Classical Field Theory and the Stress-Energy Tensor (Second Edition)

Classical Field Theory and the Stress-Energy Tensor (Second Edition) is an introduction to classical field theory and the mathematics required to formulate and analyze it. The development of the mathematical formalism, previously in an appendix, is integrated into the presentation of the physical concepts. The book develops the core concepts of field theory by applying Newtonian physics to the stretched string, emphasizing the relationship between fields and the observer's coordinate systems and using basic concepts of differential geometry and functional techniques. This collection of insights should be invaluable to both the student, instructor, and active researcher since it presents a unified view of field theories without the added complication of quantization.

Key Features:

• A logical and thorough development of both the mathematics and physics of classical fields
• A unified theme based on the relationship of fields, coordinate transformations, and the stress-energy tensor
• Applications to a wide set of areas and phenomena where classical field theory yields important physical insights
• An accessible introduction for the student and a useful reference for the researcher
• A significant number of worked examples will be added to each chapter of the new edition. These will be combined with a set of problems with suggestions to the reader how to approach solving them and whose answers will be provided.