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Management of radioactive wastes
Book Reviews considering time-harmonic fields and asymptotic high-frequency solutions of Maxwell's equations. The leading term in these WKBtype expansions yields the geometrical optics field. The expansion coefficients axe shown to be closely related with the behavior of pulse solutions in the vicinity of wave fronts. The effect of dispersion on the behavior of the pulse solutions is not taken into account. However, this does not affect the mathematical relationship between pulse sohitions and high-frequency behavior. In Chapters IX and X the exact behavior of the unit pulse solution in the neighborhood of its singularities is assumed to be known, and it is shown how to derive froni it the asymptotic expansion of time-harmonic fields Department of Mathematics by a method based on the Stieltjes transform. Princeton University The treatment goes beyond classical geoPrinceton, New Jersey metrical optics since it can also yield, in principle, the asymptotic behavior of difELECTROMAGNETICTHEORY AND GEOMETRI- fracted fields. In Chapters XI through XIII approximate CAL OPTICS,by Morris Kline and Irvin W. solutions of Maxwell's equations related to the Kay. 527 pages, diagrams, 6 X 9 in. New integral representations of classical diffraction York, John Wiley & Sons, 1965. Price, theory axe considered. The asymptotic be$15.00. havior of these diffraction integrals is disThis book concerns itself with the relation cussed by the Stieltiee transform method. The treatment is closely related with the wellbetween geometrical optics and Maxwell's known method of Fresnel zones. The beequations. It originated from a series of havior of unpolaxized light is also discussed, lectures given at New York University in although the connectionwith modern develop1947-48 by the late R. K. Luneburg. The ments in coherence theory is not established. material has been considerably expanded to In the last chapter some applications of the take into account more recent developments, theory are discussed, including a survey of including the authors' own contributions. applications to other branches of physics. Much of the work was carried out at the On the whole, the book contains a thorough Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and original discussion of the relation between by members of the Division of Electrogeometrical optics and electromagnetic theory magnetic Research, which is directed by and represents a valuable and welcome Kline. contribution to the literature. After an introductory chapter on Maxwell's H. M. NUSSENZVEIG equations, the authors present a first approach Department of Physics to geometrical optics, based on a study of the University of Rochester characteristic surfaces or wave fronts, where Rochester, New York the field vectors are discontinuous. Chapters I I through IV are devoted to the study of wave fronts and rays, and Chapter V deals MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, with the derivation and solution of the transby C. A. Mawson. 196 pages, diagrams, port equations governing the propagation of 6 X 9 in. Princeton, N. J., D. Van Nostrand field discontinuities along the rays. Both Co., 1965. Price, $6.95. isotropic and anisotropic media are treated, The safe disposal of high- and low-level including the case of inhomogeneous anisoradioactive wastes has long been a matter of tropic media. In Chapters VI through VIII another ap- serious concern to the nuclear engineer, the proach to geometrical optics is presented by radiation health specialist, the conservation-
matrices and polynomials are discussed in this context. Other topics, such as subgroups, representations and automorphisms of knot groups, for which no extensive systematic theory has yet developed, are treated more briefly. Two natural and basic questions are: (i) what purely algebraic conditions characterize knot groups among the class of all groups; and (ii) to what extent is a knot determined by its group? The final chapters describe our present state of knowledge of these questions. The book doses with a list of research problems, which serve to point out that the subject is far from closed. There is an extensive bibliography. H. F. TROTTER
Vol. 281, No. 2, February 1966
171
Book Renews ist, and the power economist. Information on the various procedures developed for radioactive waste disposal had to be gleaned mA.iuly from the proceedings of successive international and national conferences devoted to this topic, and more recently from the brief, but excellent summaries published in the International Atomic Energy Agency's Safety Series. The appearance of a comprehensive text dealing with the management of radioactive wastes is, therefore, a welcome event. The author and his colleagues at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. have long been in the forefront of research on waste disposal problems. The material deals with the general principles of waste management, the treatment of gaseous, liquid and solid wastes---their disposal under ground and in sea and fresh waters--and methods of monitoring and control. The text is highly readable and comprehensive, but lacks almost completely any details of the chemistry of the processes employed or the economic factors involved in the choice of a given process. Each chapter ends with a concise summary, but a more critical comparison of the various methods would have been welcome. The chapter references are fairly complete, but confined to the literature up to 1963, with a few later references in the appendix. The production of the book is excellent, although the photographs reproduced are generally rather uninformative compared with the line drawings. The book should be of particular value to the health physicist seeking a clear review of methods and procedures used; the nuclear engineer and the economist, requiring more detailed information, will probably prefer the books by Stranb and Amphlett. GEOFFREY G. EICHHOLZ
School of Nuclear Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia CONCEPTSIN QUANTUMMECHANICS,by F. A. Kaempffer. 358 pages, diagrams, 6 X 9 in. New York and London, Academic Press, Inc., 1965. Price, $9.75. While we have no shortage of textbooks in quantum mechanics, not many of their authors are either sufficiently concerned or
172
can spare the space to include a thorough discussion of principles. The factual part of quantum mechanics is presently so rich in content and the associated mathematical techniques are so extensive, that the problem of space is a very real one. If concepts are to be adequately explained in a book of reasonable size, one possible approach is a drastic restriction in content relating to factual material. Such, at any rate, appears to be the major motivation of the book under review. Because of its pioneer features, this book reflects moreover to a larger degree than usual in textbooks on well-trodden subjects, the personal tastes and predilections of its author. It is therefore easy to agree with the author's concluding statement in the preface "that in fact this work may find its most common use as a supplementary text to the more standard treatments." The lucid and engaging style, the attractive printing, and the relatively reasonable price of the book, should enhance its usefulness in this capacity. Within the main objective of the text, that of developing the central concepts of quantum mechanics, the author has also apparently foregone (perhaps wisely) any attempt at comprehensiveness of treatment. The nature and scope of the probabilistic interpretation at the base of quantum mechanics, for instance, is generally discussed in too terse a manner. The inclusion of two sections describing Schwinger's symbolic formulation of the laws that govern measurements in the quantum domain, interesting as this formulation undoubtedly is, can scarcely be expected to be pedagogically very helpful in this connection. Another topic that is almost completely ignored in what concerns the insights into quantum mechanical principles that it affords, is the elementary nonrelativistic scattering theory. Largely skirted also is the basic though troublesome problem of the state vectors that are not in Hilbert space (and, incidentally, the use of the term 'Hflbert space' on p. 55 in connection with such quantities is a little more than unorthodox). On the other hand, the role of symmetry principles, whose importance has been increasingly recognized during the past decade, is discussed at great length, and forms a central theme of the exposition.
Journal of The FrankUn Institute
matrices and polynomials are discussed in this context. Other topics, such as subgroups, representations and automorphisms of knot groups, for which no extensive systematic theory has yet developed, are treated more briefly. Two natural and basic questions are: (i) what purely algebraic conditions characterize knot groups among the class of all groups; and (ii) to what extent is a knot determined by its group? The final chapters describe our present state of knowledge of these questions. The book doses with a list of research problems, which serve to point out that the subject is far from closed. There is an extensive bibliography. H. F. TROTTER
Vol. 281, No. 2, February 1966
171
Book Renews ist, and the power economist. Information on the various procedures developed for radioactive waste disposal had to be gleaned mA.iuly from the proceedings of successive international and national conferences devoted to this topic, and more recently from the brief, but excellent summaries published in the International Atomic Energy Agency's Safety Series. The appearance of a comprehensive text dealing with the management of radioactive wastes is, therefore, a welcome event. The author and his colleagues at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. have long been in the forefront of research on waste disposal problems. The material deals with the general principles of waste management, the treatment of gaseous, liquid and solid wastes---their disposal under ground and in sea and fresh waters--and methods of monitoring and control. The text is highly readable and comprehensive, but lacks almost completely any details of the chemistry of the processes employed or the economic factors involved in the choice of a given process. Each chapter ends with a concise summary, but a more critical comparison of the various methods would have been welcome. The chapter references are fairly complete, but confined to the literature up to 1963, with a few later references in the appendix. The production of the book is excellent, although the photographs reproduced are generally rather uninformative compared with the line drawings. The book should be of particular value to the health physicist seeking a clear review of methods and procedures used; the nuclear engineer and the economist, requiring more detailed information, will probably prefer the books by Stranb and Amphlett. GEOFFREY G. EICHHOLZ
School of Nuclear Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia CONCEPTSIN QUANTUMMECHANICS,by F. A. Kaempffer. 358 pages, diagrams, 6 X 9 in. New York and London, Academic Press, Inc., 1965. Price, $9.75. While we have no shortage of textbooks in quantum mechanics, not many of their authors are either sufficiently concerned or
172
can spare the space to include a thorough discussion of principles. The factual part of quantum mechanics is presently so rich in content and the associated mathematical techniques are so extensive, that the problem of space is a very real one. If concepts are to be adequately explained in a book of reasonable size, one possible approach is a drastic restriction in content relating to factual material. Such, at any rate, appears to be the major motivation of the book under review. Because of its pioneer features, this book reflects moreover to a larger degree than usual in textbooks on well-trodden subjects, the personal tastes and predilections of its author. It is therefore easy to agree with the author's concluding statement in the preface "that in fact this work may find its most common use as a supplementary text to the more standard treatments." The lucid and engaging style, the attractive printing, and the relatively reasonable price of the book, should enhance its usefulness in this capacity. Within the main objective of the text, that of developing the central concepts of quantum mechanics, the author has also apparently foregone (perhaps wisely) any attempt at comprehensiveness of treatment. The nature and scope of the probabilistic interpretation at the base of quantum mechanics, for instance, is generally discussed in too terse a manner. The inclusion of two sections describing Schwinger's symbolic formulation of the laws that govern measurements in the quantum domain, interesting as this formulation undoubtedly is, can scarcely be expected to be pedagogically very helpful in this connection. Another topic that is almost completely ignored in what concerns the insights into quantum mechanical principles that it affords, is the elementary nonrelativistic scattering theory. Largely skirted also is the basic though troublesome problem of the state vectors that are not in Hilbert space (and, incidentally, the use of the term 'Hflbert space' on p. 55 in connection with such quantities is a little more than unorthodox). On the other hand, the role of symmetry principles, whose importance has been increasingly recognized during the past decade, is discussed at great length, and forms a central theme of the exposition.
Journal of The FrankUn Institute