Advanced Topics in Contemporary Physics for Engineering

This book highlights cutting-edge topics in contemporary physics, discussing exciting advances and new forms of thinking in evolving fields with emphases both on natural phenomena and applications to modern engineering. It provides material for thought and practice in nanophysics, plasma physics, and electrodynamics.

Nanophysics and plasmas are synergic physical areas where the whole is more than the sum of the parts (quantum, atomic and molecular, electrodynamics, photonics, condensed matter, thermodynamics, transport phenomena). The authors emphasize both fundamentals and more complex concepts, making the contents accessible as well challenging. Nanoscale properties and physical phenomena are explained under the umbrella of quantum physics. Advances made in the physical knowledge of the nanoworld, and its metrology are addressed, along with experimental achievements which have furthered studies of extreme weak forces present at nano- or sub-micron scales. The book does not focus in detail on the diversity of applications in nanotechnology and instrumentation, considering that the reader already has basic prior knowledge on that. It also covers an introduction to plasma universe phenomenology, the basics of advanced mathematics applied to the electromagnetic field, longitudinal forces in the vacuum, concepts of helicity and topological torsion, SU(2) representation of Maxwell equations, 2D representation of the electromagnetic field, the use of the fractional derivative, and ergontropic dynamics. The chapters include theory, applications, bibliographic references, and solved exercises.

The synergies of the book’s topics demonstrate their potential in critical issues, such as relieving humans from barriers imposed by energetic and entropic dependencies and penetrating the realm of weak forces at the nanoscale. The book will boost both post-graduate students and mature scientists to implement new scientific and technological projects.

Rui F. M. Lobo is a professor of physics and physics engineering at the NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon. He received his PhD in physics from the NOVA University of Lisbon and obtained a Habilitation in Nano-Engineering at this University. He also holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico– University of Lisbon. He is among the pioneers working with single polyatomic molecule experiments in binary neutral collisions and is presently leading research in experimental nanophysics and nanotechnology for clean energy, hydrogen technology, and decarbonization. He has authored several scientific refereed publications in journals, books, book chapters, and conference proceedings. He has been a senior member of the Engineers National Order and has belonged to international scientific committees in molecular beams and nanometer-scale technology. He was a Fellow Researcher at several renowned institutions including Max Planck Institute, Hahn Meitner Institute, Rice University, Osaka University, Ohio University, among others.

Mario J. Pinheiro is a professor of physics at the Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. He received his PhD in physics and obtained the Habilitation in Physics from the Technical Institute of Lisbon and got his Diplome d’Études Approfondies in Plasma Physics at the University of Orsay Paris-XI. Mario main interests are in the fundamentals of mechanics and the electromagnetic field, developing advanced propulsion systems for the next generation of spacecraft, and public awareness for the role of science in our societies. He was an invited researcher at the University of Knoxville-USA, working on plasma thrusters for drones, co-founder of the physics conferences for the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, and author of more than 100 papers, several books in advanced propulsion concepts for spaceflight, and developed a new theory of dynamics and electrodynamics, named ergontropic dynamics.