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CHOICE Recommended Title, June 2019
Brought together in one focused and exclusive treatment, this book provides an elementary introduction to the important role and use of the least action principle and the resulting Lagrange's equations in the analysis of the laws that govern the universe. It is an ideal complimentary resource to accompany undergraduate courses and textbooks on classical mechanics.
Features:
Uses mathematics accessible to beginners
Brings together the Principle of Least Action, Lagrange's equations, and variational principles in mechanics in one cohesive text
Written in a clear and easy-to-understand manner
List of contents
CHAPTER I ■ Introduction CHAPTER II ■ Selected Elements of Classical and Quantum Physics CHAPTER III ■ Search for a Universal Principle CHAPTER IV ■ Selected Applications of Lagrange’s Equations CHAPTER V ■ Fields and Quantum Physics CHAPTER VI ■ Conclusion
About the author
Jacques Vanier is an adjunct professor in the Physics Department at the University of Montreal. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the American Physical Society, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He has written more than 120 journal articles and proceedings papers and is the author of several books on masers, lasers, and atomic frequency standards. He has written a book on the physics of the universe in simple language for the general public. He was professor of physics at Laval University where he gave courses on general physics. His research work is oriented toward the understanding and application of quantum electronics phenomena.
Cipriana Tomescu is an invited researcher in the Physics Department at the University of Montreal. She is the author of numerous articles in scientific journals and conference proceedings. She is the co-author with Dr. Vanier of a book on atomic frequency standards. In her career, she has worked in several institutions around the world as an invited researcher. Her research involves state-of-the-art microwave and optical atomic frequency standards.
Summary
This book provides an elementary introduction to the important role and use of the least action principle and the resulting Lagrange’s equations in the analysis of the laws that govern the universe. It is an ideal complimentary resource to accompany undergraduate courses and textbooks on classical mechanics.
