Modern Classical Physics

Modern Classical Physics is a first-year, graduate-level text and reference book that covers the fundamental concepts and twenty-first-century applications of six major areas of classical physics. These areas, which every master's or PhD-level physicist should be exposed to, though often are not, include statistical physics, optics (waves of all sorts), elastodynamics, fluid mechanics, plasma physics, and special and general relativity and cosmology.

Growing out of a full-year course that the eminent researchers Kip Thorne and Roger Blandford taught at Caltech for almost three decades, this book is designed to broaden the training of physicists. Its six main topical sections are also crafted to be utilised in separate courses, providing an invaluable reference for researchers.

This comprehensive text:

• Presents all the major fields of classical physics except three prerequisites: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and elementary thermodynamics.
• Elucidates the interconnections between diverse fields and explains their shared concepts and tools.
• Focuses on fundamental concepts and modern, real-world applications.
• Takes applications from areas such as fundamental, experimental, and applied physics; astrophysics and cosmology; geophysics, oceanography, and meteorology; biophysics and chemical physics; engineering and optical science and technology; and information science and technology.
• Emphasises the quantum roots of classical physics and how to use quantum techniques to elucidate classical concepts or simplify classical calculations.
• Features hundreds of colour figures, approximately five hundred exercises, extensive cross-references, and a detailed index.

An online illustration package is available to professors to enhance the learning experience.