historical development as well as to the experiments that preceded the theory and those performed in order to test its validity. The main body of the book consists of chapters on Relativistic Kinematics and Dynamics and their applications, Optics and Electromagnetism. These could be covered in a one-semester course. A more advanced course might include the subjects examined in the other chapters of the book and its appendices. As a textbook, it has some unique characteristics: It provides detailed proofs of the theorems, offers abundant figures and discusses numerous examples. It also includes a number of problems for readers to solve, the complete solutions of which are given at the end of the book. It is primarily intended for use by university students of physics, mathematics and engineering. However, as the mathematics needed is of an upper-intermediate level, the book will also appeal to a more general readership.

Contents:

Historical Introduction

The Main Landmarks in the Development of the Special Theory of Relativity

The Principle of Relativity of Galileo. Galileo’s Invariance Hypothesis. The Law of Inertia. Inertial Frames of Reference Relativity

Rømer and the Speed of Light

Newton’s Laws of Motion. Inertia and Inertial Frames of Reference

The Aberration of Light

Arago’s Measurements Concerning the Constancy of the Speed of Light from Stars

Measurements of the Speed of Light in the Laboratory

Attempts to Measure the Dragging of Aether by Moving Media

Maxwell’s Equations and the Wave Equation

The Experiment of Michelson and Morley

The Lorentz-Fitzgerald Contraction Hypothesis

The Increase of the Mass of the Electron with Speed

The Invariance of Maxwell’s Equations and the Lorentz Transformation

The Formulation of the Special Theory of Relativity

Prolegomena

Inertial Frames of Reference

The Calibration of a Frame of Reference and the Synchronization of its Clocks

The Relativity of Simultaneity

The Relativity of Time and Length

The Inevitability of the Special Theory of Relativity

Relativistic Kinematics

The Lorentz Transformation for the Coordinates of an Event

The Transformation of Velocity

The Transformation of Acceleration

Applications of Relativistic Kinematics

The ‘Meson’ Paradox

The apparent focusing of fast charged particle beams due to the dilation of time

The Sagnac Effect

Clocks Moving Around the Earth

The Experiment of Hafele and Keating

Einstein’s Train

The Twin Paradox

Motion with a Constant Proper Acceleration. Hyperbolic Motion

Two Successive Lorentz Transformations. The Wigner Rotation

Optical Phenomena

Fizeau’s Experiment. Fresnel’s Aether Dragging Theory

The Doppler Effect

Relativistic Beaming or the Headlight Effect

The Pressure Exerted by Light

Relativistic Dynamics

The Dfinition of Relativistic Momentum. Relativistic Mass

Relativistic Energy

The Relationship Between Momentum and Energy

Classical Approximations

Particles with Zero Rest Mass

The Conservation of Momentum and of Energy

The Equivalence of Mass and Energy

The Transformation of Momentum and Energy

The Zero-Momentum Frame of Reference

The Transformation of the Total Momentum and the Total Energy of a System of Particles

The Collision of two Identical Particles

The Transformation of Force

Motion Under the Influence of a Constant Force. The Motion of a Charged Particle in a Constant Uniform Electric Field

The Motion of a Charged Particle in a Constant Homogeneous Magnetic Field

Applications of Relativistic Dynamics

The Compton Effect

The Inverse Compton Effect

The Consequences of the Special Theory of Relativity on the Design of Particle Accelerators

Mass Defect and Binding Energy of the Atomic Nucleus

Threshold Energy

The General Equations for the Motion of a Relativistic Rocket

Minkowski’s Spacetime and Four-Vectors

The ‘World’ of Minkowski

Four-Vectors

Electromagnetism

Introduction

The Invariance of Electric Charge

The Transformations of the Electric Field and the Magnetic Field

The Fields of a Moving Electric Charge

The Derivation of the Differential form of the Biot-Savart Law from Coulomb’s Law

The Force Exerted on a Moving Charge by an Electric Current

Experiments

The Speed of Light

The Aether

The Dilation of Time

The Relativistic Doppler Effect

The Contraction of Length

The Test of the Predictions of Relativistic Kinematics

The Relativistic Mass

The Test of the Predictions of Relativistic Dynamics

Appendix 1. The Paradox of the Room and the Rod

Appendix 2. The Appearance of Moving Bodies

Appendix 3. The Derivation of the Expression for the Relativistic Mass in General

Appendix .4. The Invariance of the Equations of Maxwell and the Wave Equation Under the Lorentz Transformation

Appendix 5. Tachyons

Appendix 6. The Lorentz Transformation in Matrix Form

Appendix 7. Table of Some Functions of the Speed

Solutions of the Problem.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

3-319-25274-7

OCLC:

1066176749