Physics 228

Optics, Relativity, and Thermal Physics

Spring 2007

Further Reading


You should find the following references helpful; the web resources on Einstein's life and work are extensive. Items marked by an * have been placed on reserve in the Chem-Phys Library. Spacetime Physics is also available on reserve.

General Reference

*R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton, and M. Sands, The Feynman Lectures on Physics,
in three volumes. See volume I for lectures on optics, relativity, and thermal physics. Click here to see Feynman lecture for free!

On Einstein

AIP History Center Exhibit, Einstein - Image and Impact.

Albert Einstein Archives/Einstein Papers Project, Einstein Archives Online.

NOVA Online Einstein Revealed.

Abraham Pais, Subtle is the Lord: The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein.
A scientific biography of Einstein, by one who knew him.

Experimental Tests of Special Relativity

Tom Roberts, contribution to Usenet Physics FAQ , What is the experimental basis of Special Relativity?

Clifford M Will, Relativity at the centenary.
Excerpted from Physics World, January, 2005.

*Clifford M Will, Theory and Experiment in Gravitational Physics.
See Sec. 2.2 for a survey of modern, high precision tests of special relativity.

General Relativity

Wikipedia, Tests of general relativity.
A non-technical account of the status of the tests proposed by Einstein in 1916, including the ``bending'' of starlight.

Clifford M Will, Was Einstein Right?: Putting General Relativity to the Test.
A non-technical account of a crucial issue.

*Edwin F. Taylor & John Archibald Wheeler, Exploring Black Holes --- Introduction to General Relativity.
By the authors of Spacetime Physics , written in their inimitable style.

*Kip S. Thorne, Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy.
An engaging popular account, popular with physicists as well.

The following, more advanced treatments, discuss important applications of relativity theory.

Neil Ashby, Relativistic Effects in the Global Positioning System.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) relies on the calculation of relativistic effects for its accuracy.

J. O. Dickey et al., Lunar Laser Ranging: A Continuing Legacy of the Apollo Program , Science , 265, 482 (1994).

Note Lunar Laser Ranging and Apollo Laser Ranging Experiments Yields Results , as well as a new initiative: APOLLO (Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation).

Topics in Astronomy

Cosmic Rays, see Introduction to Cosmic Rays from SLAC's Virtual Visitor Center .

More Cosmic Rays, see NASA's Cosmicopia .

Cosmic Ray Experiments Across the Globe.

Optics

Frank L Pedrotti, Leno M Pedrotti, and Leno S Pedrotti, Introduction to Optics.

Eugene Hecht, Optics.
A classic; the treatment is slightly more sophisticated than that of Pedrotti.3

Thermal Physics

Daniel V. Schroeder, An Introduction to Thermal Physics.

Last updated: January 29, 2007.