Physics & Astrophysics 2011

Physics & Astrophysics 2011 press.princeton.edu 2 princeton frontiers in physics 18 condensed matter 3 textbooks 19 mathematics & mathematical physics 6 astronomy & astrophysics 23 princeton primers in climate 10 princeton series in astrophysics 24 princeton science library 12 physics 26 albert einstein 16 princeton series in physics 28 science essentials 17 quantum physics 29 index/order form Dear Readers, As part of our mission to publish work on the frontiers of the physical sciences, we are tremendously excited to announce the Princeton Frontiers in Physics series. The margins of exploration and discovery— the edges of the unknown—have always fascinated humankind. The first and essential step toward discovery, however, is the formulation of a smart question—a question that illuminates even in the asking. What questions are moving the frontiers of the physical sciences forward, and where are we in our search for the answers? To find out, check out the short, sophisticated introductions in Princeton Frontiers in Physics. Abraham Loeb’s How Did the First Stars and Galaxies Form? and Joshua Bloom’s What Are Gamma-Ray Bursts? are the first of many new titles that are forthcoming in this exciting series. Stay tuned for other intriguing and refreshingly pithy books that seek to define the state of the art of modern knowledge. A number of extraordinary new texts and professional-level works are also to be found in this year’s catalog. We are very proud to announce the much-anticipated Physics of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Medium by Princeton’s Bruce Draine, the newest addition to the renowned Princeton Series in Astrophysics. We also have a new addition to our burgeoning In a Nutshell textbook series—Gerald Mahan’s superb Condensed Matter in a Nutshell. In addition, be sure to check out Harvey Gould and Jan Tobochnik’s Statistical and Thermal Physics, a highly innovative addition to the textbook literature, as well as Jeremy Kasdin and Derek Paley’s excellent undergraduate-level textbook, Engineering Dynamics. We also have some fantastic popular-level books for you to enjoy. To get the very latest on the exhilarating search for new planets, directly from the front lines of research, pick up Ray Jayawardhana’s Strange New Worlds. Another delightful book to curl up with is Michael Hoskin’s page-turner, Discoverers of the Universe: William and Caroline Herschel. Lastly, we have a few new books on Einstein—The Ultimate Quotable Einstein, edited by Alice Calaprice, and a new look at Einstein’s involve- ment in the Zionist movement, Ze’ev Rosenkranz’s fascinating Einstein Before Israel. Finally, I am delighted to announce an important new “miniseries” of books on the state of the art in climate-science research, Princeton Primers in Climate. These short books are the ideal first place to turn to get the facts on how climate works and must-reads if one wants to quickly understand the physics of the climate system. The first title in the series is David Archer’s brilliantly lucid book, The Global Carbon Cycle. Of course, these are just a few of the many new books on the Princeton list we hope you’ll explore. Our thanks to all of you—our readers, authors, and advisors— for your enduring support. We hope that you enjoy the books in this catalog and that you will continue to let us know what you would like to read in the future. Ingrid Gnerlich Senior Editor, Physical & Earth Sciences Dear Readers, Princeton Global Science (PGS, available here http://princetonglobalscience.org) is a new initiative of Princeton University Press highlighting the work of our authors and their books in addressing the great scientific and technological issues alive in the world today. On the first and fifteenth of each month we will be featuring on the Princeton Global Science blog a recent PUP author, book, series, or other publication that delivers an important message on scientific research, science policy, or the connection between science and culture. Inspiring PGS are three separate but related factors: First, as a publisher of science we are launching PGS in response to calls for greater science literacy both among the general public and in our schools and colleges. PGS will address the need to publicize news of the latest research initiatives conducted in society’s interest, the ongoing integration of the “two cultures” of scientific and humanistic knowledge, and the ac- celerating penetration of technological innovation in people’s lives and society. PGS will serve as a continuing narrative designed to engage these concerns over time. Second, we see in PGS an opportunity to unite the full array of our science lists in a single venue for communicating what is new and important on these lists to our readers, reviewers, publishing partners, and to science educators and advocates all over the world. The Press has had a long, continuous, and distinguished history of publishing science since publication of Albert Einstein’s The Meaning of Relativity in 1922. Now, nearly a century later, we are distinc- tive among American university presses not only for publishing throughout the physical and biological sciences, natural history, mathematics, and cognitive science, but also for our social scientific investigations into science, history of science, and science and public policy. PGS provides us the opportunity to communicate the best of them, emphasizing the whole, not merely the sum of the parts. Third, the opportunity to reach our audience in countries all over the world is much greater than it has ever been, and we see PGS as a prime opportunity to transmit important informa- tion on science and related fields to those engaged in scientific research, education, and writing across the globe. In the same spirit, we see PGS as a new and constructive element in enriching the greater conversa- tion among our authors and editors as they engage with members of the science media, with booksellers and science policy professionals, and with educators, advocates, and students. We look forward to having members of each of these communities and beyond come to see PGS as a locus for engaging important new science ideas. We hope you will join us in celebrating the launch of Princeton Global Science. Peter J. Dougherty Director http://princetonglobalscience.org princeton global science initiative • 1 Princeton Frontiers in Physics is a new series of short introductions to some of today’s most exciting and dynamic research areas across the physical sciences. Written by leading specialists, these stimulating books address fundamental questions that are challenging the limits of current knowledge. With forward-looking discussions of core ideas, ongoing debates, and unresolved problems, the books in this series make cutting-edge research in the physical sciences more accessible than ever before—for students, scientists, and scientifically minded general readers. New New How Did the First Stars and What Are Gamma-Ray Bursts? Galaxies Form? Joshua S. Bloom Abraham Loeb “This is a marvelous “A lucid, concise ac- book. It contains the count of our current new results from the understanding of how fast-developing science light burst from darkness of gamma-ray-burst when the first stars and astronomy along with galaxies formed early its fascinating history. I in the expansion of the recommend it as a good universe. Starting from introduction for nonex- basic physical principles, perts and a fun read for Loeb describes the physi- researchers in the field.” cal processes that shaped —Neil Gehrels, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center the evolution of the universe, how they led to the Gamma-ray bursts are the brightest—and, until formation of the first black holes, quasars, and recently, among the least understood—cosmic gamma-ray bursts, and how upcoming observa- events in the universe. Discovered by chance tions will test these ideas.” during the cold war, these evanescent high- —Christopher F. McKee, University of California, energy explosions confounded astronomers Berkeley for decades. But a rapid series of startling Abraham Loeb is professor of astronomy and breakthroughs beginning in 1997 revealed that director of the Institute for Theory and Computa- the majority of gamma-ray bursts are caused tion at Harvard University. by the explosions of young and massive stars in the vast star-forming cauldrons of distant 2010. 216 pages. 14 halftones. 17 line illus. Pa: 978-0-691-14516-7 $24.95 | £16.95 galaxies. New findings also point to very different Cl: 978-0-691-14515-0 $75.00 | £52.00 origins for some events, serving to complicate but enrich our understanding of the exotic and violent universe. What Are Gamma-Ray Bursts? Forthcoming in the series is a succinct introduction to this fast-growing How Did the Universe Begin? subject, written by an astrophysicist who is at the Paul Steinhardt forefront of today’s research into these incredible cosmic phenomena. What is Dark Matter? Peter Fisher Joshua S. Bloom is associate professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley. Can the Laws of Physics Be Unified? 2011. 272 pages. 27 line illus. A. Zee Pa: 978-0-691-14557-0 $24.95 | £16.95 Cl: 978-0-691-14556-3 $65.00 | £44.95 What Does a Black Hole Look Like? Charles Bailyn 2 • princeton frontiers in physics What’s In a Nutshell? More of the best science than ever. In a Nutshell is a new series of concise, accessible, and up-to-date textbooks for advanced undergraduates and graduate students on key subjects in the physical sciences. Part of Princeton University Press’s expanding presence in science textbook publishing, this high-profile series will bring out the highest quality texts on subjects ranging from astrophysics, nuclear physics, and string theory, to particle physics, neutrino physics, electromagne- tism, and magnetism.

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