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Jennifer Trusted in Physics and Metaphysics argues that science--in its haste to tear itself from its historical links--has neglected the various roles religious and philosophical ideas have actually played and continue to play in scientific thinking. This book seeks to redress the balance by exploring how metaphysical beliefs have functioned in the history of scientific inquiry and discovery.

By examining the history of science from the eleventh century to the present, this book shows how religious and mystical beliefs, as well as philosophical speculation, have had a considerable role in motivating scientists and inspiring scientific inquiry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a lovely book
This is a reader-friendly introduction into an otherwise intimidating subject. Ms. Trusted takes the reader from early views of the world in a series of sensible steps to a good understanding of our current picture. Any intelligent observer of the world should have a copy of this book handy for easy reference.

I can also recommend her book "The Mystery of Matter" which examines the perplexities of the basic stuff out of which the universe is made without making any unsubstantiated (mysitical) claims. She is a very matter-of-fact writer who is a delight to read. ... Read more

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This volume covers most areas in the physics of the solar system, with special emphasis on gravitational dynamics; its gist is the rational, in particular mathematical, understanding of the main processes at work. Special stress is given to the variety of objects in the planetary system and their long-term evolution. The unique character of this book is its breadth and depth, which aims at bringing the reader to the threshold of original research; however, special chapters and introductory sections are included for the benefit of the beginner.

Physics of the Solar System is based on the earlier work by B. Bertotti and P. Farinella: Physics of the Earth and the Solar System (Kluwer, 1990), which has been completely revised and updated, and more focused on the solar system. It generally attains a higher level than the previous version. This volume is generally suitable for post-graduate students and researchers in physics, especially in the field related to the solar system. A large amount of figures and diagrams is included, often compiled with real data.

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This volume presents the principles and methods of sprays (pathspaces) and Finsler spaces with many applications in the physical andlife sciences. The book has six chapters and an extensive referencesection. Beginning from the classical theory of sprays, Chapter 0presents an introduction to modern Finsler differential geometry. Thefollowing three chapters can serve as a comprehensive graduate courseusing the notions of pre-Finsler connections in spray bundles. Topicscovered are the calculus of variations and Finsler metric functions,spaces of constant curvature, projective and conformal geometry,two-dimensional Finsler spaces, Beswald spaces, (alpha,beta)-metrics, etc. Chapter 4 deals with the Finslerian view ofdissipative mechanics, thermodynamics and information, and geometricaland electron optics. Chapter 5 discusses, from a Finslerianperspective, ecological problems and models, with particular referenceto the Great Barrier Reef. Spray connection theory is shown to beindispensable for a logically consistent theory of socialinteractions. Projective Finsler geometry and Wagner connection theoryare used to model time-sequencing changes in growth and development.Some direct applications to fossil measurements in paleontology arealso described.
For geometers, physicists and theoretical (marine) biologists, thebook can also be recommended as a supplementary graduate text.
... Read more

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Symplectic geometry, well known as the basic structure of Hamiltonian mechanics, is also the foundation of optics. In fact, optical systems (geometric or wave) have an even richer symmetry structure than mechanical ones (classical or quantum). The symmetries underlying the geometric model of light are based on the symplectic group. Geometric Optics on Phase Space develops both geometric optics and group theory from first principles in their Hamiltonian formulation on phase space. This treatise provides the mathematical background and also collects a host of useful methods of practical importance, particularly the fractional Fourier transform currently used for image processing.  The reader will appreciate the beautiful similarities between Hamilton's mechanics and this approach to optics. The appendices link the geometry thus introduced to wave optics through  Lie methods. The book addresses researchers and graduate students.

Customer Reviews (1)

Pure genius
The harmonics of genetics and the sound of the soul.Please help me find it again... a seminal work.I will pay anything (almost) to get another copy of this book. I found it by accident, when my glasses were brokenand I wandered into this extremely esoteric odd old bookshop on Polk St. inS.F.; reached under the counter, pulled it out and read it. Turns outPawlicki & I go waaaay back .. we got a letter at 1st Security Bank ofUtah 20 yrs earlier asking for a $M credit limit increase, that and 50pgsof math on how a superconductor can negate gravity. We laughed then, I kepta copy of the plans and math, and lost them along the way... woe is me.Ireally need this book in the worst way .. will pay anything.Pawlicki andKoestler are (were?) the among the most brilliant minds of our era.Thisbook is very pre-Sedona and pre-New-Age. Pure inspired, gifted Pre-bsscience.If you are inclined to write sci-fi or are a budding AC Clarke,Asimov, Hienlein or other assorted genius sampler, read this FIRST, or ifyou really require a new arsenal of reference; sample this. EVEN Modesittand Orson Scott Card would do well to add this to their repertior, ( not tomention that itjiot Hawking )I haven't had the opportunity to read T.P.Flying saucer book, but I bet it bears consideration too; if I could onlyget a copy of that too. ... Read more

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Without using the customary Clifford algebras frequently studied in connection with therepresentations of orthogonal groups, this book gives an elementary introduction to the two-component spinor formalism for four-dimensional spaces with any signature. Some of the useful applications of four-dimensional spinors, such as Yang–Mills theory, are derived in detail using illustrative examples.Key topics and features:• Uniform treatment of the spinor formalism for four-dimensional spaces of any signature,not only the usual signature (+ + + −) employed in relativity• Examples taken from Riemannian geometry and special or general relativity arediscussed in detail, emphasizing the usefulness of the two-component spinor formalism• Exercises in each chapter• The relationship of Clifford algebras and Dirac four-component spinors is established• Applications of the two-component formalism, focusing mainly on general relativity, arepresented in the context of actual computationsSpinors in Four-Dimensional Spaces is aimed at graduate students and researchers inmathematical and theoretical physics interested in the applications of the two-component spinor formalism in any four-dimensional vector space or Riemannian manifold with a definite or indefinite metric tensor. This systematic and self-contained book is suitable as a seminar text, a reference book, and a self-study guide. ... Read more

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The Space Age is nearly 50 years old but exploration of the outer planets and beyond has only just begun. Deep-Space Probes Second Edition draws on the latest research to explain why we should explore beyond the edge of the Solar System and how we can build highly sophisticated robot spacecraft to make the journey. Many technical problems remain to be solved, among them propulsion systems to permit far higher velocities, and technologies to build vehicles a fraction of the size of today’s spacecraft.

Beyond the range of effective radio control, robot vehicles for exploring deep space will need to be intelligent, ‘thinking’ craft – able to make vital decisions entirely on their own. Gregory Matloff also looks at the possibility for human travel into interstellar space, and some of the immense problems that such journeys would entail.

This second edition includes an entirely new chapter on holographic message plaques for future interstellar probes – a NASA-funded project.

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This book is written by an experimentalist and covers all aspects of plasma physics at an introductory level. The fundamental concepts of plasma description are developed in a bottom-up approach of increasing mathematical complexity. The intuitive understanding of the concepts is emphasized. Different from most introductory texts, low-temperature plasmas, plasma discharges and plasma diagnostics get a much larger share. Controlled nuclear fusion is introduced and magnetic confinement is discussed at a simple level. Novel plasma phenomena as found in complex (dusty) plasmas are described. A large number of illustrations, worked out problems with solutions, and short summaries of the basics of each chapter make this text a companion for undergraduate and graduate students and a useful reference on the bookshelf.

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Towards the second half of this decade several major telescope facilities operating in the infrared submillimeter and millimeter wave bands will become operational. These missions are expected to throw much light on our understanding of the the star formation phenomenon, which is addressed as one of the primary science goals in these wave bands. This book is the proceedings of the "Cores to Clusters" workshop held at Centro de Astrofisica da Universidade do Porto during 7 - 9 October, 2004 to discuss current and future issues in star formation physics in the light of these Next Generation Telescopes.

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Former NASA Astronaut Harrison Schmitt advocates a private, investor-based approach to returning humans to the Moon—to extract Helium 3 for energy production, to use the Moon as a platform for science and manufacturing, and to establish permanent human colonies there in a kind of stepping stone community on the way to deeper space. With governments playing a supporting role—just as they have in the development of modern commercial aeronautics and agricultural production—Schmitt believes that a fundamentally private enterprise is the only type of organization capable of sustaining such an effort and, eventually, even making it pay off.

Customer Reviews (12)

Why return to the moon?
Former Astronaut, scientist, and Senator, Dr. Schmitt combines his many talents and current work with NASA and scholars at the University of Wisconsin to build a compelling case for why the USA must seek to return to the moon and to build a human colony on the moon. He points out that there are many resources on the moon, include an abundance of Helium 3 that could serve as a nuclear power source on the moon, for other planetary travel,and on Earth. He also emphasizes that the USA must continue to be the leader in space science to remain a leader in the world community, both politically and economically. The book is loaded with data to support his positions, and although it is not an easy read, in is highly informative. It should be read by anyone interested in space travel.
Joseph D. Novak, Professor Emeritus, Cornell University

the Moon beckons!
I've always been a big space exploration advocate, so OK, I'm an easy sell on reasons to go out there. Having admitted my bias, I think it's fair to say that Harrison Schmitt's RETURN TO THE MOON is very convincing in asserting that the Moon's vast helium-3 deposits may well be a major part of the answer to our energy problems here on Earth, since helium-3 is an ideal fuel for nuclear fusion reactors and there's not much of it on Earth. Schmitt readily admits that a lot of work would have to be done to achieve this, especially 1) more development of fusion reactors, 2) establishing a Lunar base to mine helium-3 from the Moon's soil, and 3) setting up a transportation system to get the helium-3 from the Moon to the Earth. One big advantage here, though, it that NASA is planning to send people back to the Moon for various reasons anyway, so we would not have to go solely to mine helium-3.

Schmitt has obviously done a great deal of research on all this, mainly as a geology professor at the University of Wisconsin. I think he makes a good case for the feasiblility of it, though I'm not an engineer so I can't really assess all that he is saying. In the book's foreword, Neil Armstrong, who IS an engineer, deems the proposal "worthy of careful examination." Schmitt lays the proposal out in much detail - fusion technology, mining processes, economics, and so on - such that the book is usually dry and academic in tone and would probably lose those just moderately interested in space. But if he is right that the Moon's helium-3 will save us, we had better ALL be interested in this. We're in an energy crisis on Earth, and Schmitt estimates we'll need at least 8 times more energy production by 2050!

It is true, as some have noted, that Schmitt does not emphasize the reduction of global warming as one of the main advantages to be gleaned from helium-3 fusion, but he does say that it would help in that regard. He states that we will need a "portfolio of fusion, fission, clean coal, and solar energy (including wind)" to deal with our energy needs by 2050, and that this combination "gradually reduces the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from human sources, cutting that particular contribution to natural climate warming trends. Whether future climate warms, or warms and then cools rapidly, more electrical power will be required to counter the adverse consequences of change." (page 326) If human activity is more responsible for climate change than Schmitt believes, helium-3 fusion is even more attractive, as it releases no greenhouse gases.

By the way, the cover of RETURN TO THE MOON says that Schmitt "is currently the last human being to have STEPPED ONTO the Moon." (emphasis mine). This is a trick of semantics, because his Apollo 17 partner, Eugene Cernan, is sometimes said to be the last person to have WALKED ON the Moon. These statements are both correct in a tricky way, because Schmitt was the last person in Apollo 17 (the last human flight to the Moon thus far) to step out of the Lunar Module ONTO the Moon, while Cernan was the last person to get back into the Lunar Module after walking on the Moon!

A slight inaccuracy
The book sounds great, but the bio describes Schmitt as "the 12th and last human to have stepped on the Moon." Schmitt was the 12th human to step onto the lunar surface, but it is generally accepted that Gene Cernan is the last human to have walked on the moon since he left the lunar surface and re-entered the LEM after Schmitt.

Note: My 4-star review is arbitrary and stupid. I don't want to rate a book I haven't read and Amazon won't allow me to post this comment without assigning a rating. 4 stars is the current average review.

Comprehensive if a bit dry
If you are interested in the exploitation of space, you will find this a very thought-provoking read.The topics broached span the gamut of technical and business details that make the case for privatized lunar exploitation based on a very imminent earthly need - new sources of clean energy in the form of deuterium-helium and helium-3 fusion mined from the lunar regolith.

Oddly, one of the best arguments for the enterprise -- the chance to eliminate use of fossil fuels that are contributing to global warming -- is given the short shrift.Schmitt's politics come into play as an apologist for the far-right "counter-conspiracy" of climate change deniers.Politics are not a dominant feature of the book (or of the argument for a return to the moon) but they do occasionally pop out at you when least expected.

At least one chapter is devoted to axe-grinding about the way NASA has declined in the past few decades.Because he is well-positioned to pass judgment on these topics, this was actually very interesting (albeit secondary to the topic of a privatized lunar settlement).

You will not be fascinated by every chapter of this book.There is much material that needs to be covered to support the argument and certain topics - for example detailed business and financial forecasting - are required for making the case.

The lynchpin, of course, is the assumption that commercial deuterium-helium fusion reactors can be produced and this can only be taken as an article of faith.Schmitt is aligned with Fusion Technology Institute of the University of Wisconsin so he does have some insight into the progress on this technology but, let's face it: fusion has been 5 years away for the last 30 years.Until there exist fusion reactors that can demonstrate significant power production, the mining of lunar helium-3 will be a hard sell.

Great topic, flawed presentation
Love the topic and a lot of what Schmitt has to say, but have significant issues with the style, language and presentation.

The book's style is neither fish-nor-fowl, but occupies a middle ground between science fiction, an academic paper and a powerpoint presentation.

It largely reads like an academic paper, with countless footnotes (oddly placed at the end of each chapter, not at the end of the book) and a writing style that's hard to folow unless you are willing to find a pen & paper to take notes while you read.

In this sense it resembles the guise of a very dry academic paper - which would be fine, but at the same time it also lacks the focus and precision of an academic paper.

Previous comments have focused on some of the perceived inacuracies inacross some the many specialized fields he touches, including:
- fussion reactors,
- mining technologies
- exogeology,
- economics,
- long-term energy predictions,
- spaceflight,
- management theory,
- International relations
- etc..

He certainly deserves praise for the amount of time and effort he has spent becoming conversant in all those diverse disciplines, but his presentation of each individual one is typically dry and often unequal to the complexity of the subject matter.

Finally, my primary issue with his approach is that it's based on a strange & uneasy mixture of private enterprise and Apollo-style government science projects.

Substitute taxpayers for investors, and you have much the same approach - various people representing multiple constituencies gathered around a conference table, a strategic plan, and a massive pool of cash to be deployed in pursuit of this plan.

It just doesnt work that way - no large company started life *as* a large company, and certainly not as a large company with a plan.

If/when we do see He-3 mining on the moon, it will come about as an organic process, with carpetbaggers, prospectors, conflicting claims, unrelated developments, lawsuits, booms and busts, lucky breaks, etc.. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was originally published in 1975. In Einstein's General Theory of Relativity the effects of gravitation are represented by the curvature of space-time. Physical processes occurring in the presence of gravitation must then be treated mathematically in terms of their behaviour in a curved space-time. One of the most basic of these processes is wave propagation, and this book gives a rigourous discussion of the local effects of curvature on the behaviour of waves. In the course of this discussion many techniques are developed which are also needed for a study of more general problems, in which the gravitational field itself plays a dynamical role. Although much of the book deals with four-dimensional space-time, the n-dimensional case is also treated, more briefly. The subject-matter is also of interest in other branches of mathematical physics and, as a fresh account of the classical work of Hadamard and M. Riesz, in the theory of partial differential equations. ... Read more

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This book deals with the basic physical structure of atomic matter, the physical space in and around us, and the physical nature of radiation in space and atomic bodies. The presentation is based on the results of experiments such as the Michelson-Morely Experiments (1887), the Rutherford Experiments (1911) and the Anderson Experiements (1932). The aim of this book is to reach readers interested in understanding various topics in physics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

GREAT INSIGHT - The Simplest Theory of Everything
This EPOLA therory explains, with ONLY high school algebra, the physical reasons WHY there is Gravity, Magnetic fields, Electrostatic fields, Inertia, Momentum, stable Electron Orbitals, etc.

This theory of the Universe is simply amasing, and incredibly simple.

I highly recommend this book, JAC, BS Nuclear Engineering!

Excellent work
It takes a couple of chapters to get into the details and there seems to be a language unfamiliarity issue but overcoming this Simhony provides a very clear and understandable explaination of why physical realities occur thru an electron positron lattice model of space. The model seems to explain all the physical interactions and phenomenon that I was exposed to during several years of undergraduate level physics and quite frankly explains properties taken as intrinsicis such as "why does mass exhibit properties of inertia?". Simhony also explains the mass energy relation by dispelling the notion that energy creates mass or the spontaneous generation of particles when radiation is applied to the "vacuum of space" in that the mass was always within that space in the lattice and was meerely bumped out of the lattice.

I would love to see experiments directly conducted to prove or disprove Simhony's theory.

Joseph

... Read more

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Although Descartes' natural philosophy marked an advance in thedevelopment of modern science, many critics over the years, such asNewton, have rejected his particular `relational' theory of space andmotion. Nevertheless, it is also true that most historians andphilosophers have not sufficiently investigated the viability of theCartesian theory. This book explores, consequently, the success of the arguments againstDescartes' theory of space and motion by determining if it is possibleto formulate a version that can eliminate its alleged problems. Inessence, this book comprises the first sustained attempt to constructa consistent `Cartesian' spacetime theory: that is, a theory of spaceand time that consistently incorporates Descartes' various physicaland metaphysical concepts. Intended for students in the history of philosophy and science, thisstudy reveals the sophisticated insights, and often quite successfulelements, in Descartes' unjustly neglected relational theory of spaceand motion. ... Read more

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In this book the author presents a theory about space and time in which time has characteristics identical to those of space. Starting from the premise that motion is the most fundamental, physical phenomenon in nature and that rotational motion, "Spin", in the subatomic domain is mathematically different from that in the macroscopic world , he postulates that space and motion are the only fundamental, physical phenomenon in nature; that SPACE and TIME have identical properties; and that every physical manifestation or phenomenon of the universe can be represented by motion in a six dimensional SPACE-TIME; that in that six dimensional space there is one preferred dimension of time and one preferred dimension of space. Generalizing rotations in that six dimensional space with two preferred dimensions he obtains that there are 16 separable and distinguishable kinds of rotations and 16 corresponding anti rotations. These numbers coincide with the present day elementary particles theory that there are 16 quarks, leptons and force carriers and corresponding anti particles. Also, the fact that the photon is its own anti particle comes out of the theory. The book stays on a semi speculative level. In pretends to be a challenge to mathematicians and theoretical physicists to venture into an avenue that may be the way to a new revolution in physics. ... Read more

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Discrete Event Physics introduces a new branch of Physics directly concerned with elucidating the meaning of concepts traditionally studied in that discipline. It is complementary to Mathematical and Experimental Physics, being focused on the same ideas but having different specific goals.

... Read more

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Information theory was developed during the last decades within electrical communications, but it is almost unknown in physics. The closest approach to information theory in physics is the "calculus of propositions", which has been used in books on the frontier of quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity. A discussion of the principles of information theory required in this book is given in Chapter 2. The ability to think readily in terms of a finite number of discrete samples is developed over many years of using information theory and digital computers, just as the ability to think readily in terms of a continuum is developed by long use of differential calculus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best physics book in years
after reading his Sequency book in the 80s I waited for this.I just looked and there it was.(His QED book (2005 or so) is very interesting too.We talked about the general idea of the magnetic-current in Maxwell's Equations in grad school in the 70s.)Very important book linking Information Theory to Physics.It might clear up a lot of String Theory problems if they moved to Finite Fields?I've been away from the subject to long...Buy the book.You will be better for the time investment.Expansive thoughts.We are Finite Beings, at least with thoughts and emotions, in grid-based Space-Time.This book brings FUN back to Physics.It would be so much fun to teach a grad course with this book.You can change sides every few days.Thanks for taking the time to write the book. ... Read more

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Richly illustrated, this introductory text develops the ideas of basic physics and mathematics to introduce the essential principles and results of special relativity.A geometric interpretation of space-time is used so that the general theory is seen as a natural extension of the special theory.Although most results are derived from first principles, complex mathematics is avoided, and all mathematical steps and formulas are fully explained and interpretated.Student guides allow for alternative routes of study, and summaries, worked examples, and exercises are provided to enhance the student's understanding. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excellent introduction to Relativity
If you are a ambitious highshool student or a physics freshman this is the best place to get started on special realtivity.
It is far less mathematically demanding then many books out there and clear on physical concepts.
(ch.1) Good review of classical ideas.
(ch.2) Need for special relativity, good explanations of
galaian and lorentz transformation, and uses of the latter.
(ch.3) Good introductions to spacetime geometry (the invariant
interval) and relativistic mechanics.

(ch.4) Good introduction to basis of general relativity and cosmmology.

One of the great things about the book is that it takes the common 'popular' accounts one step further by intoducing physics in precise languge and formulas. So that you can apply your knowldege to actully solve some problems and gain further understanding. There are problems at end of each chapter and they are (mostly) supplemented by answers in an appendix.

One thing that is left out completely is relativistic electrodynamics, of course that's only sutibale for a more advanced book. I would've liked to see the power of four vectors utilized more and see the role of tensors. ... Read more

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Over the years, many leading European graduate schools in the field of astrophysical and space plasmas have operated within the framework of the research network, "Theory, Observations, and Simulations in Turbulence in Space Plasmas." This text is a set of lectures and tutorial reviews culled from the relevant work of all those schools. It emphasizes applications on solar coronae, solar flares, and the solar wind.

In bridging the gap between standard textbook material and state-of-the-art research, this text offers a broad flavor to postgraduate and postdoctoral students just coming to the field. And because of its unique mix, it will also be useful to lecturers looking for advanced teaching material for their seminars and courses.