An Introduction to Phase-Integral Methods

by John Heading

Overview

The phase-integral method in mathematics, also known as the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) method, is the focus of this introductory treatment. Author John Heading successfully steers a course between simplistic and rigorous approaches to provide a concise overview for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in mathematics and physics.
Since the number of applications is vast, the text considers only a brief selection of topics and emphasizes the method itself rather than detailed applications. The process, once derived, is shown to be one of essential simplicity that involves merely the application of certain well-defined rules. Starting with a historical survey of the problem and its solutions, subjects include the Stokes phenomenon, one and two transition points, and applications to physical problems. An appendix and bibliography conclude the text.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486316291
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	05/06/2013
Series:	Dover Books on Mathematics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	6 MB

Table of Contents

PrefaceI Historical Survey of the ProblemII The W.K.B.J. SolutionsIII The Stokes PhenomenonIV One Transition PointV Two Transition PointsVI Applications to Physical ProblemsAppendix: The Relationship Between Series and the W.K.B.J. SolutionsBibliographyIndex