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Classical electrodynamics is a cornerstone of physics and engineering education. Its principles underpin a vast array of technologies and serve as a foundation for advanced topics such as quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and relativity.
This textbook aims to provide a unified treatment of classical electrodynamics and its applications, incorporating mathematical rigour, clear explanations of symmetry and invariance principles, and concrete connections to modern technologies.
Each chapter is enriched with illustrations of contemporary applications, from the working principles of touchscreens, particle accelerators, 3D glasses and liquid crystal displays to medical imaging technologies like MRI. These real-world examples
ground the theory in practical contexts and also inspire readers to see the relevance of electromagnetism in everyday life. Additionally, brief notes are provided on the most influential scientists who shaped the laws and principles discussed.
Numerous fully solved exercises are available at the end of each chapter to deepen the knowledge. An ideal companion for any undergraduate and graduate course on this subject.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Coulomb s law, electric field and the superposition principle.- Chapter 2. Gauss s law and symmetry properties.- Chapter 3. Electric potential, electrostatic energy and the circulation law.- Chapter 4. Conductors at equilibirum and Poisson s equation.- Chapter 5. Capacitors.- Chapter 6. The field in dielectric media.- Chapter 7. Electric currents, Ohm s law and electrical networks.- Chapter 8. Magnetostatics, Biot-Savart s law.- Chapter 9. Amp`ere s law and magnetic dipole.- Chapter 10. The origin of magnetism in matter.- Chapter 11. Electromagnetic induction, Faraday s law and magnetic energy.- Chapter 12. Circuits in transient regimes.- Chapter 13. Maxwell s equations, electromagnetic waves and light.- Chapter 14. Electromagnetic waves in matter, polarizers and wave plates.- Chapter 15. The laws of reflection and refraction.- Chapter 16. Interferences and coherence.- Chapter 17. Geometrical optics.- Chapter 18. Diffraction.- Chapter 19. Electromagnetic radiation.- Chapter 20. Special relativity and covariant electrodynamics. Appendix.
About the author
Fabian Cadiz is full Professor at Ecole Polytechnique (Institut Polytechnique de Paris) where he teaches Quantum Mechanics and Electromagnetism at the undegraduate level. He is a member of the Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory at Ecole polytechnique and his research activity focuses on the physics of novel 2D semiconductors. To develop this new activity, Fabian Cadiz was awarded a Young Researcher Grant from the French National Research Agency as well as the ERC Starting Grant 2022. His work has led to major contributions in the fields of spin physics in semiconductors and he is author of more than 45 papers in peer reviewed international journals.
Arnaud Couairon is research director (senior scientist) at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and part-time Professor at Ecole Polytechnique. He is a member of the team of plasma physicists at the Centre for Theoretical Physics at Ecole Polytechnique. He has contributed to research in the fields of laser-matter interaction, ultrashort laser pulse filamentation and their applications as well as in instabilities in fluid dynamics. He is author of more than 180 papers in peer reviewed international journals.
Summary
Classical electrodynamics is a cornerstone of physics and engineering education. Its principles underpin a vast array of technologies and serve as a foundation for advanced topics such as quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and relativity.
This textbook aims to provide a unified treatment of classical electrodynamics and its applications, incorporating mathematical rigour, clear explanations of symmetry and invariance principles, and concrete connections to modern technologies.
Each chapter is enriched with illustrations of contemporary applications, from the working principles of touchscreens, particle accelerators, 3D glasses and liquid crystal displays to medical imaging technologies like MRI. These real-world examples
ground the theory in practical contexts and also inspire readers to see the relevance of electromagnetism in everyday life. Additionally, brief notes are provided on the most influential scientists who shaped the laws and principles discussed.
Numerous fully solved exercises are available at the end of each chapter to deepen the knowledge. An ideal companion for any undergraduate and graduate course on this subject.
