Special Relativity Book for Jackson Notation - Does it Exist?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on finding a rigorous text on special relativity (SR) that utilizes notation similar to Jackson's Electromagnetism, specifically focusing on 4-vectors and tensors while covering key concepts like time dilation and length contraction. Participants recommend "A First Course in General Relativity" by Schutz for its accessibility to the basics of SR and tensors. Another suggested text is Gourgoulhon's work, which offers a more in-depth exploration of the subject. The consensus is to start with Schutz for foundational understanding before progressing to Gourgoulhon for a deeper study. The conversation also highlights the importance of personal recommendations in discovering valuable resources in the field of physics.
Maybe_Memorie
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I haven't specifically studied SR yet. My only exposure to it has been in the classical field theory section of Jackson's Electromagnetism and Landau Lifshitz Classical Theory of Fields. I understood what was going on and how it was related to the electromagnetic field etc but I don't feel as if Ihave actually learned SR.

I'm looking for a rigorous special relativity text written in the same notation as Jackson (4-vectors and tensors) and which actually goes into the consequences of SR such as time dilation and length contraction.

Does such a text exist?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Maybe_Memorie said:
I'm looking for a rigorous special relativity text written in the same notation as Jackson (4-vectors and tensors) and which actually goes into the consequences of SR such as time dilation and length contraction.

www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=730724

This is the absolute best book I personally know of on the subject. My opinions on it are summarized in that thread.
 
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WannabeNewton said:
www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=730724

This is the absolute best book I personally know of on the subject. My opinions on it are summarized in that thread.
I had not seen that thread, or heard of this book before. It does look very good (so far based on the table of contents alone). I will have to get a copy for myself.

I still think that Schutz may be better for someone who just wants to pick up the basics of SR and tensors quickly, but Gourgoulhon (LOL that name) covers so much more. There's some stuff in there that I have wanted to read about for years.

So...Maybe_Memorie, consider getting both. My modified suggestion is that you read those three chapters in Schutz first, and then use Gourgoulhon when you're ready to go really deeply into the subject.
 
Fredrik said:
I had not seen that thread, or heard of this book before. It does look very good (so far based on the table of contents alone).

I wouldn't have heard of it either if it wasn't for George! He's introduced me to so many good books over the months (years?). I really recommend getting it.

Fredrik said:
I still think that Schutz may be better for someone who just wants to pick up the basics of SR and tensors quickly, but Gourgoulhon (LOL that name) covers so much more.

I definitely agree with you 100% on Schutz. And yeah, the name is pretty funny to say lol. I mean I'm probably butchering the pronounciation but to me it sounds like "goor ghoul own". I've had 4 years of French and I still can't pronounce these names xP
 
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