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Single-Particle Electrodynamics - Assassination Science

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quantity which has been designated a standard symbol, but which must be<br />

distinguished from it, may be given the original standard symbol with one,<br />

two or more primes. The prime or primes form part of the new symbol, and<br />

bind more tightly than any operator listed below.<br />

√<br />

The square root symbol: . The quantities appearing underneath the<br />

overbar of this symbol are treated as if they lie within an overall binding<br />

symbol, and then the positive square root of the result is taken.<br />

Matrix indexing: superscripts and subscripts. Matrix indices are deemed<br />

to have higher precedence than power-raising superscripts; thus, if x i is a<br />

component of a four-vector, then x i 2 is equivalent to (x i ) 2 , without need for<br />

the explicit binding.<br />

Raising of powers: superscripts. If a superscript does not fall into one of<br />

the above categories, and if it is a valid value, then it denotes the raising of<br />

the base to the power of the superscript. Powers are evaluated right-to-left<br />

(i.e., typographically highest subscript first). If the superscript is rational<br />

(but not integral), and the base is real and non-negative, the result is defined<br />

to be the positive root; if the base is not real and non-negative, the result is<br />

defined by an explanatory note. If the superscript is irrational, and the base<br />

is not a non-negative real, the expression is in error. If A is a three-vector,<br />

then A 2m ≡ (A ·A) m . If B is a four-vector, then B 2m ≡ (B·B) m .<br />

Time-derivatives: overdots. Overdots are used to denote the proper-time<br />

or lab-time derivative of a quantity; see Section A.8.20 for details of how the<br />

choice of time is decided. Overdots have lower precedence than the symbols<br />

above. Thus, ˙σ ′ is defined to be d t σ ′ ; i.e., the prime on σ ′ binds more tightly<br />

than the overdot.<br />

The scientific-notation symbol: × 10 . The notation x × 10 n , where x is<br />

real and n is integral, denotes a real number in scientific notation.<br />

Generic multiplication: adjacent symbols. If two symbols are placed next<br />

to each other, then they are multiplied together according to the rules appropriate<br />

to their particular types.<br />

326

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