Classical Dynamics: A Contemporary Approach

Description

Recent advances in the study of dynamical systems have revolutionized the way that classical mechanics is taught and understood. Classical Dynamics: A Contemporary Approach is a new and comprehensive textbook that provides a complete description of this fundamental branch of physics. The authors cover all the material that one would expect to find in a standard graduate course: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics, canonical transformations, the Hamilton-Jacobi equation, perturbation methods, and rigid bodies. They also deal with more advanced topics such as the relativistic Kepler problem, Liouville and Darboux theorems, and inverse and chaotic scattering. A key feature of the book is the early introduction of geometric (differential manifold) ideas, as well as detailed treatment of topics in nonlinear dynamics (such as the KAM theorem) and continuum dynamics (including solitons). The book contains many worked examples and over 200 homework exercises. It will be an ideal textbook for graduate students of physics, applied mathematics, theoretical chemistry, and engineering, as well as a useful reference for researchers in these fields. A solutions manual is available exclusively for instructors.

'It strikes the right balance between physical reasoning and mathematical sophistication, at the same time as it takes the reader to the forefront of active research in the field ... I recommend this book to instructors and students alike.' Meinhard E. Mayer, Physics Today 'Classical Dynamics strikes the right balance between physical reasoning and mathematical sophistication, at the same time as it takes the reader to the forefront of active research in the field ... I highly recommended this book to instructors and students alike.' Meinhard E. Mayer, Physics Today '... it is well written, with a thorough set of references, and would serve as an excellent resource for students and faculty alike who wish to learn many of the most important aspects of the mathematical physics behind the renaissance of classical mechanics.' R. W. Robinett, American Journal of Physics