Basic Theoretical Physics

Mechanics and Basic Relativity.- Space and Time.- Force and Mass.- Basic Mechanics of Motion in One Dimension.- Mechanics of the Damped and Driven Harmonic Oscillator.- The Three Classical Conservation Laws; Two-particle Problems.- Motion in a Central Force Field; Kepler's Problem.- The Rutherford Scattering Cross-section.- Lagrange Formalism I: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian.- Relativity I: The Principle of Maximal Proper Time (Eigenzeit).- Coupled Small Oscillations.- Rigid Bodies.- Remarks on Non-integrable Systems: Chaos.- Lagrange Formalism II: Constraints.- Accelerated Reference Frames.- Relativity II: E=ms2.- Electrodynamics and Aspects of Optics.- and Mathematical Preliminaries to Part II.- Electrostatics and Magnetostatics.- Magnetic Field of Steady Electric Currents.- Maxwell's Equations I: Faraday's Law of Induction; the Continuity Equation; Maxwell's Displacement Current.- Maxwell's Equations II: Electromagnetic Waves.- Applications of Electrodynamics in the Field of Optics.- Conclusion to Part II.- Quantum Mechanics.- On the History of Quantum Mechanics.- Quantum Mechanics: Foundations.- One-dimensional Problems in Quantum Mechanics.- The Harmonic Oscillator I.- The Hydrogen Atom according to Schrödinger's Wave Mechanics.- Abstract Quantum Mechanics (Algebraic Methods).- Spin Momentum and the Pauli Principle (Spin-statistics Theorem).- Spin-orbit Interaction; Addition of Angular Momenta.- Ritz Minimization.- Perturbation Theory for Static Problems.- Time-dependent Perturbations.- Magnetism: An Essentially Quantum Mechanical Phenomenon.- Cooper Pairs; Superconductors and Superfluids.- On the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics (Reality?, Locality?, Retardation?).- Quantum Mechanics: Retrospect and Prospect.- Appendix: "Mutual Preparation Algorithm" for Quantum Cryptography.- Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics.- and Overview to Part IV.- Phenomenological Thermodynamics: Temperature and Heat.- The First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics.- Phase Changes,

From the reviews:



"A comprehensive work covering the material that graduate students in physics typically would study in preparing for doctoral candidacy examinations. ... This book would be very useful for self-study by motivated students, or for preparation for candidacy exams. ... Practicing physicists may find that the brief, accessible treatments of many topics will earn this book a place on a convenient bookshelf. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (M. C. Ogilvie, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (7), 2008)

"The book, written by two ... 'working physicists', contains what the authors regard as being 'basic knowledge' in the standard courses of theoretical physics (yet) held at German Universities. ... is primarily intended to cover the 'Basic Theoretical Physics' in a single and handy volume. ... Hence, the book should be considered as being a kind of 'compendium' of ... formulas used in theoretical physics where the formulas are filledin between with some remarks." (Jürgen Tolksdorf, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1134 (12), 2008)