First published in 1979 by John Wiley and Sons, Inc., this book is a useful resource for educators and self-learners alike. The book was reprinted in 1987 and again in 2003 with corrections by Krieger Publishing Company.
A student can learn the difficult subject of electromagnetic field theory through the many worked examples emphasizing physical processes, devices, and models. This book features carefully drawn diagrams and answers to selected problems.
From the preface:
This text is an introductory treatment on the junior level for a two-semester electrical engineering course starting from the Coulomb-Lorentz force law on a point charge. The theory is extended by the continuous superposition of solutions from previously developed simpler problems leading to the general integral and differential field laws. Often the same problem is solved by different methods so that the advantages and limitations of each approach becomes clear. Sample problems and their solutions are presented for each new concept with great emphasis placed on classical models of physical phenomena such as polarization, conduction, and magnetization. A large variety of related problems that reinforce the text material are included at the end of each chapter for exercise and homework.
It is expected that students have had elementary courses in calculus that allow them to easily differentiate and integrate simple functions. The text tries to keep the mathematical development rigorous but simple by typically describing systems with linear, constant coefficient differential and difference equations.
The text is subdivided into three main subject areas:
- Charges as the source of the electric field coupled to polarizable and conducting media with negligible magnetic field;
- Currents as the source of the magnetic field coupled to magnetizable media with electromagnetic induction generating an electric field; and
- Electrodynamics where electric and magnetic fields are of equal importance resulting in radiating waves.
Wherever possible, electrodynamic solutions are examined in various limits to illustrate the appropriateness of the previously developed quasi-static circuit theory approximations.
The citation for the out-of-print edition is:
Zahn, Markus. Electromagnetic Field Theory: A Problem Solving Approach. Malabar, FL: Krieger Publishing Company, 2003. ISBN: 9781575242354.
First published 1979 by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ISBN: 9780471021988.
This textbook is used in the courses 6.013J/ESD.013J and 6.641.
