Electrodynamics and Classical Theory of Fields and Particles

We can only hope that more such striking expositions will be written. -- <i>Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society<br></i>This is a systematic covariant treatment of the classical theories of particle motion fields and the interaction of fields and particles. Particular attention is given to the interaction of charged particles with the electromagnetic field. The treatment throughout the book is relativistic; the author attempts as much as possible a coordinate free (or covariant) form of the equations both for particles and the fields. The book opens with an extensive discussion of space-time Lorentz transformations Lorentz-group and tensor and spinor fields. This material is essential to the understanding of many branches of theoretical physics in particular relativistic quantum theory. Chapter II describes various relativistic forms of the fundamental problem of dynamics: describing the trajectories of particles for given external forces. The general dynamical principles to obtain the field equations and the important problems of the conservation laws are discussed in Chapter III. The second part of the book (Chapters IV-VI) is devoted to a lucid treatment of the <i>interactions</i> of fields and particles. Chapter IV deals with equations of motion and their solutions (the so-called Cauchy problem) focusing on the solution of field equations with Green's functions using Dirac formalism. The problem of feedback between particles and fields (radiation and radiation reaction) is taken up in Chapter V as are questions concerning the limitations of classical field theories and classical dynamics. Dr. Barut concludes the book with an excellent exposition of the purely mechanical approach to the problem of the interactions of charged particles -- the so-called action-at-a-distance formulation of electrodynamics. Problems alternate proofs and additional topics are included at the end of each chapter where a useful bibliography is also provided. A general bibliography appears at the end of the book.