Classical Finished undergraduate electrodynamics: what next?

AI Thread Summary
For those seeking a graduate-level textbook on electrodynamics after completing Griffiths' introduction, Jackson's "Classical Electrodynamics" remains a staple in many US graduate programs, though some question its current relevance. Alternatives mentioned include Barut, Schwinger, and Englert, which are noted for their mathematical rigor. Stratton is also referenced as a historical option, though Jackson is seen as more aligned with high-energy physics preparation. For readers preferring a mathematically rigorous approach, suggestions include "Electricity and Magnetism for Mathematicians" by Garrity, "Foundations of Classical Electrodynamics" by Hehl and Obukhov, and "Relativistic Electrodynamics and Differential Geometry" by Parrott. The discussion highlights a divide between those who appreciate Griffiths' style and those seeking more mathematically intense texts.
s00mb
Messages
33
Reaction score
10
I am almost finished with Griffiths intro to electrodynamics and was wondering what would be a good graduate level book on electrodynamics that I could self learn. I've also done His quantum mechanics book as well as Sakurai's quantum mechanics, and have a strong background in math (it's actually what my degree is in). My preference leans toward more mathematical rigorous books but that's just a preference any good book will do. Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics is (or at least has been) pretty commonly used in graduate physics programs in the US.

If you do a forum search for "Jackson", you'll probably turn up leads to other textbooks at that level. Restrict the search to "This forum" instead of "Everywhere".
 
  • Like
Likes vanhees71, Phylosopher and Charles Link
jtbell said:
Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics is (or at least has been) pretty commonly used

Sorry to interrupt the thread. But this really caught my eyes!

I thought it is still widely used. What other textbooks are used currently as a replacement to Jackson's?
 
jtbell said:
Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics is (or at least has been) pretty commonly used
Phylosopher said:
I thought it is still widely used.
I merely intended that as a "weasel phrase" in case things have changed since I was in grad school 40 years ago. :oldwink:
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes Phylosopher and vanhees71
Almost all physics graduate students use Jackson as their main text. I think Stratton is a good book for graduate EM that was probably used 50 years ago before Jackson. It seems to be at approximately the same level. I think Jackson prepares graduate students towards high energy physics research to a greater extent than Stratton, which is an older text.

Both these books are quite mathematically rigorous.
I think it strange you prefer mathematically rigorous books and then prefer Griffith.

I found Griffith Quantum Mechanics to (attempt to) solve some of his sample problems without doing any math at all.
 
s00mb said:
My preference leans toward more mathematical rigorous books
If you want something like electrodynamics for mathematicians, then Jackson is not what you are looking for. Instead, try with
- Garrity, Electricity and Magnetism for Mathematicians
- Hehl and Obukhov, Foundations of Classical Electrodynamics
- Parrott, Relativistic Electrodynamics and Differential Geometry
 
  • Like
  • Love
Likes vanhees71 and weirdoguy

Similar threads

Replies
26
Views
5K
Replies
21
Views
4K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
50
Views
6K
Replies
26
Views
5K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Back
Top