Table Of ContentModern Physics
A critical approach
Modern Physics
A critical approach
Edited by
Canio Noce
Dipartimento di Fisica ‘E R Caianiello’ University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
IOP Publishing, Bristol, UK
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Contents
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xv
Editor biography xvi
Contributors xvii
Part I From classical to modern physics
1 The basic concepts of classical physics as a useful path 1-1
towards modern physics
Delia Guerra, Ileana Rabuffo and Alfonso Romano
1.1 The Newton principles of dynamics 1-2
1.1.1 The principle of relativity and the first principle 1-2
1.1.2 The second principle 1-3
1.1.3 The third principle 1-7
1.2 Work and energy 1-7
1.2.1 The concept of work 1-7
1.2.2 The concept of kinetic energy 1-10
1.2.3 The concept of potential energy and the principle 1-13
of conservation of mechanical energy
1.3 Angular momentum 1-14
1.4 Symmetries and conservation laws 1-18
1.5 A brief description of waves 1-19
1.5.1 General remarks 1-19
1.5.2 Mathematical description 1-20
1.5.3 Interference and diffraction 1-24
1.6 Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves 1-25
1.6.1 The integral and the differential forms of 1-25
Maxwell’s equations
1.6.2 Electromagnetic waves 1-31
References 1-33
2 Transition from classical physics to quantum physics: 2-1
the role of interference
Lazzaro Immediata and Sergio Pagano
2.1 Introduction 2-1
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2.2 Light 2-1
2.2.1 Corpuscular theory 2-2
2.2.2 Wave theory 2-2
2.2.3 Classic electromagnetic theory 2-2
2.2.4 Quantum theory 2-2
2.3 Light as a wave 2-3
2.3.1 What is a wave? 2-3
2.3.2 Electromagnetic waves 2-4
2.3.3 Classification of electromagnetic waves 2-5
2.4 Electromagnetism 2-7
2.4.1 History 2-7
2.4.2 Maxwell’s equations 2-9
2.5 Interference 2-11
2.6 The Michelson and Morley experiment 2-11
2.6.1 Conclusions 2-17
2.7 Gravitational interferometers 2-18
2.7.1 The LIGO interferometer 2-19
2.7.2 The VIRGO interferometer 2-20
2.7.3 The future of gravitational interferometers 2-23
2.7.4 Another use of interferometers 2-24
References 2-25
3 Special relativity: an introduction 3-1
Roberto De Luca, Marcello Sette and Alessandro Sorgente
3.1 Kinematics and dynamics 3-1
3.1.1 Reference systems and events 3-1
3.1.2 Transformations and principles of relativity 3-1
3.1.3 Einstein’s relativity 3-4
3.1.4 Some important implications 3-7
3.1.5 Further work 3-9
3.2 Relativistic field transformations 3-10
3.2.1 Fields transformations in special relativity 3-10
3.2.2 Applications 3-16
Appendix 3-26
References 3-30
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4 What happens to light when it passes through a prism? 4-1
The early history of spectroscopy
Francesco Avitabile and Angela Nigro
4.1 Spectroscopy 4-1
4.1.1 The origin and development of optical spectroscopy 4-2
4.1.2 Refraction and dispersion 4-6
4.1.3 The hydrogen atom spectrum 4-8
4.1.4 Atomic theory 4-9
4.1.5 Optical spectroscopy analysis 4-12
4.2 Measuring the line spectra of inert gases and metal vapours 4-13
using a prism spectrometer
4.2.1 General description of the experiment 4-13
4.2.2 Carrying out the experiment 4-14
References 4-16
5 Electrical resistivity measurements reveal transport properties 5-1
Lazzaro Immediata and Carmine Attanasio
5.1 Introduction 5-1
5.2 General considerations 5-2
5.3 Basic methods 5-3
5.3.1 The direct method 5-3
5.3.2 The two-point probe method 5-4
5.3.3 Linear four-point probes 5-4
5.3.4 Non-collinear probe spacing 5-5
5.3.5 Square array 5-6
5.3.6 The Delta four-point probe 5-6
5.3.7 The over–under probe 5-7
5.4 The van der Pauw method 5-7
5.4.1 Methods for measuring resistivity: the case of a flat 5-8
sample of arbitrary shape
5.4.2 A method for measuring the Hall coefficient 5-12
5.5 Conclusions 5-14
References 5-14
6 The electromagnetic theory of thermal radiation 6-1
Roberto De Luca and Alessandro Sorgente
6.1 Thermal radiation 6-2
6.2 Kirchhoff theorem: definition of a black-body 6-4
6.2.1 Absorption and emission coefficients 6-5
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6.3 Proof for the Stefan–Boltzmann equation (6.7) 6-6
6.4 Proof of Wien’s law (6.8) 6-7
6.4.1 Wien’s displacement law 6-9
6.5 Planck oscillators and the Rayleigh–Jeans law 6-10
6.6 Planck’s law 6-14
6.6.1 Obtaining the Stefan–Boltzmann law from Planck’s formula 6-17
6.6.2 Special cases of Planck’s law 6-17
6.6.3 Wien’s displacement law from Planck’s formula 6-18
6.7 Some applications 6-20
6.7.1 The Sun as a black-body 6-21
6.7.2 Luminous intensity on Earth 6-21
6.7.3 TRAPPIST-1 6-22
6.7.4 Comparison of stars 6-22
References 6-23
7 The dawn of quantum mechanics 7-1
Delia Guerra and Maria Teresa Mercaldo
7.1 Introduction 7-1
7.2 The photoelectric effect 7-3
7.3 The Compton effect 7-5
7.4 Atomic spectra 7-8
7.5 Atomic models 7-10
7.5.1 The Thomson model 7-11
7.5.2 The Rutherford model 7-12
7.5.3 The Bohr model 7-13
7.6 The Franck–Hertz experiment 7-16
7.7 The wave–particle duality 7-18
7.8 The double-slit experiment 7-20
References 7-22
8 Key concepts in quantum mechanics 8-1
Marco Figliolia, Martina Moccaldi and Canio Noce
8.1 The history of quantum theory 8-2
8.1.1 Experiments with unexpected results 8-3
8.2 Novel mechanics and novel principles 8-10
8.2.1 Classical principles 8-10
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8.2.2 The definition of a state 8-11
8.2.3 Quantum principles 8-12
8.3 Applications and developments 8-13
8.3.1 Properties of the wave function 8-14
8.3.2 Free particles in classical and quantum mechanics 8-18
8.3.3 An infinitely deep potential well 8-20
8.3.4 The surprises do not stop: quantum tunnelling 8-24
8.3.5 The harmonic oscillator: an overview 8-29
8.3.6 General discussion of 1D problems in quantum mechanics 8-33
8.4 Interpretational issues 8-38
8.4.1 The measurement problem and the Copenhagen interpretation 8-38
8.4.2 Quantum paradoxes 8-41
8.4.3 Alternative interpretations and ‘ontology’ of the state 8-50
Appendix 8-52
References 8-55
9 Early attempts to make many-particle physics simple 9-1
Marco Figliolia and Alfonso Romano
9.1 Introduction 9-1
9.2 Kinetic theory of gases and specific heats: the classical treatment 9-1
9.2.1 Statistical mechanics and thermodynamics: 9-1
from micro to macro
9.2.2 Kinetic theory of gases: a first glance 9-6
9.2.3 The Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution 9-10
9.2.4 Specific heats of gases and solids 9-15
9.3 Transport properties of electrons in metals 9-20
9.3.1 Thermal conduction in the Drude model 9-24
9.4 A taste of quantum statistics 9-28
9.4.1 Classical versus quantum statistics 9-28
9.4.2 Bose–Einstein statistics 9-31
9.4.3 Fermi–Dirac statistics 9-33
9.4.4 The specific heat of solids 9-35
Appendices 9-40
References 9-42
10 How to look deep inside matter: scanning electron microscopy 10-1
Francesco Avitabile and Antonio Vecchione
10.1 Introduction 10-1
10.2 Microscopy 10-1
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