Contrary to some opinions, electric motors are decidedly not part of an old-fashioned area of research. They are, in fact, the most popular machines of everyday life, and the number of types increase almost every year. Advances in materials engineering, power electronics, and control strategies along with energy and reliability demands continue to stimulate the development of exciting new technologies and applications. Ranking high among the most exciting of these technologies are linear synchronous motors (LSMs). Linear Synchronous Motors: Transportation and Automation Systems provides a comprehensive treatment of all types of brushless LSMs-their construction, electromagnetic effects, control, and applications. It explains the physics of hard magnetic materials, discusses permanent magnet and superconducting excitation systems, and addresses applications in factory automation and high-speed transportation systems.LSMs have better performance and higher power density than their induction counterparts, and they can operate with a larger mechanical clearance between their stationary and moving parts. Paying equal attention to the design and the applications of LSMs, Linear Synchronous Motors offers a unique opportunity to master the inner workings of LSMs, discover new research results, and keep abreast of their emerging applications. Electromechanical designers, electrical and mechanical engineers, as well as linear motor enthusiasts will welcome this broad and authoritative work to their reference collections.