Master's Series in Physics and Astronomy

Vacuum science has contributed significantly to progress in scientific research and manufacturing, and in recent decades those contributions have increased markedly. As vacuum technology continues to grow in its scope and sophistication, so does the need for users to have a clear understanding of its fundamental principles and practice.Modern Vacuum Physics illuminates those principles and practices along with a number of applications in research and industrial production. The first half of the book builds a foundation in gases and vapors under rarefied conditions, how they behave when they contact surfaces, and how they flow. This forms the basis for understanding how to produce and measure vacua, on which the second half of the book focuses. In these chapters, the author presents examples of the analysis of representative systems and describes some of the exciting developments in which vacuum plays an important role. The final chapter address practical matters, such as materials, components, and leak detection. Throughout the book, the author's explanations are presented in terms of first principles and basic physics, augmented by illustrative worked examples and numerous figures.The author's clear and engaging style, judicious choice of applications, and reasonably detailed look at the whys and wherefores of vacuum systems develop the background you need to understand and analyze the behavior of typical modern vacuum systems, and even to design simple systems for laboratory purposes. This book equips readers to approach vacuum systems with confidence, demonstrates the scope and value of vacuum technology, and prepares them well for more advanced studies.