Classical Companion book for Electrodynamics by Jackson

[Ark236]

I am studying electrodynamics, in a few more months I have the qualification exam.

The guide text is classical electrodynamics, Jackson.

I find that book is higher my current level. I have the math tools, but what book do you recommend to use before the Jackson.

 

[BvU]

http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/tong/em/electro.pdf to see the teacher's view

 

[DrClaude]

David J. Griffiths' Introduction to Electrodynamics is a good introductory book.

 

[BvU]

Number 1 on Tong's list in the link... Purcell is nr 2.

 

[DrClaude]

Number 1 on Tong's list in the link... Purcell is nr 2.

Then it's a good list

 

[smodak]

My favorite electrodynamics books
1. Covariant Electrodynamics: A Concise Guide by Charap. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1421400146/?tag=pfamazon01-20
2. Lectures on Classical Electrodynamics by Berthold-Georg Englert https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9814596930/?tag=pfamazon01-20
3. Classical Electrodynamics by Schwinger https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738200565/?tag=pfamazon01-20
4. Electrodynamics and Classical Theory of Fields and Particles by Barut https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486640388/?tag=pfamazon01-20
5. Principles of Electrodynamics by Schwartz https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486654931/?tag=pfamazon01-20
6. Electrodynamics by Melia https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226519589/?tag=pfamazon01-20
7. Classical Electricity and Magnetism by Panofsky and Phillips https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486439240/?tag=pfamazon01-20

I did not list Purcell as it was already suggested. Purcell is great!

I never liked Jackson or Griffiths (don't ask me why). For your purpose, as a precursor to Jackson, Griffiths may as well be very suitable.

 

[vanhees71]

Hm, and I never liked Purcell. Until today, I don't understand why people think, it's a great book. We have had so many discussions by confused readers here in the forum that I think that this impression is not so wrong, but it's of course subjective. I like the book by Schwartz much more. The best "covariant" book for me still is Landau/Lifshitz vol. 2. Barut is also great, but full of typos. Don't trust any formula, which you haven't carefully checked yourself!

 

[Meir Achuz]

Try
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486813711/?tag=pfamazon01-20
It is due out in August, but can be preordered now. You could also get the first edition, used. It is close to Jackson in level, but is easier to follow.

 

[clope023]

I am studying electrodynamics, in a few more months I have the qualification exam.

The guide text is classical electrodynamics, Jackson.

I find that book is higher my current level. I have the math tools, but what book do you recommend to use before the Jackson.

This was the Jackson before Jackson, Stratton's Electromagnetic Theory:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1443730548/?tag=pfamazon01-20

 

[Buffu]

Second edition of Purcell's book is free on Library Genesis, I guess it is legal.

 

[vanhees71]

Nothing on Library Genesis is legal ;-)).

 

[Demystifier]

Is it at least legal to mention Library Genesis?

 

[vanhees71]

I'm not a lawyer

 

[Buffu]

Amazingly it was in google search results, So I thought it was legal.
I did not download anything from there.

 

[Daverz]

Schwartz and Nayfeh & Brussel:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486789713/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Dover has quite an interesting collection of E&M books.