1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910739464403321

Autore

Dittrich Walter

Titolo

The Development of the Action Principle : A Didactic History from Euler-Lagrange to Schwinger / / by Walter Dittrich

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2021

ISBN

3-030-69105-5

Edizione

[1st ed. 2021.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (141 pages)

Collana

SpringerBriefs in Physics, , 2191-5431

Disciplina

530.1209

Soggetti

Mechanics

Physics—History

Mathematical physics

Elementary particles (Physics)

Quantum field theory

Physics—Philosophy

Classical Mechanics

History of Physics and Astronomy

Mathematical Physics

Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory

Philosophical Foundations of Physics and Astronomy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

Short Historical Introduction -- Curva Elastica -- The Curva Elastica, a Curve of Least Energy -- From Euler to Lagrange -- Laplace and the Capillary - 1807 -- A Final Application in Elasticity with Jacobi Elliptic Functions -- Short List of Jacobi Elliptic Functions and Constants Used in Chapter 5 -- Variational Methods for Periodic Motions; Mathieu Functions -- Lagrangian for Isentropic Irrotational Flow -- Action Principle in Classical Electrodynamics -- The Two Giants in Gravity: Einstein and Hilbert -- The Quantum Action Principle -- The Action Principle in Quantum Field Theory -- Quantum Field Theory on Space-Like Hypersurfaces -- Lagrangian Formulation of Gauge Theories -- Effective Actions (Lagrangians) in Quantum Field Theory -- Modified Photon Propagation Function, Source Theory.



Sommario/riassunto

This book describes the historical development of the principle of stationary action from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Reference is made to the most important contributors to this topic, in particular Bernoullis, Leibniz, Euler, Lagrange and Laplace. The leading theme is how the action principle is applied to problems in classical physics such as hydrodynamics, electrodynamics and gravity, extending also to the modern formulation of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, especially quantum electrodynamics. A critical analysis of operator versus c-number field theory is given. The book contains many worked examples. In particular, the term "vacuum" is scrutinized. The book is aimed primarily at actively working researchers, graduate students and historians interested in the philosophical interpretation and evolution of physics; in particular, in understanding the action principle and its application to a wide range of natural phenomena.