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This book is devoted to a thorough analysis of the role that models play in the practise of physical theory. The authors, a mathematical physicist and a philosopher of science, appeal to the logicians’ notion of model theory as well as to the concepts of physicists.
Many people, including physicists, are confused about what the Second Law of thermodynamics really means, about how it relates to the arrow of time, and about whether it can be derived from classical mechanics. They also wonder what entropy really is: Is it all about information? But, if so, then, what is its relation to fluxes of heat? One might ask similar questions about probabilities: Do they express subjective judgments by us, humans, or do they reflect facts about the world, i.e. frequencies. And what notion of probability is used in the natural sciences, in particular statistical mechanics? This book addresses all of these questions in the clear and pedagogical style for which the author is known. Although valuable as accompaniment to an undergraduate course on statistical mechanics or thermodynamics, it is not a standard course book. Instead it addresses both the essentials and the many subtle questions that are usually brushed under the carpet in such courses. As one of the most lucid accounts of the above questions, it provides enlightening reading for all those seeking answers, including students, lecturers, researchers and philosophers of science.
The 20th century has been the century of unparalleled scientific advances fuelled primarily by discoveries made by physicists. The century also represents the life span of the American Physical Society, not coincidentally, and to celebrate both its own centennial and this remarkable century, the APS has prepared this book highlighting the seminal discoveries of the 20th century, with invited articles by the world's most eminent living physicists, including 12 physics Nobel Prize winners. Some 40 chapters cover a broad range of topics in physics written in an engaging and personal style. While the technical level is high, these are not review articles, but rather perspectives on discoveries written by those scientists most closely associated with the original work, as well as future directions of research.
"This book is much more than an introduction to the subject of its title. It covers in depth a broad range of topics in the mathematical theory of phase transition in statistical mechanics and as an up to date reference in its chosen topics it is a work of outstanding scholarship. It is in fact one of the author's stated aims that this comprehensive monograph should serve both as an introductory text and as a reference for the expert. In its latter function it informs the reader about the state of the art in several directions. It is introductory in the sense that it does not assume any prior knowledge of statistical mechanics and is accessible to a general readership of mathematicians with a basic knowledge of measure theory and probability. As such it should contribute considerably to the further growth of the already lively interest in statistical mechanics on the part of probabilists and other mathematicians." Fredos Papangelou, Zentralblatt MATH The second edition has been extended by a new section on large deviations and some comments on the more recent developments in the area.
Self-contained and up-to-date guide to one-dimensional reactions, dynamics, diffusion and adsorption.
The ambition of this volume is twofold: to provide a comprehensive overview of the field and to serve as an indispensable reference work for anyone who wants to work in it. For example, any philosopher who hopes to make a contribution to the topic of the classical-quantum correspondence will have to begin by consulting Klaas Landsman's chapter. The organization of this volume, as well as the choice of topics, is based on the conviction that the important problems in the philosophy of physics arise from studying the foundations of the fundamental theories of physics. It follows that there is no sharp line to be drawn between philosophy of physics and physics itself. Some of the best work in t...
This volume presents computer simulation methods and mathematical modelling of physical processes used in surface science research. It offers in-depth analysis of advanced theoretical approaches to behaviours of fluids in contact with porous, semiporous and nonporous solid surfaces. The book also explores interfacial systems for a wide variety of p
In recent years, there has been remarkable growth in the mathematics of random media. The field has deep scientific and technological roots, as well as purely mathematical ones in the theory of stochastic processes. This collection of papers by leading researchers provides an overview of this rapidly developing field. The papers were presented at the 1989 AMS-SIAM Summer Seminar in Applied Mathematics, held at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. In addition to new results on stochastic differential equations and Markov processes, fields whose elegant mathematical techniques are of continuing value in application areas, the conference was organized aro...
This volume includes new topics such as the stochastic limit approach to nonequilibrium states, a new algebraic approach to relativistic nonequilibrium local states, classical and quantum features of weak chaos, transports in quantum billiards, the WelcherOCoWeg puzzle with a decaying atom, and the topics related to the quantum Zeno effect.The proceedings have been selected for coverage in: OCo Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings)"
"This volume presents a collection of original and peer-reviewed articles related with the applications of statistical physics dedicated to Professor Leopoldo García-Colín, in commemoration of his 80th birthday in 2010. Professor García-Colín has worked in many different fields of statistical physics, and has applied it to biological physics, solid state physics, relativity and cosmology. These are pioneering works of Prof García-Colín involved in all various fields which have their roots in Mexico. His influence is found in each of these works that cover a wide range of topics including thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and kinetic theory applied to biological systems, cosmology and condensed matter, among others. Papers contributed by important experts in the field, such as J Lebowitz, as well as the latest classical applications of statistical physics can be found in this volume."--Page 4 of cover.