This book appearance is a logical development of the research activity in a relatively new field named Plasma Assisted Combustion (PAC) and is the first attempt to collect the most valuable contributions to the field from different research groups all over the globe. The first practical applications of different plasma sources for ignition and combustion enhancement date back to the 1960s and 1970s. The first PAC conference was organized by the Editor in 1989 in the former Soviet Union. At this time, the PAC community is relatively well organized with an annual International Workshop and Exhibition on Plasma Assisted Combustion (IWEPAC), now converted into the International Conference on Plasma Assisted Technologies or ICPAT starting in 2012, and special issues in the IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science on the topic of on Plasma Assisted Combustion. This two-volume work is one of the first projects of the newly established International Plasma Technology Center (IPTC) intended to provide, in Volume 1, a description of different plasma sources especially designed for PAC and, in Volume 2, to describe PAC processes that are under development or used industrially. If successful, we plan to publish new editions every two-three years depending on progress in this field. The basic mission of the IPTC is to promote scientific, educational, and charitable activities. This book is an example of organizing an international team of authors to promote education in the focus areas of the disciplines addressed. There are over 30 authors for Volume 1, who hail from five countries: Czech Republic, Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. A second volume will be produced in the future. The IPTC will gratefully welcome new authors in this endeavor to aid our mission of keeping abreast of new developments in the field of plasma assisted combustion, gasification, and pollution control and to update the literature to include new information through additional or revised volu

This book examines the true core of philosophy and metaphysics, taking account of quantum and relativity theory as it applies to physical Reality, and develops a line of reasoning that ultimately leads us to Reality as it is currently understood at the most fundamental level - the Standard Model of Elementary Particles. This book develops new formalisms for Logic that are of interest in themselves and also provide a Platonic bridge to Reality. The bridge to Reality will be explored in detail in a subsequent book, Relativistic Quantum Metaphysics: A First Principles Basis for the Standard Model of Elementary Particles. We anticipate that the current "fundamental" level of physical Reality may be based on a still lower level and/or may have additional aspects remaining to be found. However the effects of certain core features such as quantum theory and relativity theory will persist even if a lower level of Reality is found, and these core features suggest the form of a new Metaphysics of physical Reality. We have coined the phrase "Operator Metaphysics" for this new metaphysics of physical Reality. The book starts by describing aspects of Philosophy and Metaphysics relevant to the study of current physical Reality. Part of this development are new Logics, Operator Logic and Quantum Operator Logic, developed in earlier books by this author (and revised and expanded in this book). Using them we are led to develop a connection to the beginnings of The Standard Model of Elementary Particles. While mathematics is essential in the latter stages of the book we have tried to present it with sufficient text discussion to make what it is doing understandable to the non-mathematical reader. Generally we will avoid using the jargon of Philosophy, Logic and Physics as much as possible.

Fluctuating parameters appear in a variety of physical systems and phenomena. They typically come either as random forces/sources, or advecting velocities, or media (material) parameters, like refraction index, conductivity, diffusivity, etc. Models naturally render to statistical description, where random processes and fields express the input parameters and solutions. The fundamental problem of stochastic dynamics is to identify the essential characteristics of the system (its state and evolution), and relate those to the input parameters of the system and initial data.

This book is a revised and more comprehensive version of "Dynamics of Stochastic Systems." Part I provides an introduction to the topic. Part II is devoted to the general theory of statistical analysis of dynamic systems with fluctuating parameters described by differential and integral equations. Part III deals with the analysis of specific physical problems associated with coherent phenomena.
A comprehensive update of "Dynamics of Stochastic Systems"Develops mathematical tools of stochastic analysis and applies them to a wide range of physical models of particles, fluids and wavesIncludes problems for the reader to solve

"Buckyball, onion, nanobud, peapod - what are these buzzwords about?" was a question posed to me many times over the last decade or two. This concise glossary is designed to provide the first answer to these and similar questions, and be a guide through th

This book on liquid crystals reports on the new perspectives that have been brought about by the recent expansion of frontiers and overhaul of common beliefs. First, it explores the interaction of light with mesophases, when the light or matter is endowed with topological defects. It goes on to show how electrophoresis, electro-osmosis and the swimming of flagellated bacteria are affected by the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals. It also reports on the recent progress in the understanding of thermomechanical and thermohydrodynamical effects in cholesterics and deformed nematics and refutes the common belief that these effects could explain Lehmann's observations of the rotation of cholesteric droplets subjected to a temperature gradient. It then studies the physics of the dowser texture, which has remarkable properties. This is of particular interest in regards to nematic monopoles, which can easily be generated, set into motion and collided within it. Finally, this book deals with the spontaneous emergence of chirality in nematics made of achiral molecules, and provides a brief historical context of chirality

Quantum information is an emerging field which has attracted a lot of attention in the last couple of decades. It is a broad subject which extends from the most applied questions (e.g. how to build quantum computers or secure cryptographic systems) to the most theoretical problems concerning the formalism and interpretation of quantum mechanics, its complexity, and its potential to go beyond classical physics. This book is an introduction to quantum information with special emphasis on continuous-variable systems (such as light) which can be described as collections of harmonic oscillators. It covers a selection of basic concepts, focusing on their physical meaning and mathematical treatment. It starts from the very first principles of quantum mechanics, and builds up the concepts and techniques following a logical progression. This is an excellent reference for students with a full semester of standard quantum mechanics and researchers in closely related fields.

This is a companion textbook for an introductory course in physics. It aims to link the theories and models that students learn in class with practical problem-solving techniques. In other words, it should address the common complaint that 'I understand the concepts but I can't do the homework or tests'. The fundamentals of introductory physics courses are addressed in simple and concise terms, with emphasis on how the fundamental concepts and equations should be used to solve physics problems.

This book will provide a comprehensive overview on the green approach to the research and industrialization of plastic materials. An effort will be made to offer to the reader a critical perspective concerning both oil-based plastics and novel bio-based and waste-derived polymer formulations. A special focus on bio-innovation in the area of organic materials will also be delivered.

Working Guide to Pumps and Pumping Stations: Calculations and Simulations discusses the application of pumps and pumping stations used in pipelines that transport liquids. It provides an introduction to the basic theory of pumps and how pumps are applied to practical situations using examples of simulations, without extensive mathematical analysis. The book begins with basic concepts such as the types of pumps used in the industry; the properties of liquids; the performance curve; and the Bernoullis equation. It then looks at the factors that affect pump performance and the various methods of calculating pressure loss in piping systems. This is followed by discussions of pump system head curves; applications and economics of centrifugal pumps and pipeline systems; and pump simulation using the software PUMPCALC. In most cases, the theory is explained and followed by solved example problems in both U.S. Customary System (English) and SI (metric) units. Additional practice problems are provided in each chapter as further exercise. This book was designed to be a working guide for engineers and technicians dealing with centrifugal pumps in the water, petroleum, oil, chemical, and process industries.