In this volume Professor Dobbs shows how Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism lead to an understanding of the generation and propagation of electromagnetic waves. Beginning with a discussion of Maxwell's equations in space and in magnetisable, polarisable media, the relationship between classical electromagnetism and special relativity is then developed and applied to simple examples of moving charges. Then properties of electromagnetic waves in space are derived from Maxwell's equations, and Fresnel's equations for reflection and refraction at plane boundaries are obtained. The author goes on to discuss propagation in dielectrics and conductors, absorption processes, the generation of electromagnetic waves by antennas and dipoles and the mechanisms of classical scattering. The text concludes with a study of microwaves in waveguides and resonant cavities, and the failure of classical theory to explain the thermal properties of radiation. The book is well illustrated with diagrams throughout and there are worked examples and exercises (with answers) for the student.This book should be of interest to second year undergraduate students taking courses in physics, applied physics, electronics and electrical engineering.
