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Spectroscopy
10.D
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Nuclear Physics 29 (1962) 627--528; (~) North-Hollas4t Publishi,g Co., Amsterdam.--..
BOOK REVIEWS JOHN L. POWELL and BERNARD CRASEMANN,Qtgaptt@mmechanics (Addison-Wesley Publ. Co., Reading, Mass., 1961. x-495p. $ 9.75) In view of the steadily increasing number of textbooks on quantum theory, one cannot expect every new publication of this kind to offer an entirely original exposition of the subject. Judging it against similar books, one must therefore be concerned with such aspects as the choice of problems treated, the clarity of presentation and the trend of arguments assessed from the pedagogical point of view. In all these respects the present work seems to be of high standard. The arrangement of the material follows more or less conventional lines. The first chapters, which are mainly of historical character, precede a description of the formal development of quantum mechanics. The last part of the book is devoted to such applications of quantum theory as perturbation methods, theory of radiation and the treatment of systems with identical particles. At the end of each chapter the authors present a number of problems to be solved, as well as a gocd selection of books recommended for a more thorough-going study of the problems treated in the text. References to original papers (even in other languages than Americanl) dealing with special questions are given in foot-notes, and the reader is encouraged b y explanatory remarks to study these sources. Since textbooks are intended for the education of new generations of scientists, their authors have a particular responsibility as regards notations. Much could be done to diminigh the existing confusion in this respect if the textbooks would use symbols and units internationally agreed upon and recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. This remark arises from the fact t h a t the authors of the present book use the symbol gm for gram (instead of g). The beautiful typography of the book, with its clear formulae and drawings, deserves special mention. Stefan Rozentai
S. WALKER and H. STRAW, Spectroscopy, Vol. 1 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1961. xix267p. 50s.) This volume contains a chapter on atomic spectroscopy (105p.) and a short generalintroduction (13 p.) to molecular spectra followed b y chapters on microwave spectroscopy (33 p.), electron spin resonance (43 p.), and radio frequency spectroscopy (nuclear magnetic resonance) (52 p.). In the present-day atmosphere of rapidly growing specialization the authors have undertaken the difficult and rather ungrateful task of trying to introduce students of spectroscopy into the whole field. The a t t e m p t has been markedly successful so far. This volume is well-proportioned, perhaps except for the chapter on atomic spectra which could stand abbreviation. Most advanced students for whom the book has been written would know most of this chapter from an elementary physics course. The various topics of the book are well treated. Of course, not even two co-authors can reasonably be expected to possess personal experience in all parts of the vast field of spectroscopy. By necessity a book of this type must, therefore, be somewhat conservative in its statements. This is, however, felt only very slightly. To mention one example, the authors state t h a t the microwave method shows little promise for 'fairly large molecules'. The quoted examples of small molecules treated by the microwave method lead the reader to underestimate the microwave procedure which, at present, deals fairly successfully with, for example, substituted naphtalenes. Aside from such unavoidable beauty spots the book is excellent b y its correctness, thoroughness, and its clear representation, supported b y adequate illustrations (some of which are from the original papers). Also, there are numerous references. 527
528
BOOK I~EVIEW
I t has been a pleasure to read volume 1. There is every reason to look forward to volume 2, which is planned to contain chapters on ultra-violet, visible, intra-red and Raman spectroscopy. B~rge Bak
A . BALDIN, V. I. GOLDANSKII and I. L. ROZENTAL, Kinematics o/ nuclear reactions (Oxford University Press, London, 1961. xii-223p. 38s.)
This is another English translation (by R. F. Peierls) of a useful survey of the theoretical techniques applied to the analysis of nuclear reactions. The rival publication b y the Pergamon Press was reviewed in this journal (26 (1961) 693). It is superfluous to comment on the waste of labour and money involved in such a senseless duplication of work. This is not an isolated accident; several similar cases have arisen in the last few years and have been pointed out in this journal. Translations of Russian books are not obviously a h a p p y hunting ground for publishers, t h e more so as the Russian authors seem to be either helpless or unconcerned when they are dragged into such unbridled competition: in the present case, both translations are introduced b y authors' prefaces, which, although t h e y have about the same content, are worded differently and have thus clearly been specially written for each of the two translations. I t is therefore difficult to understand what is meant when the present translation is described as "authorized". Anyhow, the Oxford University Press book, in contrast to the hasty offset reproduction of typescript of the Pergamon Press, is beautifully printed, and the translation is also much better done. I t is curious to read the publisher's note in the Pergamon volume, excusing the shabby outlay partly as a means o f reducing the price of the book, when one finds t h a t they sell it for 42 s. while the exquisitely produced Oxford book costs only 38s. L.R.
J. K. WRIGHT, Shock tubes (Meuthen and Co., London, 1961. vii-164p. 13s. 6d.) This h a n d y monograph, destined to aeronautical engineering students, is primarily devoted to the technique of shock tubes. I t contains a concise t r e a t m e n t of shock waves and their main properties which includes a section on strong shock waves in ionized gases. L.R.
[
Nuclear Physics 29 (1962) 627--528; (~) North-Hollas4t Publishi,g Co., Amsterdam.--..
BOOK REVIEWS JOHN L. POWELL and BERNARD CRASEMANN,Qtgaptt@mmechanics (Addison-Wesley Publ. Co., Reading, Mass., 1961. x-495p. $ 9.75) In view of the steadily increasing number of textbooks on quantum theory, one cannot expect every new publication of this kind to offer an entirely original exposition of the subject. Judging it against similar books, one must therefore be concerned with such aspects as the choice of problems treated, the clarity of presentation and the trend of arguments assessed from the pedagogical point of view. In all these respects the present work seems to be of high standard. The arrangement of the material follows more or less conventional lines. The first chapters, which are mainly of historical character, precede a description of the formal development of quantum mechanics. The last part of the book is devoted to such applications of quantum theory as perturbation methods, theory of radiation and the treatment of systems with identical particles. At the end of each chapter the authors present a number of problems to be solved, as well as a gocd selection of books recommended for a more thorough-going study of the problems treated in the text. References to original papers (even in other languages than Americanl) dealing with special questions are given in foot-notes, and the reader is encouraged b y explanatory remarks to study these sources. Since textbooks are intended for the education of new generations of scientists, their authors have a particular responsibility as regards notations. Much could be done to diminigh the existing confusion in this respect if the textbooks would use symbols and units internationally agreed upon and recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics. This remark arises from the fact t h a t the authors of the present book use the symbol gm for gram (instead of g). The beautiful typography of the book, with its clear formulae and drawings, deserves special mention. Stefan Rozentai
S. WALKER and H. STRAW, Spectroscopy, Vol. 1 (Chapman and Hall, London, 1961. xix267p. 50s.) This volume contains a chapter on atomic spectroscopy (105p.) and a short generalintroduction (13 p.) to molecular spectra followed b y chapters on microwave spectroscopy (33 p.), electron spin resonance (43 p.), and radio frequency spectroscopy (nuclear magnetic resonance) (52 p.). In the present-day atmosphere of rapidly growing specialization the authors have undertaken the difficult and rather ungrateful task of trying to introduce students of spectroscopy into the whole field. The a t t e m p t has been markedly successful so far. This volume is well-proportioned, perhaps except for the chapter on atomic spectra which could stand abbreviation. Most advanced students for whom the book has been written would know most of this chapter from an elementary physics course. The various topics of the book are well treated. Of course, not even two co-authors can reasonably be expected to possess personal experience in all parts of the vast field of spectroscopy. By necessity a book of this type must, therefore, be somewhat conservative in its statements. This is, however, felt only very slightly. To mention one example, the authors state t h a t the microwave method shows little promise for 'fairly large molecules'. The quoted examples of small molecules treated by the microwave method lead the reader to underestimate the microwave procedure which, at present, deals fairly successfully with, for example, substituted naphtalenes. Aside from such unavoidable beauty spots the book is excellent b y its correctness, thoroughness, and its clear representation, supported b y adequate illustrations (some of which are from the original papers). Also, there are numerous references. 527
528
BOOK I~EVIEW
I t has been a pleasure to read volume 1. There is every reason to look forward to volume 2, which is planned to contain chapters on ultra-violet, visible, intra-red and Raman spectroscopy. B~rge Bak
A . BALDIN, V. I. GOLDANSKII and I. L. ROZENTAL, Kinematics o/ nuclear reactions (Oxford University Press, London, 1961. xii-223p. 38s.)
This is another English translation (by R. F. Peierls) of a useful survey of the theoretical techniques applied to the analysis of nuclear reactions. The rival publication b y the Pergamon Press was reviewed in this journal (26 (1961) 693). It is superfluous to comment on the waste of labour and money involved in such a senseless duplication of work. This is not an isolated accident; several similar cases have arisen in the last few years and have been pointed out in this journal. Translations of Russian books are not obviously a h a p p y hunting ground for publishers, t h e more so as the Russian authors seem to be either helpless or unconcerned when they are dragged into such unbridled competition: in the present case, both translations are introduced b y authors' prefaces, which, although t h e y have about the same content, are worded differently and have thus clearly been specially written for each of the two translations. I t is therefore difficult to understand what is meant when the present translation is described as "authorized". Anyhow, the Oxford University Press book, in contrast to the hasty offset reproduction of typescript of the Pergamon Press, is beautifully printed, and the translation is also much better done. I t is curious to read the publisher's note in the Pergamon volume, excusing the shabby outlay partly as a means o f reducing the price of the book, when one finds t h a t they sell it for 42 s. while the exquisitely produced Oxford book costs only 38s. L.R.
J. K. WRIGHT, Shock tubes (Meuthen and Co., London, 1961. vii-164p. 13s. 6d.) This h a n d y monograph, destined to aeronautical engineering students, is primarily devoted to the technique of shock tubes. I t contains a concise t r e a t m e n t of shock waves and their main properties which includes a section on strong shock waves in ionized gases. L.R.