Collective electrodynamics

Quantum foundations of electromagnetism

Carver A. Mead

156 pages, parution le 30/09/2002

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Résumé

In this book Carver Mead offers a radically new approach to the standard problems of electromagnetic theory. Motivated by the belief that the goal of scientific research should be the simplification and unification of knowledge, he describes a new way of doing electrodynamics--collective electrodynamics--that does not rely on Maxwell's equations, but rather uses the quantum nature of matter as its sole basis. Collective electrodynamics is a way of looking at how electrons interact, based on experiments that tell us about the electrons directly. (As Mead points out, Maxwell had no access to these experiments.) The results Mead derives for standard electromagnetic problems are identical to those found in any text. Collective electrodynamics reveals, however, that quantities that we usually think of as being very different are, in fact, the same--that electromagnetic phenomena are simple and direct manifestations of quantum phenomena. Mead views his approach as a first step toward reformulating quantum concepts in a clear and comprehensible manner. The book is divided into five sections: magnetic interaction of steady currents, propagating waves, electromagnetic energy, radiation in free space, and electromagnetic interaction of atoms. In an engaging preface, Mead tells how his approach to electromagnetic theory was inspired by his interaction with Richard Feynman.Contents

Introduction: Foundations of Physics
Pt. 1 Magnetic Interaction of Steady Currents
Pt. 2 Propagating Waves
Pt. 3 Electromagnetic Energy
Pt. 4 Radiation in Free Space
Pt. 5 Electromagnetic Interaction of Atoms

L'auteur - Carver A. Mead

He is Gordon and Betty Moore professor of engineering and applied science, Emeritus, at the California Institute of Technology. He won the 1999 Lemelson-MIT prize for invention and innovation.

Caractéristiques techniques

	PAPIER
Éditeur(s)	The MIT Press
Auteur(s)	Carver A. Mead
Parution	30/09/2002
Nb. de pages	156
Format	15 x 23
Couverture	Broché
Poids	257g
Intérieur	Noir et Blanc
EAN13	9780262632607
ISBN13	978-0-262-63260-7