First published in 1957, this classic study has been reissued in a paperback version that includes an additional chapter bringing the material up to date. The author formulates the physical properties of crystals systematically in tensor notation, presenting tensor properties in terms of their common mathematical basis and the thermodynamic relations between them. The mathematical groundwork is laid in a discussion of tensors of the first and second ranks. Tensors of higher ranks and matrix methods are then introduced as natural developments of the theory. A similar pattern is followed in discussing thermodynamic and optical aspects.

Complete with reference tables and sample problems, this volume serves as a textbook or reference for solid-state physics and chemistry, materials science, and engineering. Chapters illustrate symmetry, and its role in determining solid properties, as well as a demonstration of group theory.

This book deals with the effect of crystal symmetry in determining the tensor properties of crystals. Although this is a well-established subject, the author provides a new approach using group theory and, in particular, the method of symmetry coordinates, which has not been used in any previous book. The author presents applications to technologically important phenomena as diverse as the electro-optic, piezoelectric, photoelastic, piezomagnetic, and piezoresistance effects, as well as magnetothermoelectric power and third-order elastic constants. He also gives attention to "special magnetic properties", i.e., those that require the concepts of time reversal and magnetic symmetry--an important subject not always covered in other books in this area. This book will be of interest to researchers in solid state physics and materials science, and will also be suitable as a text for graduate students in physics and engineering taking courses in solid state physics.