The Physics of Waves

This text explores and illustrates how wave phenomena arise in any system of coupled linear oscillators with translation invariance and local interactions. 1. Harmonic Oscillation 2. Damping, Forced Oscillations and Resonance 3. Normal Modes 4. Symmetries 5. Waves 6. The Continuum Limit and Fourier Series 7. Longitudinal Oscillations and Sound 8. Traveling Waves 9. The Boundary at Infinity 10. Signals and Fourier Analysis 11. Two and Three Dimensions 12. Polarization 13. Interference and Diffraction 14. Shocks and Wakes Bibliography Appendix A: The Programs Appendix B: Solitons Appendix C: Goldstone Bosons