A Short Journey from Quarks to the Universe (SpringerBriefs in Physics Book 1)

This Book Takes The Reader For A Short Journey Over The Structures Of Matter Showing That Their Main Properties Can Be Obtained Even At A Quantitative Level With A Minimum Background Knowledge. The Latter, Besides Some High School Physics And Mathematics, Consists Of The Three Cornerstones Of Science Presented In Chapters 1 To 3, Namely The Atomic Idea, The Wave-particle Duality, And The Minimization Of Energy As The Condition For Equilibrium. Dimensional Analysis Employing The Universal Constants And Combined With “a Little Imagination And Thinking”, To Quote Feynman, Allows An Amazing Short-cut Derivation Of Several Quantitative Results Concerning The Structures Of Matter. This Book Is Expected To Be Of Interest To Physics, Engineering, And Other Science Students And To Researchers In Physics, Material Science, Chemistry, And Engineering Who May Find Stimulating The Alternative Derivation Of Several Real World Results, Which Sometimes Seem To Pop Out The Magician’s Hat. Pt. 1. Three Key-ideas And A Short-cut -- Pt. 2. Structures Mediated By Strong Interactions -- Pt. 3. The Realm Of Electromagnetism -- Pt. 4. Gravity At Front Stage. Eleftherios N. Economou. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 SpringerBriefs in Physics 1 2 A Short Journey from Quarks to the Universe 4 ISBN 9783642200885 5 Preface 10 Contents 12 1 Introduction: The World According to Physics 16 Abstract 16 Part I: Three Key-Ideas and a Short-Cut 20 2 The Atomic Idea 22 Abstract 22 2.1...The Elementary Particles of Matter 23 2.2...The Interactions and Their Elementary Carrier-Particles 26 2.2.1 What Does Counterbalance the Overall Attraction of the Interactions and Establishes Equilibrium? 31 3 The Wave-Particle Duality 32 Abstract 32 3.1...The Properties of the World at Every Scale are of Quantum Nature: If they were Not, We Would Not Exist 33 3.2...Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle 34 3.3...Pauli’s Exclusion Principle 36 3.4...Schrödinger’s Principle of Spectral Discreteness 37 4 Equilibrium and Minimization of Total Energy 42 Abstract 42 4.1...The First Law 43 4.2...The Second Law 44 4.3...Maximum Work, Gibbs’ Free Energy, and Chemical Potential 45 5 Dimensional Analysis: A Short-cut to Physics Relations 48 Abstract 48 5.1...Photons in Equilibrium 49 5.2...Emission of Photons 50 5.3...Scattering of Photons 51 5.4...Relations Regarding Some Eigenfrequencies and Wave Velocities 54 Part II: Structures Mediated by Strong Interactions: 58 6 From Quarks and Gluons To Hadrons 60 Abstract 60 6.1...Hadrons and Quantum Chromodynamics: An Outline 61 7 From Protons and Neutrons to Nuclei 66 Abstract 66 7.1...Calculating the Total Energy 67 7.2...Questions and Answers 70 Part III: The Realm of Electromagnetism 76 8 From Nuclei and Electrons to Atoms 78 Abstract 78 8.1...Size and Relevant Energy of Atoms 79 8.2...Atomic Orbitals 81 8.3...Energy Ordering of the Levels Corresponding to the Atomic Orbitals psi nlm and the Structure of the Periodic Table of the Elements 82 9 From Atoms to Molecules 86 9.1 The Residual Electric Interaction Between Two Atoms 87 9.2 Estimates Based on Dimensional Analysis 89 9.3 Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals 90 9.4 Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals 93 10 From Atoms (or Molecules) to Solids (or Liquids) 96 Abstract 96 10.1...Dimensional Analysis Applied to Solids 97 10.2...The Jellium Model and Metals 101 10.3...The LCAO Method and Semiconductors 103 Part IV: Gravity at Front Stage 106 11 Planets 108 Abstract 108 11.1...How Tall Can a Mountain Be? 108 11.2...Temperature of a Planet 109 11.3...Winds in the Atmospheres of Planets 111 11.4...Pressure and Other Quantities Within a Planet 112 12 Stars Dead Or Alive 114 Abstract 114 12.1...Introduction 115 12.2...White Dwarfs 116 12.3...Neutron Stars or Pulsars (equivRotating Neutron Stars) 117 12.4...Black Holes 119 12.5...The Minimum Mass of an Active Star 120 12.6...The Maximum Mass of an Active Star 122 13 The Observable Universe 124 Abstract 124 13.1...Introductory Remarks 125 13.2...Derivation of the Equations Determining the Expansion Rate 129 13.3...Solution of the Equation for the Expansion Rate 132 13.4...Formation of the Structures of the Universe 135 Epilogue: The Anthropic Principle 138 Appendix I: Oscillations and Waves 142 Selected Problems 146 Bibliography 150 Index 152 Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction: The World According to Physics....Pages 1-4 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 The Atomic Idea....Pages 7-16 The Wave-Particle Duality....Pages 17-25 Equilibrium and Minimization of Total Energy....Pages 27-31 Dimensional Analysis: A Short-cut to Physics Relations....Pages 33-41 Front Matter....Pages 43-43 From Quarks and Gluons To Hadrons....Pages 45-50 From Protons and Neutrons to Nuclei....Pages 51-59 Front Matter....Pages 61-61 From Nuclei and Electrons to Atoms....Pages 63-69 From Atoms to Molecules....Pages 71-79 From Atoms (or Molecules) to Solids (or Liquids)....Pages 81-90 Front Matter....Pages 91-92 Planets....Pages 93-97 Stars Dead Or Alive....Pages 99-108 The Observable Universe....Pages 109-121 Back Matter....Pages 123-146 This volume provides an introduction to the structures of matter. Topics include the atomic idea, wave-particle duality, and the minimization of energy as the condition for equilibrium, dimensional analysis, and more.