Baldassare Di Bartolo

The topics treated in this book are essentially those that a graduate student of physics or electrical engineering should be familiar with in classical electromagnetism. Each topic is analyzed in detail, and each new concept is explained with examples.The text is self-contained and oriented toward the student. It is concise and yet very detailed in mathematical calculations; the equations are explicitly derived, which is of great help to students and allows them to concentrate more on the physics concepts, rather than spending too much time on mathematical derivations. The introduction of the theory of special relativity is always a challenge in teaching electromagnetism, and this topic is considered with particular care. A large number of exercises are included.

The topics treated in this book are essentially those that a graduate student of physics or electrical engineering should be familiar with in classical electromagnetism. Each topic is analyzed in detail, and each new concept is explained with examples.The text is self-contained and oriented toward the student. It is concise and yet very detailed in mathematical calculations; the equations are explicitly derived, which is of great help to students and allows them to concentrate more on the physics concepts, rather than spending too much time on mathematical derivations. The introduction of the theory of special relativity is always a challenge in teaching electromagnetism, and this topic is considered with particular care. A large number of exercises are included.

This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the two fundamental aspects of a solid that determine its physical properties: lattice structure and atomic vibrations (phonons). The elements of group theory are extensively developed and used as a tool to show how the symmetry of a solid and the vibrations of the atoms in the solid lead to the physical properties of the material. The uses of different types of spectroscopy techniques that elucidate the lattice structure of a solid and the normal vibrational modes of the atoms in the solid are described. The interaction of light with solids (optical spectroscopy) is described in detail including how lattice symmetry and phonons affect the spectral properties and how spectral properties provide information about the material's symmetry and normal modes of lattice vibrations. The effects of point defects (doping) on the lattice symmetry and atomic vibrations and thus the spectral properties are discussed and used to show how material symmetry and lattice vibrations are critical in determining the properties of solid state lasers.

This book presents an account of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Radiationless Processes," held in Erice, Italy, from November 18 to December 1, 1979. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The objective of the Institute was to formulate a comprehensive treatment of the various processes by which molecules and crystals in excited electronic levels relax nonradiatively to the ground level. A total of 83 participants came from 62 laboratories and 22 nations (Australia, Belgium, Brasil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, F. R. Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and U.S.S.R.). The secretaries of the Institute were: Velda Goldberg for the scientific aspects and Antonino La Francesca for the administrative aspects of the meeting. Eleven series of lectures for a total of 36 hours were given. Nine "long" seminars and 7 "short" seminars were also presented. In addition, two informal seminars and 2 round-table discussions were held. After an introductory overview of the theory of radiation1ess processes, the Institute dealt firstly with the interaction of electrons with the distribution of vibrational modes in simple molecules, then with the increasingly complex situation found in large lsolated molecules, gnd finally with the coupling of excited electrons with the continuous phonon distribution in insulating solids.

This book presents an account of the course "Spectroscopy of Solid-State Laser-Type Materials" held in Erice, Italy, from June 16 to 30, 1985. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The objective of the course was to present and examine the recent advances in spectroscopy and theoretical modelling relevant to the interpretation of luminescence and laser phenomena in several classes of solid-state materials. The available solid-state matrices (e.g. halides, oxides, glasses, semiconductors) and the full range of possible activators (transition ions, rare earth ions, post-transition ions, actinides, color centres) were considered. By bringing together specialists in the fields of solid-state luminescence and of solid-state laser materials, this course provided a much-needed forum for the critical . assessment of past developments in the R&D of solid-state lasers. Additional objectives of the meeting were to identify new classes of host/activator systems that show promise of laser operation; to alert researchers in solid-state luminescence to current technological needs for solid-state tunable lasers operating in the visible and infrared spectral regions; and generally to provide the scientific background for advanced work in solid state lasers. A total of 71 participants came from 54 laboratories and 21 nations (Austria, Belgium, Canada, F.R. of Germany, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, P.R. of China, Poland, Rumania, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.).

This book presents an account of the course "Disordered Solids: Structures and Processes" held in Erice, Italy, from June 15 to 29, 1987. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The objective of this course was to present the advances in physical modelling, mathematical formalism and experimental techniques relevant to the interpretation of the structures of disordered solids and of the physical processes occurring therein. Traditional solid-state physics treats solids as perfect crystals and takes great advantage of their symmetry, by means of such mathematical formalisms as the reciprocal lattice, the Brillouin zone, and the powerful tools of group theory. Even if in reality no solid is a perfect crystal, this theoretical approach has been of great usefulness in describing solids: deviations from perfect order have been treated as perturbations of the ideal model. A new situation arises with truly disordered solids where any vestige of long range order has disappeared. The basic problem is that of describing these systems and gaining a scientific understanding of their physical properties without the mathematical formalism of traditional solid­ state physics. While some of the old approaches may occasionally remain valid (e. g. chemical bonding approach for amorphous solids), the old ways will not do. Disorder is not a perturbation: with disorder, something basically new may be expected to appear.

Optical Interactions in Solids presents an extensive and unified treatment of the basic principles of the optical properties of solids. It provides a theoretical background to workers in the field of laser physics and absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of solid state materials. The book is a comprehensive coverage of the subject and is systematically and didactically organized. The level of presentation is such that it will benefit and interest both advanced students and research workers. Group theory — which is useful throughout — is introduced early in the book advocating the scientific community to overcome the reluctance to employ this powerful method. Consistent emphasis is given throughout the book to the relevance of symmetry and to detailed calculations. Different subjects as various as quantum theory of radiation field, thermal vibrations of molecules and crystals and covalent bonding are brought together in a unified treatment which requires knowledge of all these topics and this points to the interpretation of the spectral properties of solids. The content of this work could be used as a two term graduate course in solid state spectroscopy.br>

New Edition: Classical Theory of Electromagnetism (3rd Edition)The topics treated in this book are essentially those that a graduate student of physics or electrical engineering should be familiar with in classical electromagnetism. Each topic is analyzed in detail, and each new concept is explained with examples.The text is self-contained and oriented toward the student. It is concise and yet very detailed in mathematical calculations; the equations are explicitly derived, which is of great help to students and allows them to concentrate more on the physics concepts, rather than spending too much time on mathematical derivations. The introduction of the theory of special relativity is always a challenge in teaching electromagnetism, and this topic is considered with particular care. The value of the book is increased by the inclusion of a large number of exercises.