The object of this book is to provide a comprehensive treatment of the principal issues in modern instrumentation, but without attempting an encyclopedic reference. It thus discusses the basic theory and physical principles underlying the operation of the various sensors as well as the practical aspects of their operation and their incorporation into larger systems. The intent is to cover the most important topics in electronics, sensors, measurements, and acquisition systems, always keeping in mind the needs of practicing scientists and engineers. The presentation focuses on systems controlled by desktop personal computers running a high-level program and operating through internal cards or an external bus connected to instruments, rather than the specialized microprocessors discussed in older texts. The book will thus be useful to students in a wide variety of experimental sciences and engineering disciplines, including physics, chemistry, mechanical, nuclear, and electrical engineering, experimental psychology, biology, and geophysics.

The pendulum: a case study in physics is a unique book in several ways. Firstly, it is a comprehensive quantitative study of one physical system, the pendulum, from the viewpoint of elementary and more advanced classical physics, modern chaotic dynamics, and quantum mechanics. In addition, coupled pendulums and pendulum analogs of superconducting devices are also discussed. Secondly, this book treats the physics of the pendulum within a historical and cultural context, showing, for example, that the pendulum has been intimately connected with studies of the earth's density, the earth's motion, and timekeeping. While primarily a physics book, the work provides significant added interest through the use of relevant cultural and historical vignettes. This approach offers an alternative to the usual modern physics courses. The text is amply illustrated and augmented by exercises at the end of each chapter.

The pendulum: a case study in physics is a unique book in several ways. Firstly, it is a comprehensive quantitative study of one physical system, the pendulum, from the viewpoint of elementary and more advanced classical physics, modern chaotic dynamics, and quantum mechanics. In addition, coupled pendulums and pendulum analogs of superconducting devices are also discussed. Secondly, this book treats the physics of the pendulum within a historical and cultural context, showing, for example, that the pendulum has been intimately connected with studies of the earth's density, the earth's motion, and timekeeping. While primarily a physics book, the work provides significant added interest through the use of relevant cultural and historical vignettes. This approach offers an alternative to the usual modern physics courses. The text is amply illustrated and augmented by exercises at the end of each chapter.

This modern presentation comprehensively addresses the principal issues in modern instrumentation, but without attempting an encyclopaedic reference. It covers the most important topics in electronics, sensors, measurements and acquisition systems, and will be an indispensable reference for readers in a wide variety of disciplines.