Preface xv
Part I Mathematics 1
1 Functions of One Variable 3
1.1 Limits 3
1.2 Elementary Calculus 5
1.2.1 Differentiation Products and Quotients 6
1.2.2 Chain Rule 7
1.2.3 Inverse Functions 8
1.3 Integration 10
1.4 The Binomial Expansion 14
1.5 Taylor’s Series 15
1.6 Extrema 17
1.7 Power Series 17
1.8 Basic Functions 19
1.8.1 Exponential 19
1.8.2 Logarithm 22
1.9 First-Order Ordinary Differential Equations 24
1.10 Trigonometric Functions 25
1.10.1 L’Hopital’s Rule 27
Problems 27
2 Complex Numbers 29
2.1 Exponential Function of a Complex Variable 30
2.2 Argand Diagrams and the Complex Plane 32
2.3 Complex Logarithm 34
2.4 Hyperbolic Functions 34
2.5 The Simple Harmonic Oscillator 36
2.5.1 Mechanics in One Dimension 38
2.5.2 Damped and Driven Oscillations 40
Problems 47
3 VectorsinR 3 51
3.1 Basic Operation 51
3.1.1 Scalar Triple Product 55
3.1.2 Vector Equations of Lines and Planes 56
3.2 Kinematics in Three Dimensions 57
3.2.1 Differentiation 57
3.2.2 Motion in a Uniform Magnetic Field 57
3.3 Coordinate Systems 59
3.3.1 Polar Coordinates 59
3.4 Central Forces 60
3.5 Rotating Frames 64
3.5.1 Larmor Effect 66
Problems 67
4 VectorSpaces 71
4.1 Formal Definition of a Vector Space 71
4.2 Fourier Series 75
4.3 Linear Operators 78
4.4 Change of Basis 89
Problems 91
5 Functions of Several Variables 95
5.1 Partial Derivatives 95
5.1.1 Definition of the Partial Derivative 95
5.1.2 Total Derivatives 98
5.1.3 Elementary Numerical Methods 104
5.1.4 Change of Variables 107
5.1.5 Mechanics Again 109
5.2 Extrema under Constraint 111
5.3 Multiple Integrals 113
5.3.1 Triple Integrals 116
5.3.2 Change of Variables 117
Problems 121
6 Vector Fields and Operators 125
6.1 The Gradient Operator 125
6.1.1 Coordinate Systems 127
6.2 Work and Energy in Vectorial Mechanics 130
6.2.1 Line Integrals 133
6.3 A Little Fluid Dynamics 135
6.3.1 Rotational Motion 138
6.3.2 Fields 141
6.4 Surface Integrals 142
6.5 The Divergence Theorem 146
6.6 Stokes’ Theorem 149
6.6.1 Conservative Forces 153
Problems 154
7 Generalized Functions 159
7.1 The Dirac Delta Function 159
7.2 Green’s Functions 163
7.3 Delta Function in Three Dimensions 165
Problems 169
8 Functions of a Complex Variable 173
8.1 Limits 174
8.2 Power Series 178
8.3 Fluids Again 179
8.4 Complex Integration 180
8.4.1 Application of the Residue Theorem 186
Problems 192
Part II Physics 195
9 Maxwell’s Equations: A Very Short Introduction 197
9.1 Electrostatics: Gauss’s Law 197
9.1.1 Conductors 203
9.2 The No Magnetic Monopole Rule 204
9.3 Current 205
9.4 Faraday’s Law 206
9.5 Ampere’s Law 208
9.6 The Wave Equation 210
9.7 Gauge Conditions 211
Problems 213
10 Special Relativity: Four-Vector Formalism 217
10.1 Lorentz Transformation 217
10.1.1 Inertial Frames 217
10.1.2 Properties and Consequences of the Lorentz Transformation 220
10.2 Minkowski Space 220
10.2.1 Four Vectors 220
10.2.2 Time Dilation 226
10.3 Four-Velocity 227
10.3.1 Four-Momentum 229
10.4 Electrodynamics 234
10.4.1 Maxwell’s Equations in Four-Vector Form 234
10.4.2 Field of a Moving Point Charge 237
10.5 Transformation of the Electromagnetic Fields 239
Problems 240
11 Quantum Theory 243
11.1 Bohr Atom 243
11.2 The de Broglie Hypothesis 246
11.3 The Schrodinger Wave Equation 246
11.4 Interpretation of the Wave function 249
11.5 Atom 251
11.5.1 The Delta Function Potential 252
11.5.2 Molecules 254
11.6 Formalism 257
11.6.1 Dirac Notation 257
11.7 Probabilistic Interpretation 258
11.7.1 Commutator Relations 259
11.7.2 Functions of Observables 261
11.7.3 Block’s Theorem 261
11.7.4 Band Structure 263
11.8 Time Evolution 266
11.9 The Stern–Gerlach Experiment 269
11.9.1 Successive Measurements 270
11.9.2 Spin Space 271
11.9.3 Explicit Matrix Representation 272
11.9.4 Larmor Precession 274
11.9.5 EPR Paradox 275
11.9.6 Bell’s Theorem 276
11.9.7 The Harmonic Oscillator 279
Problems 280
12 An Informal Treatment of Variational Principles and their History 287
12.1 Sin and Death 287
12.2 The Calculus of Variations 288
12.3 Constrained Variations 293
12.4 Hamilton’s Equations 293
12.5 Phase Space 296
12.6 Fixed Points 296
Problems 298
A Conic Sections 301
A.1 Polar Coordinates 303
A.2 Intersection of a Cone and a Plane 304
B Vector Relations 305
B.1 Products 305
B.2 Differential Operator Relations 305
B.3 Coordinates 306
Cylindrical Polar 306
Spherical Polar 307
Bibliography 309
Index 311
