Bibliography

V. K. ARKADIEV, Electromagnetic Processes in Metals

Part I. Constant electric and magnetic fields.
ONTI, Moscow—Leningrad, 1934, 230 pp.

This book is the first third of a large work devoted to the behavior of metals in electric and magnetic fields. The phenomena occurring in metals are considered from both the theoretical and the applied points of view, and the processes are described by means of averaged characteristics of the substance: dielectric constant, magnetic permeability, conductivity, etc.

The author proceeds from modern data of metallography (Chapter I) and, after considering electric and magnetic fields of various types in the next two chapters, turns to an analysis of the electrical properties of metallic conductors (Chapter IV). The following chapters (V–IX) are devoted to the most complex sections of magnetostatics—to the magnetization of ferromagnetic substances, the theory of electric and magnetic polarization (Chapters VI and VII), the mechanical forces and energy of the magnetic field (Chapter VIII), and the magnetostatics of cores and permanent magnets.

One of the features of the book is the systematic bringing out of analogies between electric and magnetic fields, the phenomena of electric and magnetic polarization, etc. At the same time, in the appropriate places analogies are introduced with the phenomena of thermal conductivity, hydrodynamics, and others.

In describing the phenomena, the author, proceeding from general theoretical principles, carries the analysis of the question up to concrete special problems. In this way a close connection between general scientific principles and individual practical questions is achieved. In V. K. Arkadiev’s book, for the first time in Russian, a large number of diverse problems on the magnetization of bodies of all possible forms in a constant magnetic field are systematically set forth. This material, supplied with a number of tables and graphs, is placed with special emphasis, since in important differences that must be taken into account when using individual varieties of magnetic coefficients (permeability, susceptibility) are noted. In this respect the book will prove indispensable both for physicists and for electrical engineers engaged in calculations of electromagnetic apparatus.

The exposition, in which there is much that is new both in the choice and in the arrangement of the material, is distinguished by clarity and precision.

From the external point of view the book has been issued satisfactorily, although a few typographical defects are encountered. The paper leaves something to be desired, and some drawings on it have an insufficiently clear appearance. It is also not clear why such a book, valuable in its content, was issued by the publishing house without a binding.

N. Nikitin

CHARLES F. MAYER, Prof., The Diffraction of light, X-rays and material particles. An introductory treatment. Chicago, University of Chicago Pr., 1934, XIV, 473 p., 283 fig., Doll. 5.

CHARLES MAYER, Prof., Diffraction of light, X-rays and material particles*.

* This and the following reviews are based on materials of the Critical-Bibliographical Institute.

The author’s attempt to bring together in one book the questions of diffraction of various kinds of electromagnetic waves and material particles is entirely timely.

The discovery of the diffraction of X-rays by Laue (in 1912) and of the diffraction of electrons by Davisson and Germer (in 1925) are perhaps the two most remarkable victories of experimental physics in the twentieth century.

Thanks to these discoveries, questions of diffraction have interested a large circle of physicists. If earlier the solution of diffraction problems was the concern only of optics, now every physicist who studies the structure of matter and deals with diffraction phenomena has to encounter them.

Moreover, of course, ordinary diffraction of light waves is of very great importance and represents considerable interest (for example, the limit of resolving power, the diffraction grating, etc.).

The book under review is divided into three parts. The first, the largest part, is devoted to light waves; the second to X-rays and, finally, the last part to material particles. Below we shall dwell in somewhat greater detail on the content of the individual parts, but for the moment we shall point out one serious shortcoming of the book’s entire construction. The fact is that all three parts of the book are connected with one another purely mechanically; there is no organic connection. It seems to us that, for greater unity, the book should have been divided into parts corresponding to the various questions of diffraction, and not to the various kinds of waves. Then the complete analogy between diffraction phenomena in waves of different nature would actually have been felt. Information on the nature of the individual kinds of waves could have been given in the general introduction.

Let us now proceed to a brief account of the content of the individual parts of the book.

The first part begins with a very brief historical introduction setting forth the development of wave theory. Then come two chapters describing the methods of zones and lunes, as well as Cornu’s spiral. The author is a great admirer of graphical methods, and therefore special attention is devoted to these two chapters.

The fourth chapter is devoted to Fresnel diffraction. The analysis of almost all cases of Fresnel diffraction is carried out with the aid of Cornu’s spiral.

The fifth chapter is Fraunhofer diffraction. As in the preceding chapter, a graphical treatment of the questions predominates. The paragraph devoted to comparing Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction is well presented. The very important question of diffraction by a large aperture, requiring the introduction of Bessel functions, is treated only qualitatively. The full theory is given in the appendices.

The question of diffraction gratings is set apart in a separate large chapter—the sixth. Here a very clear exposition is given of the theory of the action of diffraction gratings, both plane and concave. However, in our opinion, this chapter is too overloaded with various details that are of interest only to a narrow specialist. For example, the methods of manufacturing and adjusting gratings are described in too much detail; too much space is devoted to various defects of gratings, etc.

The seventh chapter consists of a number of paragraphs essentially only loosely connected with one another. Here rather much space is devoted to the question of resolving power; the diffraction of light by small particles is described very briefly; and the end of the chapter is devoted to fundamental questions (criticism of Fresnel, Kirchhoff’s theory, Sommerfeld’s theory, etc.). Only three pages out of 450 are devoted to the exposition of Kirchhoff’s theory, which is explained by the author’s excessive attachment to graphical methods.

The eighth chapter is the diffraction of X-rays. This chapter, as already indicated, is an entirely independent part of the book. It begins with an account of the history of the discovery of X-rays and of their diffraction. Next Bragg’s theory is set forth, various types of spectrographs are described. Then follows a brief exposition of Laue’s theory and a description of the diffraction of X-rays by optical gratings and by a slit.

Relatively too much space is devoted to the description of the spectrometer with two crystals. In conclusion, only three pages in all are occupied by an exposition of questions of the diffraction of X-rays in amorphous bodies.

It must be said that, in general, questions of the diffraction of waves on particles comparable with the wavelength are covered in the book very scantily, quite out of proportion to the importance these questions have at the present time.

Chapter Nine is the diffraction of material particles. This chapter is divided into four sections, each of which consists of several paragraphs. The first section describes the classical experiments of Davisson and Germer and briefly sets forth the foundations of the wave theory of matter. The second section describes the diffraction of slow electrons on crystals and on optical gratings. The third section is the diffraction of fast electrons. Here Thomson’s experiments are described, then the results of experiments on the diffraction of electrons in amorphous bodies are briefly presented, and, finally, the current state of the question of the polarization of electron waves is set forth.

The last section is the diffraction of massive particles (atoms, molecules, and positive ions). Here the results of the most recent experimental work in this field are set forth. The exposition is very brief, but clear.

At the end of the book there are appendices containing, chiefly, a more detailed mathematical exposition of certain questions touched upon in the text. A large part of the appendices expounds the complete theory of imperfections of diffraction gratings. Two appendices give a more detailed exposition of the theory of diffraction of X-rays and electron waves. Of interest is the appendix giving a number of instructions for laboratory work on diffraction.

Now a few words on the general character of the exposition. We have already pointed out one serious shortcoming in the construction of the book—the absence of connection between the separate parts. Here we should like to dwell on the question of the level of exposition and the choice of material.

In its level of exposition the book is intended for students in the first years, and in scope for specialist research workers. Thus the volume of the book and the material it contains are in contradiction with the level of exposition. As has already been indicated, the book contains many superfluous details, of interest only to a specialist and not interesting to students; on the other hand, the exposition of most of the fundamental questions is too brief and elementary to be of interest to specialists.

All this extremely lowers the value of the book and leads to the conclusion that the book, despite its tempting title, should not be translated.

V. Fabrikant

PAULING, LINUS, Prof., and B. E. WILSON, Introduction to quantum mechanics, with application to chemistry, N.Y.L. McGrow-Hill, 1935; XIII, 468 p., 53 Fig., Doll. 5.

PAULING, L. and B. E. WILSON, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics with Applications to Chemistry.

The exposition of wave mechanics, which arose only ten years ago, has recently been joined by a large number of scholarly works, textbooks, and popular books (introductions). Every new work systematizing the advances of wave mechanics bears the imprint of the stage of development that has been passed.

The book under review is distinguished by the fact that it was written already at a time when the rapid development of the science had to some extent given way to slower organic growth. In connection with this there arose the possibility of writing a university course in wave mechanics—a course which, in its scope and character, resembles the ordinary courses of theoretical or statistical mechanics for higher educational institutions.

This is the value of the textbook under review. For it is already time to realize that for a student now entering a higher educational institution, wave mechanics, neither in difficulty nor in novelty of ideas, appears different from courses in “classical” physics. On the contrary, every teacher knows that