The Special Theory of Relativity, 2014 A Mathematical Approach

The book expounds the major topics in the special theory of relativity. It provides a detailed examination of the mathematical foundation of the special theory of relativity, relativistic mass, relativistic mechanics and relativistic electrodynamics.  As well as covariant formulation of relativistic mechanics and electrodynamics, the book discusses the relativistic effect on photons. Using a mathematical approach, the text offers graduate students a clear, concise view of the special theory of relativity. Organized into 14 chapters and two appendices, the content is presented in a logical order, and every topic has been dealt with in a simple and lucid manner. To aid understanding of the subject, the book provides numerous relevant worked examples in every chapter. The book?s mathematical approach helps students in their independent study and motivates them to research the topic further.

Chapter 1. Pre-Relativity and Galilean Transformation.- Chapter 2. Michelson-Morley Experiment and Velocity of Light.- Chapter 3. Lorentz Transformations.- Chapter 4. Mathematical Properties of Lorentz Transformations.- Chapter 5. More Mathematical Properties of Lorentz Transformations.- Chapter 6. Geometric Interpretation of Spacetime.- Chapter 7. Relativistic Velocity and Acceleration.- Chapter 8. Four Dimensional World.- Chapter 9. Mass in Relativity.- Chapter 10. Relativistic Dynamics.- Chapter 11. Photon in Relativity.- Chapter 12. Relativistic Lagrangian and Hamiltonian.- Chapter 13. Electrodynamics in Relativity.- Chapter 14. Relativistic Mechanics of continua.

FAROOK RAHAMAN is associate professor at the Department of Mathematics, Jadavpur University, West Bengal. With over 15 years  of experience in teaching and working with various fields of application of  relativity,  he has supervised so far 14 PhD students. He has about 180 research papers to his credit published in several international journals. Dr. Rahaman has been selected for TWAS UNESCO Associateship, Trieste, Italy, for the period of 2011–2014.In addition, he has also been selected  for Associate of IUCAA and Associate of IMSc in 2009. He has been awarded with UGC Post-Doctoral Research Award by the Government of India in 2010. He is co-author of the  book Finsler Geometry of Hadrons and Lyra Geometry: Cosmological Aspects, Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, 2012.

Offers graduate students a clear, concise view of the special theory of relativity

Provides a detailed examination of the mathematical foundation of the special theory of relativity, relativistic mass, relativistic mechanics and relativistic electrodynamics

Discusses the relativistic effect on photons, covariant formulation of relativistic mechanics and electrodynamics

Provides numerous worked examples with every concept to aid better understanding of the subject

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras