The following guide is highly selective, and includes some of the most useful reference sources for researching topics in physics. All the materials listed below can be found in the reference area of the Kline Science Library unless otherwise noted. Other useful reference materials in physics are published by agencies and departments of the federal government (e.g. NASA, NBS/NIST, etc.); These materials are not included in this Biblio-File, but can be found in Government Documents, located in the Mudd Library.
If you need help in locating or using any of the material listed in this guide, do not hesitate to consult a library staff member or the reference librarian.
Subject headings which may prove useful in searching the
online catalog or magazine indexes are:
Physics Molecular Dynamics
Astrophysics Nuclear Physics
Dynamics Optics
Electricity Quantum Theory
Electrons Radioactivity
Field Theory Solid State Physics
Force and Energy Statics
General Relativity Statistical Physics
Ions Thermodynamics
Magnetism Unified Molecular Models
Mathematical Physics
Mechanics or
Headings starting with the word "Nuclear"
examples: Nuclear Charge, Nuclear Forces,
Nuclear Magnetism, etc.
Dictionaries/Encyclopedias
A Dictionary of Physics - Ed. Alan Isaacs. Oxford University Press, 2000.
Dictionary of pure and applied physics. Ed. by Dipak
Basu. Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2001.
Ref QC5 D485X 2001 (LC) KSL
Dictionary of material science and high energy physics.
Ed. by Dipak Basu. Boca Raton, Fla. : CRC Press, 2001.
Ref QC772 D57X 2001 (LC) KSL
Encyclopedia of Physics. Ed. by R. M. Besancon, 3rd Ed.,
N.Y.: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1985.
Ref QC5 B52 1985 KSL
There are three levels of coverage; the main divisions
are intended for beginners, subdivisions for more
knowledgeable readers, and finer divisions for those
with a solid background in both physics and mathematics.
Encyclopedia of Physics. Second Ed., Ed. by Rita Lerner and
George L. Trigg. New York: VCH Publishers, 1991.
Ref QC5 +E545 1990 KSL
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Physics and Mathematics.
Ed. by D.N. Lapedas. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.
QC5 M23 OBS and CCL Ref
Facts on File Dictionary of Physics. 3rd ed.
Edited by John Daintith and John Clark.
New York : Facts On File, 1999.
QC5 F34 1999 KSL Ref
Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology.
15 vols. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, 1987.
Q123 E497 1987 KSL Ref and EASL
Q123 E497X 1992 EASL Ref
Comprehensive coverage of the physical sciences
written by leading experts. General and in-depth
reviews of areas in approximately 20 pages.
Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Physics.
(9 vol. + 5 supplements) N.Y.: MacMillan, 1961-64.
Also known as Thewlis' Encyclopedia.
QC5 E53 1962 KSL Ref
QC5 E54A SML Ref
Articles are written at the graduate level, and the
index is comprehensive. Volume 9 is a multilingual
dictionary (English, French, German, Spanish, Russian,
and Japanese).
Handbuch der Physik. (Encyclopedia of Physics), 55 vols.,
2nd ed., Berlin: Springer, 1955-1988. Ed. by S. Flugge.
QC21 H35 1955 KSL
QC21 H35 EASL
Intended as a systematic encyclopedic treatise on all
areas of physics. German, English, and French languages
are used, with the subject indexes in each volume
serving as multilingual dictionaries. Vol. 55 is a subject
index for the entire set.
Concise Encyclopedia of Solid State Physics.
Edited by R.G. Lerner and G.L. Trigg. Reading, MA:
Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.
QC176 A3 +C66 1983 EASL Ref
A Dictionary of Scientific Units. 6th Ed.,
H.G. Jerrard and D. B. McNeill. London: Chapman and Hall,
1992.
QC82 J47 1980 KSL Ref
Handbooks
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
Cleveland: Chemical Rubber Publishing Co. 1913- .
Boca Raton, Fla., CRC Press, Inc.
QD65 H35 CCL Ref and SML and EASL
Ref 18 QD65 H3 MED
QD 65 H3 KSL Ref
QD65 H35 CHEM Ref and GEO Ref
The authority for chemical and physical information
for students or laboratory scientists in search of quick
data. It includes a wealth of mathematical information
and good sections on chemical nomenclature and
structures. Beilstein references and Chemical Abstract
registry numbers are also included. Excellent glossary.
Handbook of physics. Edited by Walter Benenson ... [et al.].
New York: Springer, 2002.
QC61 H37X 2002 (LC) KSL Ref
Intended as a source of information for problem solving,
homework, examinations, and practical applications.
Includes both fundamentals and a wide variety of experimental
methods used in practice.
American Institute of Physics Handbook.
Third ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1972.
QC61 A54 KSL Ref
45 A48 CHEM Ref
QC61 957A MED
Another authoratative source of physical data and
graphs, with an excellent index.
Tables of Physical & Chemical Constants and some Mathematical
Functions. 15th Ed.,
London: Longman, 1986.
QC61 K38 1986 KSL Ref
Arranged in three sections: physics, chemistry, and
mathematical functions.
The Cambridge handbook of physics formulas. Graham Woan.
Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2000.
QC61 W67X 2000 (LC) KSL Ref
Handbook of optics. sponsored by the Optical Society of
America. Michael Bass, editor in chief ... [et al.].
2nd ed. New York : McGraw-Hill, 1995-2001. 4 v.
QC369 H35 1995 KSL Ref
Handbook of Optics. Optical Society of America,
Ed. by Walter G. Driscoll. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.
QC369 H35 1978 KSL Ref
QC369 H35 EASL and ASTRO
Handbook of Physical Calculations.
Tuma, Jan J. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1976.
QC61 T85 1983 Enlarged and Revised KSL
Graduate Programs in Physics, Astronomy and Related Fields.
New York: American Institute of Physics, annual.
QC30 +A49 KSL and EASL
Directory of Physics and Astronomy Staff Members.
New York: American Institute of Physics, annual.
QC30 +D57 KSL and EASL
Data Tables/Books
Landolt-Bornstein Numerical Data and Functional Relationships
in Science and Technology. New Series.
Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1961- .
QC61 +L342 1990 Index KSL
Q61 +L342X 1988 EASL
The world's most complete collection of
information (in tabular format) concerning the
fundamental properties of physics, chemistry,
astronomy, geophysics and technology. In German.
Landolt-Bornstein Zahlenwerte und Funktionen aus
Physik, Chemie, Astronomie, Geophysik, Technik.
Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1950.
Earlier version of previous title.
Thermophysical Properties of Matter. 14 Vols.
Ed. by Y.S. Touloukian. New York: IFI/Plenum, 1970.
(TPRC Data Series).
TA419.52 +P87 EASL
Thermal conductivity (vol. 1-3), specific heat (4-6),
thermal radiative properties, thermal diffusivity (10),
viscosity (11), thermal expansion (12-13) and index (14).
JANAF Thermochemical Tables. Third edition. NBS, 1986.
QD511 +D68 1986 KSL and EASL
International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics,
Chemistry and Technology. by National Research Council,
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1926-1933.
Q199 N3 KSL
Q199 +N37 SML
45 N3 CHEM
Although dated, this is still a useful compilation of
chemical and physical tables.
Smithsonian Physical Tables. 9th Rev. Ed.,
Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1954.
QC61 S55 1964 KSL Ref
QC61 S65 1954 SML Ref
Absorption Spectra in the Ultraviolet and Visible Region.
New York: Academic Press.
QC437 A28 KSL
570 L3 Reference CHEM
Author, subject and formula indexes. Diagrams
and tables.
Aldrich Library of Infrared Spectra. Edition III,
ed. by C.J. Pouchert. Milwaukee: Aldrich Chemical
Company, 1981.
QC457 +43 1970 KSL
QD 96 I5 +P67 1981 CHEM
Organic Electronic Spectral Data. New York: Wiley & Sons.
Annual. Tabular format.
QD241 074 KSL
QC454 A2 073 CHEM
M.I.T. Wavelength Tables. Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press, 1969.
QC453 +M3 1969 KSL
QC453 M37 1969 EASL Ref
Desk Book of Infrared Spectra, 2nd Ed., Coblentz Society,
ed. by Clara D. Craver, 1977.
QC457 +C687X 1982 CHEM
Nuclear Level Schemes A=45 through A=257, from Nuclear data sheets.
Ed. by Nuclear Data Group, New York: Academic Press, 1973.
A ready reference book to nuclear structures
for A=44 and above.
CINDA.
QC721 C18 KSL
Contains factual (measurements, calculations,
evaluations) and bibliographic information on neutron
data, arranged by element and mass number.
Journal Indexes and Abstracts
The following tools (arranged in order of usefullness) will
identify articles by author or subject:
NOTE: Items marked with `ONLINE DATABASE:' are the related electronic
databases that might be searchable at no cost; contact a staff member
for more information.
PHYSICS ABSTRACTS. London: The Institution of Electrical
Engineers, 1903- present.
QC1 +S351 KSL and EASL
R3 +90 Non-Circ MUDD
The only indexing and abstracting tool to cover the
entire range of modern physics. Divided into ten
subject areas, with 6 month cumulated author, subject
indexes.
ONLINE DATABASE: INSPEC
(1970 - present) monthly update.
EASL has the Free CD-ROM disks covering
(1989- present) monthly update.
INSPEC computer database covers physics, electrical engineering,
electronics, and computer science.
Current Contents. Philadelphia: Institute for Scientific Information.
ONLINE DATABASE: CURRENT CONTENTS
most recent 6 months are available free on selected public library
terminals. [KSL and EASL and GEO and CHEM]
An interdisciplinary database including the latest six months
titles, authors, (some abstracts), and tables of contents from
10,000 major research journals.
Science Citation Index. Philadelphia: Institute for Scientific Information.
Title and author searching only - no subject index.
Multidisciplinary coverage from 10,000 of the most
important science journals from all fields of science and
technology. Cumulative indexes for 1955-64, 1965-69,
1970-74, 1975-79, 1980-84, 1985-89. A very powerful tool.
Paper through 1994 in KSL Z7401 +S34
Paper still current in MED Ref 2 Z7401 +S34
ONLINE DATABASE: SCIENCE CITATION INDEX
(1974- present)
Available from selected science library terminals.
[KSL and CHEM and EASL and GEO]
Engineering Index.
(Monthly). N.Y.: Engineering Index, Inc., 1892- .
Z5851 E53 EASL
The index is classified and arranged alphabetically
using main subject headings.
ONLINE DATABASE: COMPENDEX
(1986- present) monthly update.
Applied Science and Technology Index.
New York: H. W. Wilson Company, 1958- .
Z7913 A66 KSL
Wide-ranging subject index to a limited number of English
language science journals in the areas of computer
science, construction industry, energy, engineering, food
industry, machinery, petroleum, plastics, and textiles.
Book review citations are included in the back section.
ONLINE DATABASE: Applied Science and Technology Index
also includes General Science Index
Physikalische Berichte (ceased). New York:
Verlag Chemie International 1920-1978.
Superseded by Physics Briefs.
QC1 P448 1-55 MUDD
Current Physics Index. New York: American Institute
of Physics, 1975- .
Z7143 +C87 KSL
Index to the 44 core physics journals published by the
American Institute of Physics and its member societies.
Revised by David Stern/Kline Science Library/December 2002