An Introduction to Special Relativity for Radiation and Plasma Physics

An introduction to special relativity and its applications, with an emphasis on the interaction and production of light in plasma.

Greg Tallents (Author)

9781009236065, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 24 November 2022

332 pages
25 x 17.5 x 2 cm, 0.72 kg

'… this book makes a great standard text … Highly recommended.' M. O. Farooq, Choice

This textbook introduces the topic of special relativity, with a particular emphasis upon light-matter interaction and the production of light in plasma. The physics of special relativity is intuitively developed and related to the radiative processes of light. The book reviews the underlying theory of special relativity, before extending the discussion to applications frequently encountered by postgraduates and researchers in astrophysics, high power laser interactions and the users of specialized light sources, such as synchrotrons and free electron lasers. A highly pedagogical approach is adopted throughout, and numerous exercises are included within each chapter to reinforce the presentation of key concepts and applications of the material.

Preface
1. A brief introduction to special relativity and light
2. An introduction to relativistic kinematics, kinetics and energy
3. Relativity and electromagnetic fields
4. Electromagnetic wave interactions with plasma and other matter
5. Particle motion and radiation in electric and magnetic fields
6. Photon and particle distribution functions
7. Radiation emission, absorption and scatter in plasmas
8. Collisional processes
9. Relativistic optics
10. Solutions to selected exercises
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Nuclear chemistry, photochemistry & radiation [PNRL], Astrophysics [PHVB], Relativity physics [PHR], Optical physics [PHJ], Plasma physics [PHFP]