Physics and AstrophysicsGlimpses of the Progress provides a comprehensive account of physics and astrophysics from the time of Aristotle to the modern era of Stephen Hawking and beyond. It takes the readers of all ages through a pleasant journey touching on the major discoveries and inventions that have taken place in both the macro-world, including that in the cosmos, and the micro-world of atomic and subatomic particles related to physics and astrophysics. Use of historical perspective and anecdote makes the storytelling on the progress of physics and astrophysics both interesting and absorbing. While peering through different developments in these fields, the book never compromises with the sanctity of the scientific content, including the depth and beauty of the physical concept of the topics concerned and the philosophical viewpoints they represent. Where appropriate, the book also delves into value judgments of life that affect our civilization.
Features
The intricate concepts of physics and astrophysics are explained in simple terms and in easy-to-understand language.
Physics and astrophysics are discussed in a connected and correlated way in a single volume of comprehensive size but in totality, which to date is the unique feature of this book.
Starting with Aristotles Physics and going through the work of Newton, Einstein, Schrödinger, Hubble, Hewish, Hawking, and others, including the present research on dark energy, dark matter, and the fifth force of nature, the reader will be kept absorbed and spellbound.
In addition to the fundamental principles of Newtonian mechanics, Einsteins relativity, quantum mechanics, string theory, loop quantum gravity, and so on, the cutting-edge technologies of recent times, such as the Large Hadron Collider, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, and Event Horizon Telescope, are also explored.
The book is aimed primarily at undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and professionals studying physics and astrophysics. General readers will also find the book useful to quench their thirst for knowledge about the developments in physics and astrophysics.
1. The Beginning: Physics and Astrophysics in the ancient times till the
end of 19th Century. 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Developments of physics and
astrophysics in ancient times till the time of Galileo: Introduction, Motion
of bodies and miscellaneous ancient thoughts, The Static Earth concept,
Geocentric to heliocentric, Flat Earth or round Earth, Nature of space and
time, Size of the Earth. 1.3. Galileo and the Beginning of Experimental
Physics. 1.4 Newtons Laws of Motion and Gravitation: Introduction, Newtons
Laws of Motion, A comment by the author, Newtons universal law of
gravitation, Weightlessness experienced by astronomers in space flights,
Fallout of Newtonian gravitational law and the laws of motion, Bentley
paradox, Gravitation: Is it a force or due to space-time curvature? 1.5
Faraday and Maxwells Electromagnetism: Introduction, Michel Faradays
Contribution, J. C. Maxwells Contribution, Fallout of Maxwell and Faradays
electromagnetism. 1.6 A New and Effulgent Dawn in making for 20th Century:
Introduction, The aether (ether) prejudice till 1990s, Michelson-Morley
experimentConcept of space contraction, Birth of Einsteins special theory
of relativity.
2. The Golden Period: Two Master Strokes of 20th
CenturyRelativity and Quantum Mechanics. 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Relativistic
Mechanics: Introduction, The new Archimedes is born, Most beautiful of
theories, Gravitation as per general theory of relativity, Experimental proof
in support of general theory of relativity, Newtonian mechanics or Einsteins
relativity, Comment by a literature laureate. 2.3 Quantum Mechanics:
Introduction, Formative stage of quantum concept, Max Plancks contribution,
Einsteins contribution, Journey towards the understanding of micro-worldThe
quantum mechanics. 2.4 Albert Einsteins RelativityA New Cosmic Vision:
Introduction, Einsteins religious thought, Albert the rebel, Albert the
genius, Similarities of the life of a genius and great scientists, Relativity
theory by Einstein.2.5 Special theory of relativity: Introduction, Time
Dilation and Space Contraction, Time dilation of special relativity, Space
contraction of special relativity, Twin ParadoxA thought experiment to
demonstrate time dilation and space contraction, Simultaneity Re-visited in
Relativity, Extended present in space-time geometry, Mass-energy
relationship, Experimental proof and application of mass-energy relation,
Space-time Continuum, The space-time diagram for light cone of special
relativity. 2.6 General Theory of Relativity: Introduction, Chronogeometric
theory of gravitation, Recipes for the development of general theory of
relativity, Prediction of gravitational waves, Expanding universe from
general theory of relativity, Cosmological constant Not a blunder but a
visionarys true vision, Twin paradox due to gravitational dilation of time
and correction of GPS clocks, General theory of relativity and gravitational
lensing, General relativity and wormhole/time machine. 2.7 The Game Changer
of Atomic PhysicsQuantum Mechanics: Introduction, Rutherfords atomic model
and its limitations, Bohrs atomic modelA quantum cum classical approach,
Fallout of Bohrs atomic model and its shortcomings, Wave-particle duality of
de Broglie in the quantum world, Experimental verification of wave-particle
duality, Double-slit experiment with Electron to establish its dual nature,
Uncertainty principleAn inescapable property of the material world,
Application of uncertainty principle in LIGO design, Atomic stability on the
basis of quantum mechanics. 2.8 Quantum Mechanics in the hands of
Schrödinger, Dirac and Others: Introduction, Schrödingers wave mechanics,
Paul Diracs contribution in quantum mechanics, Quantum mechanics and
periodic table of elements, Richard Feynman and Feynman diagram. 2.9 Quantum
weirdness and Quantum entanglement: Quantum mechanicsA weird subject,
Einsteins thought about quantum mechanics and quantum entanglement, Any
similarity of macro-world physics with that of the micro-world?
3.
Miscellaneous Developments: In the Realm of and Beyond R & QM. 3.1
Introduction. 3.2 Miscellaneous Developments in the Realm of Relativity: (i)
Expanding universe: Introduction, Work of Lemaître and Friedman on expanding
universe, Experimental support in favour of expanding universe (ii) Big bang
theory of the origin of universe: Introduction, Experimental evidences
supporting the big bang theory, (iii) Black hole: Introduction, What are
black holes, Black hole identification and experimental evidence of its
existence, What is inside a black hole, First experimental imaging of black
hole with EHT, Black hole vs White hole (iv) Gravitational waves:
Introduction, Gravitational wave detection with LIGO, A recent outcome from
LIGO results, A comment on the fruits of collaborative research. 3.3
Unification Efforts Beyond the Fundamental Developments of Relativity and
Quantum Mechanics: Einsteins unified field theory, Quantum field theory,
Quantum gravityTheory of loop quantum gravity, Evolution of the connotation
of the termtime, A digression: Big Bang vs Big Bounce as the theory of the
origin of universe. 3.4 New thought beyond R-QM UniverseThe string theory or
the Theory of Everything: Introduction, Concept of string theory, History of
development of string theory, How to verify string theory experimentally, Few
more words about string theory, A comment by the author. 3.5 A Digression:
The Scientific Model of the Evolution of the Universe and Four Fundamental
Forces of Nature: Scientific Model of the Evolution of the Universe, How the
Universe and our Earth might end-up and the means to save it, Four
Fundamental Forces of Nature. 3.6 Antimatter, Dark Energy and Dark Matter:
Introduction, Antimatter, Dark energy and Dark matter. 3.7 A Look at the
Present Scenario of Science and Technology Beyond the R-QM Developments.
4.
Zooming-Into the Sub-Atomic World of Atomic Physics. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2
Classification of Sub-atomic Particles: Introduction, Photons, Leptons,
Hadrons and Quarks. 4.3 Standard Model of Physics. 4.4 Physics Beyond
Standard ModelPossibility of New Particle, New Force. 4.5 Particle
Accelerators/ Atom Smashers: Introduction, History of development and
principle of operation of particle accelerators, The Future Circular Collider
(FCC) and Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
5. Zooming-Out to the Cosmic World of
Astrophysics. 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 The Sky: Introduction, Why the Day Sky in
the Earth is Blue, Why the Night Sky is Black/DarkOlbers paradox. 5.3 The
Sun and the Solar System: The birth of Sun and its ultimate fate, The Solar
System, The Moon and the Satellites of other Planets, Exoplanets, Atmosphere
of Different Planets in Our Solar System, A Comment on Global Warming. 5.4
Stars and the Stellar Evolution: Introduction, Life cycle of starsThe
stellar evolution, Chandrasekhar Limit, Supernovae and Novae, Classification
of Stars, Measurement of Distance to Stars and Galaxies. 5.5 Nebulae and
Galaxies. 5.6 Pulsars and Quasars: Radio Astronomy, Pulsars, A comment from
the Author, Quasars. 5.7 The Observable Universe and Multiverse.
Subal Kar is former Professor and Head of the Institute of Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta, India. His field of specialization is microwave engineering, metamaterials and high energy physics. Dr. Kar has three patents to his credit and published a large number of research papers in peer-reviewed international journals. He was visiting scientist to various universities and institutes in US, Europe and Asia including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US, Oxford University, UK, Cockcroft Institute, UK, Kyoto University, Japan. Dr. Kar has authored a text book entitled "Microwave EngineeringFundamentals, Design and Applications" and contributed a number of chapters in books published by Elsevier, Springer Nature, CRC Press. He is the recipient of young scientist award of URSI and IEEE MTT and Fulbright award of US government.
