This book is a short introduction to classical field theory, most suitable for undergraduate students who have had at least intermediate-level courses in electromagnetism and classical mechanics. The main theme of the book is showcasing role of fields in mediating action-at-a-distance interactions. Suitable technical machinery is developed to explore at least some aspect of each of the four known fundamental forces in nature. Beginning with the physically-motivated introduction to field theory, the text covers the relativistic formulation of electromagnetism in great detail so that aspects of gravity and the nuclear interaction not usually encountered at the undergraduate level can be covered by using analogies with familiar electromagentism. Special topics such as the behavior of gravity in extra, compactified dimensions, magnetic monopoles and electromagnetic duality, and the Higgs mechanism are also briefly considered.

Scheck’s successful textbook presents a comprehensive treatment, ideally suited for a one-semester course. The textbook describes Maxwell's equations first in their integral, directly testable form, then moves on to their local formulation. The first two chapters cover all essential properties of Maxwell's equations, including their symmetries and their covariance in a modern notation. Chapter 3 is devoted to Maxwell's theory as a classical field theory and to solutions of the wave equation. Chapter 4 deals with important applications of Maxwell's theory. It includes topical subjects such as metamaterials with negative refraction index and solutions of Helmholtz' equation in paraxial approximation relevant for the description of laser beams. Chapter 5 describes non-Abelian gauge theories from a classical, geometric point of view, in analogy to Maxwell's theory as a prototype, and culminates in an application to the U(2) theory relevant for electroweak interactions. The last chapter 6 gives a concise summary of semi-Riemannian geometry as the framework for the classical field theory of gravitation. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the Schwarzschild solution of Einstein's equations and the classical tests of general relativity. The new concept of this edition presents the content divided into two tracks: the fast track for master's students, providing the essentials, and the intensive track for all wanting to get in depth knowledge of the field. Cleary labeled material and sections guide students through the preferred level of treatment. Numerous problems and worked examples will provide successful access to Classical Field Theory.

An introduction to classical field theory focusing on methods and solutions, providing a foundation for the study of quantum field theory.

The author uses a unique approach which emphasizes the field theoretic aspects of gravitation and the strong analogies between gravitation and the other areas that are studied in physics. The theory-centered text begins with the simplest experimental facts then proceeds to the corresponding differential equations, theoretical constructs such as energy, momentum and stress and several applications. End-of-chapter problems provide students with an opportunity to test their understanding, serve as an introduction to and a review of material not included in the book and can be used to develop examples, extensions and generalizations of the material presented.

Classical field theory has undergone a renaissance in recent years. Symplectic techniques have yielded deep insights into its foundations, as has an improved understanding of the variational calculus. Further impetus for the study of classical fields has come from other areas, such as integrable systems, Poisson geometry, global analysis, and quantum theory. This book contains the proceedings of the AMS-IMS-SIAM Joint Summer Research Conference on Mathematical Aspects of Classical Field Theory, held in July 1991 at the University of Washington at Seattle. The conference brought together researchers in many of the main areas of classical field theory to present the latest ideas and results. The volume contains thirty refereed papers, both survey and research articles, and is designed to reflect the state of the art as well as chart the future course of the subject. The topics fall into four major categories: global analysis and relativity (cosmic censorship, initial value problem, quantum gravity), geometric methods (symplectic and Poisson structures, momentum mappings, Dirac constraint theory), BRST theory, and the calculus of variations (the variational bicomplex, higher order theories). Also included are related topics with a ``classical basis'', such as geometric quantization, integrable systems, symmetries, deformation theory, and geometric mechanics.

This textbook offers a detailed and uniquely self-contained presentation of quantum and gauge field theories. Writing from a modern perspective, the author begins with a discussion of advanced dynamics and special relativity before guiding students steadily through the fundamental principles of relativistic quantum mechanics and classical field theory. This foundation is then used to develop the full theoretical framework of quantum and gauge field theories. The introductory, opening half of the book allows it to be used for a variety of courses, from advanced undergraduate to graduate level, and students lacking a formal background in more elementary topics will benefit greatly from this approach. Williams provides full derivations wherever possible and adopts a pedagogical tone without sacrificing rigour. Worked examples are included throughout the text and end-of-chapter problems help students to reinforce key concepts. A fully worked solutions manual is available online for instructors.

This text concerns continuum mechanics, electrodynamics and the mechanics of electrically polarized media, and gravity. Geared toward advanced undergraduates and graduate students, it offers an accessible approach that formulates theories according to the principle of least action. The chief advantage of this formulation is its simplicity and ease, making the physical content of classical subjects available to students of physics in a concise form. Author Davison E. Soper, a Professor of Physics at the University of Oregon, intended this treatment as a primary text for courses in classical field theory as well as a supplement for courses in classical mechanics or classical electrodynamics. Topics include fields and transformation laws, the principle of stationary action, general features of classical field theory, the mechanics of fluids and elastic solids, special types of solids, nonrelativistic approximations, and the electromagnetic field. Additional subjects include electromagnetically polarized materials, gravity, momentum conservation in general relativity, and dissipative processes.

This book is a concise introduction to the key concepts of classical field theory for beginning graduate students and advanced undergraduate students who wish to study the unifying structures and physical insights provided by classical field theory without dealing with the additional complication of quantization. In that regard, there are many important aspects of field theory that can be understood without quantizing the fields. These include the action formulation, Galilean and relativistic invariance, traveling and standing waves, spin angular momentum, gauge invariance, subsidiary conditions, fluctuations, spinor and vector fields, conservation laws and symmetries, and the Higgs mechanism, all of which are often treated briefly in a course on quantum field theory.

Annotation Classical field theory is employed by physicists to describe a wide variety of physical phenomena. These include electromagnetism, fluid dynamics, gravitation and quantum mechanics. The central entity of field theory is the field which is usually a multi component function of space and time. Those multi component functions are usually grouped together as vector fields as in the case in electromagnetic theory and fluid dynamics, in other cases they are grouped as tensors as in theories of gravitation and yet in other cases they are grouped as complex functions as in the case of quantum mechanics. In order to know the value of the field one needs to solve a set of coupled partial differential equations with given boundary and initial conditions. The book covers a selection of recent advances in classical field theory involving electromagnetism, fluid dynamics, gravitation and quantum mechanics. Advances in Classical Field Theory will benefit readers by saving them the effort to read through numerous journal articles which would be needed to obtain a coherent picture of classical field theory otherwise. The book is unique in its aim and scope and is not similar to any existing publication.

A canonical quantization approach to classical field theory, this text is suitable for mathematicians interested in theoretical physics as well as to theoretical physicists who use differential geometric methods in their modelling. Introduces differential geometry, the theory of Lie groups, and progresses to discuss the systematic development of a covariant Hamiltonian formulation of field theory. 1988 edition.