R.I.P. John David Jackson (1925-2016)
Yet again I have to pass on some very sad news. Physicist John David Jackson, best known for his classic textbook Classical Electrodynamics, has passed away at the age of 91. I’m sure I speak for many physicists when I say that Classical Electrodynamics was not only an essential part of my physics education but also a constant companion throughout the rest of my career. I have consulted my copy regularly over the last thirty years. I was often frustrated that when I found the topic I was looking for in the index, it referred to a problem (usually a difficult one) rather than a solution, but there’s no question it made me a better physicist.
Rest in peace, John David Jackson (1925-2016).
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In the Dark 
May 23, 2016 at 11:10 am
I always thought nothing could touch Born and Wolf, but that is not a criticism of Jackson.
May 23, 2016 at 11:18 am
Yes, that’s a classic too..
May 23, 2016 at 11:50 am
I first encountered Jackson (green) as a junior undergraduate (the professor teaching the course said, Why mess around with anything less). I have taught from all three editions, and I continue to return to look up things I should remember. Although I have never met him, I feel I know him, and I will miss him.
May 23, 2016 at 5:06 pm
A classic
May 23, 2016 at 5:28 pm
Red Jackson was my undergrad text. Jackson was my supervisor’s graduate quantum mechanics instructor.
May 24, 2016 at 10:32 pm
Jackson…great book. RIP
lots of my blood, sweat and tears went into my study of it. I once bragged about my ability to solve problems in Jackson to a disgruntled theorist. the theorist shot back at me, with something like, “….it’s all linear!”
May 24, 2016 at 10:49 pm
Just traded in my blue one for the red one used by Paul Wesson, who also died a few months ago. Physicists live on in their margin notes.
May 25, 2016 at 2:02 pm
[…] chance conjunction on this blog of a post about the death of Professor J.D. Jackson with another about the greed of academic publishers caught the attention of one Ian Jackson (son of […]