More on Nobel laureates and fluid dynamics research

Continuing on the theme of Nobel laureates and fluid dynamics research, I recently stumbled upon a cosmology paper by Steven Weinberg (Physics, 1979) published in 1971, dealing with relativistic fluid dynamics.  The paper begins with a rederviation of the fundamental equations of special relativistic fluid dynamics, then moves on to discuss radiative transport coefficients, and generalizes the equations to general relativity.  Of course he goes on to deal with some astrophysical matters.  Weinberg cites this paper in the last book he published before he died, his textbook on modern physics (2021).  This book has an entire section on transport phenomena (Sec. 2.5), part of the chapter on thermodynamics and kinetic theory.

Speaking of textbooks, Kip Thorne (Physics, 2017) and Roger Blandford published a monumental course, Modern Classical Physics, the year Thorne won the Nobel Prize.  Part V of the book is dedicated to fluid dynamics, and it consists of seven chapters:

• Foundations of Fluid Dynamics
• Vorticity
• Turbulence
• Waves
• Compressible and Supersonic Flow
• Convection
• Magnetohydrodynamics
  

They, too, give space to the special relativistic formulation of fluid mechanics, in addition to the usual Newtonian formulation.  It is notable that Part IV of the book is on elasticity, so they truly cover continuum mechanics writ large.  Perhaps the late Jerry Gollub would be pleased.

References

 

K. Thorne and R. Blandford, 2017:  Modern Classical Physics:  Optics, Fluids, Plasmas, Elasticity, Reltativity, and Statistical Physics.  Princeton University Press.

 

S. Weinberg, 1971:  Entropy generation and the survival of proto-galaxies in an expanding universe.  Astrophysical Journal, 168:  175-194.

S. Weinberg, 2021:  Foundations of Modern Physics.  Cambridge University Press.