Reviews (92)

Thank you, David griffiths
This book is wonderful news to anyone who is frustrated with Jackson, or alternatively, is an excellent preface to it; Chapter 1 is particularly helpful as it presents all the necessary vector analysis, and is filled with illuminating geometrical interpretations to otherwise obscure mathematical creatures.
Worst book ever
A shining star in the quest for the most incomplete work ever published by credible institutions, David Griffiths triumphs over both the competition and his other works with his widely-distributed Third Edition of Introduction to Electrodynamics.
Book good, Amazon not
This book is a great introduction to electrodynamics and contains well worked out examples and good problems.
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Subjects:  1. Electrodynamics    2. Electromagnetism    3. Physics    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Communications engineering / telecommunications    7. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    8. Science / Physics   

Reviews (84)

Don't be too scared...
As an undergraduate and graduate student, I recall whispers of fear always surrounding the mention of the classical electrodynamics course.Most people would say the subject matter itself isn't challenging per se--it's the much-dreaded Jackson book.
It is tough, but you need it!
This book has been used as a graduate level electricity&magnetism textbook for several decades almost all around the World.
Useful Examples
This book is a little hard to follow, but has many good examples.I was able to learn much from this book and would recommend it in conjunction with another E&M book.I chose to buy the second edition because the entire book is in gaussian units. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electricity    2. Electrodynamics    3. Electromagnetism    4. Physics    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Solid State Physics    8. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    9. Science / Electromagnetism   

Reviews (4)

very physical book
I mean a very physical book in the sense that it takes all the matters with the point of view of physical insight. The treatment of bosons and fermions is quick clear and it seems like a sleight of hand trick. The interaction of matter and radiation is one, perhaps old fashion, complete source of actual calculus difficult to obtain in other sources. Other topics about perturbative calculations and feynman diagrams is also very clear and straightforward to the mater itself. I recommend the book to all students in the graduate level, thougth a very russian style is a must for the great style lovers.

A good introduction
This book gives a solid introduction to the simplest of gauge theories, that of the Abelian gauge field governing the interactions between photons and charged particles. The emphasis is on doing calculations, and so readers who need a more in-depth mathematical or "foundational" overview of quantum electrodynamics may be disappointed. Quantum field theory of course was not founded on the need for mathematical rigor in physics, but instead has its origins in reconciling quantum mechanics with the theory of special relativity. This reconciliation has sometimes been a rough road, and in many places employs some sophisticated but eccentric "trickery" on the part of the researchers. It is these tricks that are the most difficult to generalize, to the annoyance of mathematicians who want to put quantum field theory on a more rigorous mathematical foundation. But in spite of the use of these oddities quantum field theory is not magical, and has proven to be one of the most precise physical theories ever constructed. A COMPLETE BOOK ON QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
This is the Volume 4 of the famous Course of Theoretical Physics by L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz. All serious students of theoretical physics must possess the ten volumes of this excellent Course, which cover in detail and rigour practically all the branches of theoretical physics. The Volume 4 treats the subject of quantum electrodynamics. It contains all of basic material on quantum electrodynamics and the whole of the theory of radiation. This book, although very dense, describes with clarity the large amount of topics contained in it and does not include topics not firmly established, such as the theory of strong and weak interactions. All physicists specialized in quantum electrodynamics must possess this remarkable book. A superb book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    2. Physics    3. Quantum electrodynamics    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    7. Quantum physics (quantum mechanics)    8. Science / Physics   

Reviews (69)

Just the facts, Ma'am
In the Introduction to the 'Strange Theory of Light and Matter' Feynman tells us that what he likes to talk about is the "part of physics that is known, rather than a part that is unknown." And he goes on to give us a thumbnail sketch, a "physicist's history of physics," which shows how physicist's, in their quest to describe the world, continually reduce a group of seemingly unrelated phenomenon to a single phenomenon. So heat and sound were found, thanks to Newton, to be reducible to laws of motion, while electricity, magnetism and light were reducible to Maxwell's electromagnetic wave. In this way physicist's explain the world.
The shortest, clearest and "most physical" description of quantum theory without compromise in the accuracy
I had read a few books on quantium physics before, some are serious textbooks, and some are books for general readers, without even a single equation. This book, catagorized as the latter case, is the shortest, clearest and "most physical" description I've ever read.
Whew! Worth the effort...
Feynman believed that if you truly understand a concept than you should be able to express it in a way that any educated person can understand it. Thus you have a smallish book (based on lectures) on some of the most obtuse subjects in physics in a way that is entertaining, readable, and understandable.
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Subjects:  1. Electrons    2. Photons    3. Physics    4. Quantum Theory    5. Quantum electrodynamics    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Atomic & molecular physics    9. Chemistry    10. History of Science and Medicine, Philosophy of Science    11. Science / Physics   

Reviews (8)

Exceptionally lucid.
This book is somewhat famous for its heuristic derivation of the full Maxwell's equations using Lorentz invariance, but every topic is covered in an exceptionally lucid manner, on a par with Feynman at his best.The book is also aneccessary antidote for the excessive detail and overgeneralization of Jackson.

Le meilleur livre sur les couscous boulettes
Bref, c'est tres bien sauf que beaucoup d'erreur se sont glisses dans le livre. C'est le probleme principal de ce livre est que l'audience est tres restreinte aux eleves de secondes. J'en appelle donc au serieux de l'auteur pour se relire quand meme. A perfect introduction
This book is the best introduction to advanced electromagnetic theory I have ever encountered. The author does a masterly job at simplifying the mathematics without over-simplifying the physics. If you're looking to gaina deep understanding of electromagnetics and its relation to the theory ofrelativity, this book is for you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electricity    2. Electrodynamics    3. Physics    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    7. Electronics & Communications Engineering    8. Science / Physics   

Reviews (1)

Disappointing...
The moment the professor in our class told us that instead of Jackson we'd be using another book I couldn't hide my joyous feelings. I ordered Brau's book (the recommended for our e&m course) and waited...
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Subjects:  1. Electricity    2. Electricity And Magnetism    3. Electrodynamics    4. Electromagnetism    5. Physics    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    9. Physics | Electricity & Magnetism    10. Science / Electricity   

Subjects:  1. Physics    2. Science    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Classical Electrodynamics    5. Electrodynamic Theory    6. Science / Physics   

Reviews (1)

A excellent introduction to EM Waves
This is a excellent text for undergraduates in physics or EE to understand the fundamental electromagnetic properties of vibrations, waves and radiation. It supplements Purcell's very well. Having studied it, you are equipped with solid understanding and can go on into Optics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electrodynamics    2. Electromagnetic fields    3. Electromagnetism    4. Physics    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Science / Physics   

Subjects:  1. Electricity    2. Nuclear Physics    3. Perturbation (Quantum dynamics    4. Perturbation (Quantum dynamics)    5. Physics    6. Quantum Field Theory    7. Quantum Theory    8. Quantum electrodynamics    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Abelian Gauge Theory    12. Field Theory    13. Mathematical theory of computation    14. Particle & high-energy physics    15. Quantum physics (quantum mechanics)    16. Relativistic    17. Science / Nuclear Physics    18. Science / Quantum Theory    19. Science-Nuclear Physics    20. Science-Physics    21. Theoretical methods   

Subjects:  1. Counseling - Vocational Guidance    2. Electricity    3. Electrodynamics    4. Electromechanical devices    5. Electronics - General    6. Equipment, Appliances & Supplies    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology    9. Technology & Industrial Arts    10. Electronics & Communications Engineering    11. Technology / Machinery   

Reviews (4)

Impenetrable
I found this book to be completely useless to me.It relies heavily on pure math rather than physical insight to treat the subject.Electrodynamics is hard enough without focusing on the physics as if they were an equation to be derived.This book is intended as a replacement for Jackson, but somehow manages to be even less clear.There are plenty of other E&M books to choose from (Schwartz, Landau, Griffiths, Jenkins) and if you are looking for an alternative to Jackson, choose one of those.

no title
I have taken physics courses from one of the authors, Milton, and they were some of the best classes I have taken in physics.During the semester, first the foundation is laid then everything builds else builds from it. What comes next is built on what was was taught before. Everything is logical and is built up on what waslectured on previously. Take a few concepts and develop them really well, rather than a shotgun approach of more topics but less detail.This book is of the same style. I highly recommend it.

The physics and mathematics of electrodynamics
This is a concise, clear, and coherent account of advanced classical electrodynamics. The equation density is higher than in most books. Mostly this means that intermediate steps of the many illuminating calculations ofthe book are included. Many interesting topics not normally included inthis type of book are included. A lot of the mathematics needed isdeveloped in detail. I recommed it strongly to both teachers and advancedstudents of the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electricity    2. Electricity And Magnetism    3. Electrodynamics    4. Physics    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    8. Mathematics for scientists & engineers   

Reviews (3)

more understandable QFT for beginners

If you are having trouble with QFT - BUY THIS BOOK!
This book (2nd edition) has 15 chapters .I have just finished chapter 4 entitled QFT and I am compeled to write this review!After a year of studying of QFT informally I can report that this is the way to introduce yourself to the topic.I've been through Mandl & Shaw, Peskin & Schoeder, Ryder, Weinberg and a few others and this is heads and tails the BEST intro available. In 42 pages, Aitchison & Hey make the transistion from classical to QM and from QM to QFT as gracefully as I can conceive.For example, the transition from the discrete Lagrangian to the field Lagrangian is very explicit. One benfit of this is that the dependence of L on partial of phi wrt x is clearly motivated leading to the manifestly relativistically invariant form of L.They explicitly develop physical intuition at every step of the way - for example, this is the only book that I have found that explicitly asks the question where is QM's wavefunction in the QFT formalism? Answer - The vacuum to one-particle matrix elements of the field operators.The transistion from free fields to interacting fields is far clearer than any other treatment I've seen.I also appreciated that the problems were used to basically fill in details left out of the text.I was able to 'practice' the various kinds of manipulations that are required.

Amazingly clear introduction to the subject
This book is the best book I've seen on the subject.The qualitative description of qunatum field theory in particular are amazingly lucid for the subject.The only possible flaw in the book is that the problems at the end of each chapter are both few in number and for the most part do not challenge the student at all; for the most part they are just rote calculations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feynman diagrams    2. Gauge fields (Physics)    3. Nuclear Physics    4. Particles (Nuclear physics)    5. Physics    6. Quantum Theory    7. Quantum electrodynamics    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Solid State Physics    11. Weak interactions (Nuclear phy    12. Weak interactions (Nuclear physics)    13. Applied physics & special topics    14. Particle & high-energy physics    15. Science / Nuclear Physics   

Features

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Subjects:  1. Electrodynamics    2. Electromagnetic waves    3. Electromagnetism    4. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Technology    8. Waves & Wave Mechanics    9. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    10. Technology / Engineering / Electrical   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Mechanics - General    4. Physics    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Astronomy    8. Astrophysics    9. Electrodynamics    10. Matter    11. Nuclear and Particle Physics    12. Radiation    13. Reference works    14. Science / Astronomy   

Reviews (4)

Let's not forget what problem we are trying to solve
The problem is twofold: to understand and to develop a framework to use E&M. I do not feel that this book adequately addresses either problem.
An awkward geometric approach
This book on electrodynamics presents an awkward geometric approach.
Necessary evil
In the lack of a good books on Geometric algebra and calculus (in David Hestenes' style) for physicists, the book on electrodynamics by W. Baylis looks like a Necessary evil.Read more

Subjects:  1. Electricity    2. Electrodynamics    3. Electromagnetism    4. General    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Algebraic number theory    8. Communications engineering / telecommunications    9. Mathematical physics    10. Science / Magnetism   

Reviews (2)

Controversial but stimulating
Despite the fact that this book is written by a professor of physics at West Virginia University, the contents should not be taken as representing `fact' as agreed by the scientific community. The reader should understand that there are many modern re-interpretations of standard physics which are not valid. Having said that, this book gives a learned and scholarly description of a new set of possibilities. One difficulty is that the more controversial ideas are not differentiated from the `standard' ideas. Thus it is hard to know when you are being led into `disputed territory'. Brilliant new perspective on E&M and Gravity
Starting with the principle of causality (that is, that causes must precede effects in time) Jefimenko argues that Maxwell's equations asusually presented do not give us a causal understanding of EM phenomena. He then goes on to derive equivalent equations for the electric andmagnetic fields that are causal (namely the retarded fields).Using these,he presents a variety of examples to argue that E&M still holds manycurious and fascinating surprises.Finally, he applies the samemethodology to Newtonian gravity, and argues convincingly that the standardrejection of this theory in favor of GR was too hasty, since a causalformulation of Newton's theory can reproduce many of the qualitativefeatures of general relativity.An absolute must read for anyoneinterested in the foundations of physics, or anyone skeptical of theirrationality in modern physics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Science/Mathematics    2. Electrodynamics    3. Electromagnetic theory    4. Electromagnetism    5. Gravitation    6. Maxwell's equations   

Reviews (1)

Review of A Promenade Along Electrodynamics
Review of "A Promenade Along Electrodynamics," by Junichiro Fukai (Vales Lake Publishing, Read more

Subjects:  1. Electricity    2. Electrodynamics    3. Electromagnetism    4. Magnetism    5. Science    6. Science / Electricity    7. Science / Electromagnetism    8. Science / Magnetism   

Reviews (3)

Excellent book for beginning graduate students
This book covers many important topics in electromagnetic theory including many areas in Optics, like diffraction,..etc. It fills a gap between the undergrad text books and the more advance graduate EM texts (like Jackson's,.. etc). The materials are easy to follow and understand with no lack of mathematical rigors. The former review is for the wrong book.
Hi folks I just wrote this to caution you that the former reviewer is inadverently reviewing the MECHANICS book by the same author. To be short I would give this book four stars. It does a little bit of static phenomena and boundary value problems and jumps to radiation justifying the title. The level of the book is in between a grad course and an undergrad course. I think it is ideal for self study for grad students.

Challenging but well worth the effort for motivated students
An excellent textbook on classical dynamics for the 'grown-up' student who wants mathematical rigor along with physical insights. Working through this book requires considerable effort and thought on the student's part, but iswell worth the time spent. Highly recommended for the serious student whois not afraid of hard work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Electrodynamics    2. Electromagnetic waves    3. Electromagnetism    4. Engineering - Electrical & Electronic    5. Physics    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Technology & Industrial Arts    9. Atomic & molecular physics    10. Science / Electromagnetism    11. Science: General Issues   

Reviews (4)

Nice historical review
My favorite QED/QFT history book is Inward Bound by Pais.This book by Schweber does a real nice job of relating the lives of Feynman, Schwinger and Tomonaga, as well as treating their scientific contributions to QED.The contributions to QED by the other "giants" such as Dyson, Oppenheimer, Wigner, Pauli, Jordan, Wheeler and so forth, are also well done.The problem I had with this book is that it is sketchy.Often you're thrown into the midst of some problem as expressed in the technical letters of some physicist using old-fashioned notation.Thus if you want continuity--and have lots of time--you need to get hold of the old research papers and work through them.
Great book
Love it so far. Brilliant insight into not just the men behind the theories - but also physics itself.

Superb overview of the development of QED...
This book is a superb overview of the development of QED. The slant is geared towards the major personalities involved in it's development. The key players of course were: Feynman, Schwinger, Dyson, and Tomonaga. The text is quite detailed and is directed towards the academic community and assumes a cursory knowledge of quantum mechanics. That being the case, I got lost in much of the math. However, I kept at it and got much out of the book. If you are a physics major then this book will be a jewel to own. What an experience to "see" the human mind come up with ideas which at first glance seem impossible but later turn out to be perfectly true. The writing is quite turgid as is the case with books put out by Princeton, but the material is just fantastic. If the math overwhelms you, as it did me, just get the main idea down and forge on. Later, if time and patience permits re-visit the portion that got you lost and try again. I did this but still am lost in many areas. Nevertheless, a great read!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. History    3. History Of Physics    4. Physicists    5. Physics    6. Quantum Theory    7. Quantum electrodynamics    8. Science    9. Science/Mathematics    10. Biography: general    11. Chemistry    12. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    13. History of Science and Medicine, Philosophy of Science    14. History of science    15. Mathematics    16. Quantum physics (quantum mechanics)    17. Science / History   

Reviews (3)

"THE" QED primer
For the novice in QED, Greiner and Reinhardt is the BEST book, filling in the details of all the standard cross section and decay rate calculations in excruciating detail using no more than a little complex variables and PDEs with Green's functions, a.k.a, propagators.You will know QED by the end of the book.
Excellentfor self-study - My highest recommendations
This book basically covers the same material as chapters 6-9 of the classic "Relativistic Quantum Mechanics" by Bjorken & Drell. Most accurate theory in physics.
QED is known as the most accurate theory in physics.This text nicely explains the major achievements in QED by Feynmann, Schwniger, and Tomonaga.Important connection among relativities, quantum mechanics, andclassical electrodynamics. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Astrophysics & Space Science    2. Electricity    3. Physics    4. Problems, exercises, etc    5. Quantum Theory    6. Quantum electrodynamics    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Waves & Wave Mechanics    10. Electricity, magnetism & electromagnetism    11. Mathematics for scientists & engineers    12. Quantum physics (quantum mechanics)    13. Science / Physics    14. Science / Quantum Theory    15. Science-Quantum Theory    16. Science-Waves & Wave Mechanics