Partial differential equations of first order and their applications to physics (2^nd Ed.)

This book tries to point out the mathematical importance of the Partial Differential Equations of First Order (PDEFO) in Physics and Applied Sciences. The intention is to provide mathematicians with a wide view of the applications of this branch in physics, and to give physicists and applied scientists a powerful tool for solving some problems appearing in Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Optics, and General Relativity. This book is intended for senior or first year graduate students in mathematics, physics, or engineering curricula. This book is unique in the sense that it covers the applications of PDEFO in several branches of applied mathematics, and fills the theoretical gap between the formal mathematical presentation of the theory and the pure applied tool to physical problems that are contained in other books. Improvements made in this second edition include corrected typographical errors, rewritten text to improve the flow and enrich the material, added exercises in all chapters, new applications in Chapters 1, 2, and 5 and expanded examples.

Geometric Concepts and Generalities. Partial Differential Equations of First Order. Physical Applications I. Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations of First Order. Physical Applications II. Characteristic Surfaces of Linear Partial Differential Equation of Second Order.