000			03455nam a22005055i 4500
001			978-0-387-37748-3
003			DE-He213
005			20161121231038.0
007			cr nn 008mamaa
008			120710s2007 xxu| s |||| 0|eng d
020			_a9780387377483 _9978-0-387-37748-3
024	7		_a10.1007/978-0-387-37748-3 _2doi
050		4	_aQC5.53
072		7	_aPHU _2bicssc
072		7	_aSCI040000 _2bisacsh
082	0	4	_a530.15 _223
100	1		_aBasdevant, Jean-Louis. _eauthor.
245	1	0	_aVariational Principles in Physics _h[electronic resource] / _cby Jean-Louis Basdevant.
264		1	_aNew York, NY : _bSpringer New York : _bImprint: Springer, _c2007.
300			_aX, 183 p. _bonline resource.
336			_atext _btxt _2rdacontent
337			_acomputer _bc _2rdamedia
338			_aonline resource _bcr _2rdacarrier
347			_atext file _bPDF _2rda
505	0		_aVariational Principles -- The Analytical Mechanics of Lagrange -- Hamilton’s Canonical Formalism -- Lagrangian Field Theory -- Motion in a Curved Space -- Feynman’s Principle in Quantum Mechanics.
520			_aOptimization under constraints is an essential part of everyday life. Indeed, we routinely solve problems by striking a balance between contradictory interests, individual desires and material contingencies. This notion of equilibrium was dear to thinkers of the enlightenment, as illustrated by Montesquieu’s famous formulation: "In all magistracies, the greatness of the power must be compensated by the brevity of the duration." Astonishingly, natural laws are guided by a similar principle. Variational principles have proven to be surprisingly fertile. For example, Fermat used variational methods to demonstrate that light follows the fastest route from one point to another, an idea which came to be known as Fermat’s principle, a cornerstone of geometrical optics. Variational Principles in Physics explains variational principles and charts their use throughout modern physics. The heart of the book is devoted to the analytical mechanics of Lagrange and Hamilton, the basic tools of any physicist. Prof. Basdevant also offers simple but rich first impressions of Einstein’s General Relativity, Feynman’s Quantum Mechanics, and more revealing and amazing interconnections between various fields of physics. A graduate of the Ecole Normale Superieure, Jean-Louis Basdevant is Professor and former Chair of the Department of Physics at the Ecole Polytechnique, and Director of Research for the CNRS. Specializing in the theoretical physics of elementary particles, quantum field theory and astrophysics, Prof. Basdevant works in the Leprince-Ringuet Laboratory at the Ecole Polytechnique.
650		0	_aPhysics.
650		0	_aMathematical optimization.
650		0	_aCalculus of variations.
650		0	_aMechanics.
650		0	_aMechanics, Applied.
650	1	4	_aPhysics.
650	2	4	_aMathematical Methods in Physics.
650	2	4	_aMechanics.
650	2	4	_aCalculus of Variations and Optimal Control; Optimization.
650	2	4	_aOptimization.
650	2	4	_aTheoretical and Applied Mechanics.
650	2	4	_aHistory and Philosophical Foundations of Physics.
710	2		_aSpringerLink (Online service)
773	0		_tSpringer eBooks
776	0	8	_iPrinted edition: _z9780387377476
856	4	0	_uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-37748-3
912			_aZDB-2-PHA
950			_aPhysics and Astronomy (Springer-11651)
999			_c507741 _d507741