Relativistic Kinematics: A Guide To The Kinematic Problems Of High Energy Physics Hardcover – March 31, 2012

This book is an excellent text on special relativity. It is not for beginners as it is not an introduction with lots of examples. It is, however, a excellent reference when reviewing the subject or getting solutions to common kinematic problems. It is too bad it is not in print at this time as it it often quoted as the text to use for solving problems in relativity for physicist.

This seems to be an electronically reproduced copy of the original book published in 60s. Unfortunately the print quality is not good {some fonts especially in chapter titles are fading). There was to attempt to typeset and improve the original print. But material is the same and is adequate for undergraduate studies. It is also useful to experimental Physicists working in High energy or nuclear physics.

Note: CERN allows downloading of pdf Yellow Report #62-18 (these lectures).Originating from a set of lectures given by the author at CERN, 1961-1962, this book presents the material from the perspective of an experimental particle physicist (for instance, you will get relativistic notation only after page 115).A blurb in the New Scientist (Oct 1963): " Shows how many kinematic problems can be most easily solved by describing them first in a frame of reference where they become simple and then setting up the covariant, or invariant, generalization of that particular description." Hagedorn writes: "...fills a gap between high-brow theory and the daily work in the laboratory." Complete solutions are provided to some of the problem sets.(1) The first chapter is an exposition of Lorentz transformations and invariants (Although, notation uses " ict ").(2) Chapter Eight: Considerations upon relativistic notation, here the author spends some time discussing alternative notation used in the literature, defining terms such as metric tensor, covariant, contravariant components, and ending with the electromagnetic field tensor. (page 129; comparison to chapter three, Misner, Thorne & Wheeler is useful ! )(3) Ninth chapter discusses precession of the polarization of spin-one-half particle moving in electromagnetic field.Read: "the degree of polarization of a beam cannot be changed by passing it through electromagnetic fields, whatsoever, as long as the inhomogeneities across the beam can be neglected." (page 132).(4) There is a continuation of these lecture notes: more scattering and quantum mechanics. CERN#63-14. These notes also, are available as a PDF download from the CERN document server.(5) Concluding: These notes, snapshot of the 1960s, retain their efficacy in terms of experimental particle physics. One instance, Section #7-4 (pages 93-97), are fascinating in "showing how a dynamical property of a system exhibits itself from the background of 'pure phase space.' " The conclusion: the discovery of omega-meson (page 97). Happily, the paper of E.C.G. Sudarshan is referenced for "the remarkable advantages of the invariant phase space." (That is, the paper of Shrivastava & Sudarshan, Physical Review, 110, 765, 1958).(6) Enrico Fermi and his statistical arguments are outlined (pages 86-89). See Fermi, Progress in Theoretical Physics, Volume 5, Number 570, 1950. Dalitz, and his 'plots' are mentioned (page 98). Mandelstam variables, also, page 69).(7) In spite of the typography (typescript) and some old-fashioned notation, these lecture notes (CERN #62-18) and the later lecture notes (CERN #63-14) are well worth perusing.

特殊相対論の入門には最適の本です。一冊目がボロボロになったので、最近、二冊目を購入しました。