Elements of the Electromagnetic Theory of Light (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Silberstein, Ludwik

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1440066493 ISBN 13: 9781440066498

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2010

Synopsis

1. The Origin of the Electromagnetic Theory. The electromagnetic theory of light, now for many years in universal acceptance, was proposed and developed by James Clerk Maxwell about the year 1865* By elimination, from his classical differential equations, of the electric current Maxwell has obtained, for the " vector potential" 51,+ a differential equation of the second order which in the case of a non-conducting isotropic medium has assumed the form */*^=v% .... [M] where v2 is the Laplacian (Maxwell's - v*» borrowed from Hamilton's calculus of quaternions). Maxwell's coefficients, the " specific inductive capacity " K, and the magnetic " permeability " ft, are not pure numbers. Let c be the ratio of the electromagnetic unit of electric charge to the electrostatic unit of charge. Then Maxwell's coefficients are such that, for air (or vacuum), K = 1, /* ="-5, in the electrostatic system, K = ft, = 1, in the electromagnetic system. G * Phil, Tram., 18G5, p. 150 et sa

Table of Contents

CONTENTS; page; 1 The Origin of the Electromagnetic Theory 1; 2 Advantages of the Electromagnetic over the Elastic; Theory of Light 5; 3 Maxwell's Equations Plane Waves 16; 4 Reflection and Refraction at the Boundary of Isotropic; Media; E in Plane of Incidence 22; 5 Reflection and Refraction ; E _L Plane of Incidence Note; on the Transition Layer 28; 6 Total Reflection 31; 7 Optics of Crystalline Media : General Formula and; Theorems 35; 8 The Properties of the Electrical Axes of a Crystal 41 i, Optical Axes 43; 10 Uniaxial Crystals 45; Index r* 47; vii

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Product Description

Excerpt from Elements of the Electromagnetic Theory of Light This little volume, whose object is to present the essentials of the electromagnetic theory of light, was rewritten, at the instance of Messrs. Adam Hilger, Limited, from my Polish treatise on Electricity and Magnetism (3 vols., Warsaw, 1908-1913, published by the kind help of the Mianowski Institution). It consists principally of an English version of chapter viii., vol. ii., of that work with some slight omissions and modifications. In order to make the subject accessible to a larger circle of readers Section 3 was added. The language adopted is mainly vectorial. This is the chief reason of the compactness of the book which, it is hoped, notwithstanding its small number of pages, will be found to contain an easy and complete presentation of the fundamental part of Maxwell's theory of light. I gladly take the opportunity of expressing my best thanks to Messrs. Hilger for enabling me to submit a portion of my treatise to the English reader. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1440066493
• ISBN 13: 9781440066498
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 58