This volume, which addresses various basic sensor principles, covers micro gravimetric sensors, semiconducting and nano tube sensors, calorimetric sensors and optical sensors. Furthermore, the authors discuss recent developments in the related sensitive layers including new properties of nano structured metal oxide layers. They provide in-depth insights into the unique chemistry and signal generation of copper oxide in percolating sensors and present a variety of applications of functional polymers made possible by proper imprinting.

Highlights of the subjects covered include:

requirements for high-temperature sensors

carbon nano tube sensors

new sensing model for nanostructured In2O3

bio mimetic approach for semiconductor sensor-based systems

optical readout for inorganic and organic semiconductor sensors

concept of virtual multisensors to improve specificity and selectivity

calorimetric sensors for hydrogen peroxide detection

percolation effect-based sensors to implement dosimeters

imprinted polymer layers for bulk and surface acoustic wave sensors"

Tsunamis are long water waves generated by impulsive geophysical motions of the seafloor. They inflict significant damage and casualties both near-field and after evolving over long propagation distances and impacting distant coastlines. They can also affect geomorphologic changes along the coast. Tsunamis can be triggered by sea floor deformation, landslides, slumps, subsidence, volcanic eruptions and bolide impacts. Understanding tsunami generation is of paramount importance for protecting coastal populations at risk, coastal structures and the natural environment. generation, so that adequate discrimination of their sources from coastal inundation data is difficult. The accurate and reliable prediction of the initial waveform and the associated coastal effects of tsunamis remains one of the most vexing problems in geophysics, and - with few exceptions - has resisted routine numerical computation or off-the-shelf solutions. with contributions ranging from basic and applied science to coastal zone management. It is aimed at tsunami scientists, coastal and ocean engineers, marine geologists and geophysicists, planners and policy makers, and coastal zone managers seeking to better understand and mitigate the coastal impact of tsunamis.

This book provides a challenging and stimulating introduction to the contemporary topics of complexity and criticality, and explores their common basis of scale invariance, a central unifying theme of the book.Criticality refers to the behaviour of extended systems at a phase transition where scale invariance prevails. The many constituent microscopic parts bring about macroscopic phenomena that cannot be understood by considering a single part alone. The phenomenology of phase transitions is introduced by considering percolation, a simple model with a purely geometrical phase transition, thus enabling the reader to become intuitively familiar with concepts such as scale invariance and renormalisation. The Ising model is then introduced, which captures a thermodynamic phase transition from a disordered to an ordered system as the temperature is lowered in zero external field. By emphasising analogies between percolation and the Ising model, the reader's intuition of phase transitions is developed so that the underlying theoretical formalism may be appreciated fully. These equilibrium systems undergo a phase transition only if an external agent finely tunes certain external parameters to particular values.Besides fractals and phase transitions, there are many examples in Nature of the emergence of such complex behaviour in slowly driven non-equilibrium systems: earthquakes in seismic systems, avalanches in granular media and rainfall in the atmosphere. A class of non-equilibrium systems, not constrained by having to tune external parameters to obtain critical behaviour, is addressed in the framework of simple models, revealing that the repeated application of simple rules may spontaneously give rise to emergent complex behaviour not encoded in the rules themselves. The common basis of complexity and criticality is identified and applied to a range of non-equilibrium systems. Finally, the reader is invited to speculate whether self-organisation in non-equilibrium systems might be a unifying concept for disparate fields such as statistical mechanics, geophysics and atmospheric physics.Visit for animations for the models in the book (available for Windows and Linux), solutions to exercises, as well as a list with corrections.

This book presents the latest knowledge of the newly discovered Earth-like exoplanets and reviews improvements in both radio and optical SETI. A key aim is to stimulate fresh discussion on algorithms that will be of high value in this extremely complicated search. Exoplanets resembling Earth could well be able to sustain life and support the evolution of technological civilizations, but to date, all searches for such life forms have proved fruitless. The failings of SETI observations are well recognized, and a new search approach is necessary. In this book, different detection algorithms that exploit state-of-the-art, low-cost, and extremely fast multiprocessors are examined and compared. Novel methods such as the agnostic entropy and high-sensitivity blind signal extraction algorithms should represent a quantum leap forward in SETI. The book is of interest to all researchers in the field and hopefully stimulates significant progress in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Over the past 25 years the field of neutron diffraction for residual stress characterization has grown tremendously, and has matured from the stage of trial demonstrations to provide a practical tool with widespread applications in materials science and engineering. While the literature on the subject has grown commensurately, it has also remained fragmented and scattered across various journals and conference proceedings. For the first time, this volume presents a comprehensive introduction to stress measurement using neutron diffraction. It discusses all aspects of the technique, from the basic physics, the different neutron sources and instrumentation, to the various strategies for lattice strain measurement and data interpretation. These are illustrated by practical examples. This book represents a coherent unified treatment of the subject, written by well-known experts. It will prepare students, engineers, and other newcomers for their first neutron diffraction experiments and provide experts with a definitive reference work.

This book deals specifically with the manipulation of atoms by laser light, describing the focusing, channeling and reflection of atoms by laser fields. It also describes the potential fields required to cause the phase change of the wave function necessary for the atomic interactions to occur.

Inorganic Phosphors: Compositions, Preparation and Optical Properties addresses practical and theoretical aspects of inorganic phosphors used in lighting and display applications. Authors Yen and Weber present the synthesis of phosphors in a ...cookbook... style that features nearly 300 ...recipes... using the most up-to-date guidelines and methods. They also categorize nearly 500 phosphors in terms of chemical composition and luminescence output wavelengths, summarizing their physical and emissive optical properties. This book is the first of its kind to provide a combined practical and technical foundation that can be used in commercial and academic research and development of new phosphors and applications.

This book provides an in-depth description of x-ray microanalysis in the electron microscope. It is sufficiently detailed to ensure that novices will understand the nuances of high-quality EDX analysis. Includes information about hardware design as well as the physics of x-ray generation, absorption and detection, and most post-detection data processing. Details on electron optics and electron probe formation allow the novice to make sensible adjustments to the electron microscope in order to set up a system which optimises analysis. It also helps the reader determine which microanalytical method is more suitable for their planned application.

The term 'nonclassical states' refers to the quantum states which cannot be produced in the 'usual' sources of light, such as lasers or lamps, rather than those requiring more sophisticated apparatus for their production. This book describes the current status of the theory of nonclassical states of light including many new and important results as well as introductory material and the history of the subject. The authors concentrate on the most important types of nonclassical states, namely squeezed, even/odd ('Schrodinger cat') and binomial states, including their generalisations. However, a review of other types of nonclassical is also given in the introduction, and methods for generating nonclassical states on various processes of light-matter interaction, their phase-space description, and the time evolution of nonclassical states in these processes is presented in separate chapters.
This contributed volume contains all of the necessary formulae and references required to gain a good understanding of the principles and current status of the field. It will provide a valuable information resource for advanced students and researchers in quantum physics.

Sensors and Their Applications XII discusses novel research in the areas of sensors and transducers and provides insight into new and topical applications of this technology. It covers the underlying physics, fabrication technologies, and commercial applications of sensors. Some of the topics discussed include optical sensing, sensing materials, nondestructive monitoring, imaging sensors, system networks, and water quality monitoring.

The participation of such diverse scientific and technical disciplines as meteorology, astronomy, atmospheric electricity, ionospheric and magnetospheric physics, electromagnetic wave propagation, and radio techniques in the research of atmospherics means that results are published in scientific papers widely spread throughout the literature. This Handbook collects the latest knowledge on atmospherics and presents it in two volumes. Each chapter is written by an expert in his or her field. Topics include the physics of thunderclouds, thunder, global atmospheric electric currents, biological aspects of sferics, and various space techniques for detecting lightning within our own atmosphere as well as in the atmospheres of other planets. Up-to-date applications and methodology are detailed. Volumes I and II offer a comprehensive discussion that together will serve as an important resource for practitioners, professionals, and students alike.

This book describes a number of simple methods for showing that light is polarised and determining the direction of vibration. It is based on a demonstration lecture, called 'Polar Explorations in Light' developed for young audiences, at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

Tremendous technological developments and rapid progress in theory have opened a new area of modern physics called high-field electrodynamics: the systematic study of the interaction of relativistic electrons or positrons with ultrahigh-intensity, coherent electromagnetic radiation.

This advanced undergraduate/graduate-level text provides a detailed introduction to high-field electrodynamics, from its fundamentals to some of its important modern applications. The author describes a broad collection of theoretical techniques, and where possible, approaches derivations by at least two different routes to yield deeper physical insight and a wider range of mathematical and physical techniques. He also discusses some of the outstanding ramifications of electrodynamics in areas ranging from quantum optics, squeezed states, and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox to rotating black holes, non-Abelian gauge field theories, and the Bohm-Aharanov effect.

High-Field Electrodynamics gives a comprehensive description of the theoretical tools needed to approach this novel discipline. It highlights important modern applications and serves as a starting point for more advanced and specialized research at the frontiers of modern physics.

The opportunity to present the physics of radioactive processes in some detail apart from topics such as instrumentation which conventionally compete with it for spacer is most welcome. The material is intended to give a fairly complete introduction to radiation physics to those who which to have more than a descriptive understanding of the subject. Although it is possible to work one's way through much of the subject matter without having any previous physics background, some prior acquaintance with modern physics is desirable. A familiarity with calculus and differential equations is also assumed. Volume I begins with a brief description of classical physics, it's extension to special relativity and quantum mechanics, and an introduction to basic atomic and nuclear concepts. A thorough discussion of atomic structure follows with emphasis on the theory of the multielectron atom, characteristic X-rays, and the Auger effect. Volume II treats the subjects of nuclear structure, nuclear decay processes, the interaction of radiation with matter, and the mathematics of radioactive decay.

Thermodynamics is used increasingly in ecology to understand the system properties of ecosystems because it is a basic science that describes energy transformation from a holistic view. In the last decade, many contributions to ecosystem theory based on thermodynamics have been published, therefore an important step toward integrating these theories and encouraging a more wide spread use of them is to present them in one volume.
An ecosystem consists of interdependent living organisms that are also interdependent with their environment, all of which are involved in a constant transfer of energy and mass within a general state of equilibrium or dis-equilibrium. Thermodynamics can quantify exactly how "organized" or "disorganized" a system is - an extremely useful to know when trying to understand how a dynamic ecosystem is behaving.
A part of the Environmental and Ecological (Math) Modeling series, Thermodynamics and Ecology is a book-length study - the first of its kind - of the current thinking on how an ecosystem can be explained and predicted in terms of its thermodynamical behavior. After the introductory chapters on the fundamentals of thermodynamics, the book explains how thermodynamic theory can be specifically applied to the "measurement" of an ecosystem, including the assessment of its state of entropy and enthalpy. Additionally, it will show economists how to put these theories to use when trying to quantify the movement of goods and services through another type of complex living system - a human society.

Clear, precise definitions of scientific terms are crucial to good scientific and technical writing-and to understanding the writings of others. Whether you are a physicist, engineer, mathematician, or technical writer, whether you work in a research, academic, or industrial setting, we all have the occasional need for comprehensible, working definitions of scientific terms.

To meet that need, CRC Press proudly announces publication of the Dictionary of Pure and Applied Physics-the first published volume of CRC's Comprehensive Dictionary of Physics. Authored by eminent scientists from around the world, offers concise, authoritative definitions of more than 3,000 terms covering a range of pure and applied disciplines:

acoustics biophysics
communications electricity electronics
geometrical optics low-temperature physics magnetism medical physics physical optics

The editor has taken care to ensure each entry is as self-contained as possible, to include terms from the frontiers of technology, and to omit obsolete terms that can clutter a search. The result is a lucid, accessible, and convenient reference valuable to both the novice and the seasoned professional.

Quantum mechanics is widely recognized as the basic law which governs all of nature, including all materials and devices. It has always been essential to the understanding of material properties, and as devices become smaller it is also essential for studying their behavior. Nevertheless, only a small fraction of graduate engineers and materials scientists take a course giving a systematic presentation of the subject. The courses for physics students tend to focus on the fundamentals and formal background, rather than on application, and do not fill the need. This invaluable text has been designed to fill the very apparent gap.The book covers those parts of quantum theory which may be necessary for a modern engineer. It focuses on the approximations and concepts which allow estimates of the entire range of properties of nuclei, atoms, molecules, and solids, as well as the behavior of lasers and other quantum-optic devices. It may well prove useful also to graduate students in physics, whose courses on quantum theory tend not to include any of these applications. The material has been the basis of a course taught to graduate engineering students for the past four years at Stanford University.Topics Discussed: Foundations; Simple Systems; Hamiltonian Mechanics; Atoms and Nuclei; Molecules; Crystals; Transitions; Tunneling; Transition Rates; Statistical Mechanics; Transport; Noise; Energy Bands; Electron Dynamics in Solids; Vibrations in Solids; Creation and Annihilation Operators; Phonons; Photons and Lasers; Coherent States; Coulomb Effects; Cooperative Phenomena; Magnetism; Shake-off Excitations; Exercise Problems.A supplementary Instructor's Solutions Manual is available for this book.

This textbook accommodates the two divergent developmental paths which have become solidly established in the field of fusion energy: the process of sequential tokamak development toward a prototype and the need for a more fundamental and integrative research approach before costly design choices are made.

Emphasis is placed on the development of physically coherent and mathematically clear characterizations of the scientific and technological foundations of fusion energy which are specifically suitable for a first course on the subject. Of interest, therefore, are selected aspects of nuclear physics, electromagnetics, plasma physics, reaction dynamics, materials science, and engineering systems, all brought together to form an integrated perspective on nuclear fusion and its practical utilization.

The book identifies several distinct themes. The first is concerned with preliminary and introductory topics which relate to the basic and relevant physical processes associated with nuclear fusion. Then, the authors undertake an analysis of magnetically confined, inertially confined, and low-temperature fusion energy concepts. Subsequently, they introduce the important blanket domains surrounding the fusion core and discuss synergetic fusion -- fission systems. Finally, they consider selected conceptual and technological subjects germane to the continuing development of fusion energy systems.

The opportunity to present the physics of radioactive processes in some detail apart from topics such as instrumentation which conventionally compete with it for spacer is most welcome. The material is intended to give a fairly complete introduction to radiation physics to those who which to have more than a descriptive understanding of the subject. Although it is possible to work one's way through much of the subject matter without having any previous physics background, some prior acquaintance with modern physics is desirable. A familiarity with calculus and differential equations is also assumed. Volume I begins with a brief description of classical physics, it's extension to special relativity and quantum mechanics, and an introduction to basic atomic and nuclear concepts. A thorough discussion of atomic structure follows with emphasis on the theory of the multielectron atom, characteristic X-rays, and the Auger effect. Volume II treats the subjects of nuclear structure, nuclear decay processes, the interaction of radiation with matter, and the mathematics of radioactive decay.

Radar-based imaging of aircraft targets is a topic that continues to attract a lot of attention, particularly since these imaging methods have been recognized to be the foundation of any successful all-weather non-cooperative target identification technique. Traditional books in this area look at the topic from a radar engineering point of view. Consequently, the basic issues associated with model error and image interpretation are usually not addressed in any substantive fashion. Moreover, applied mathematicians frequently find it difficult to read the radar engineering literature because it is jargon-laden and device specific, meaning that the skills most applicable to the problem's solution are rarely applied. Enabling an understanding of the subject and its current mathematical research issues, Radar Imaging of Airborne Targets: A Primer for Applied Mathematicians and Physicists presents the issues and techniques associated with radar imaging from a mathematical point of view rather than from an instrumentation perspective. The book concentrates on scattering issues, the inverse scattering problem, and the approximations that are usually made by practical algorithm developers. The author also explains the consequences of these approximations to the resultant radar image and its interpretation, and examines methods for reducing model-based error.

A modern introduction to Newtonian dynamics and the basics of special relativity, this book discusses standard topics such as Newton's laws of motion, energy, linear and angular momentum, rigid body dynamics, and oscillations, then goes on to introduce modern topics such as symmetries, phase space, nonlinear dynamics and chaos. The author presents Newton's equation of motion as a differential equation, bringing out key issues such as phase space and determinism in mechanical systems and helps introduce modern research topics such as chaos theory in a natural way. He highlights key assumptions of Newtonian mechanics and incorporates numerical solutions of many mechanical systems using MATLAB (R).

This best-selling book introduces a broad audience including scientists and engineers working in a variety of fields as well as mathematicians from other subspecialties to one of the most active new areas of applied mathematics and the story of its discovery and development. Organized in "hypertext fashion," the book tells a story of scientific discovery with separate brief entries for technical terms and explicit appendices in a section called "Beyond Plain English."

High-temperature superconductors are one of the most active and exciting areas of condensed matter physics research. From high-quality thin-films to friction-less transportation, their applications in industries such as telecommunications, environment and geology, medicine, nuclear physics, and security are just the beginning. The Rise of the Superconductors is an ideological chronology of the science that has produced superconductors. Beginning with the first liquefaction of helium, the book presents the discovery of the Meissner effect and the development of type II superconductors before discussing the impact of Bednorz and Muller's Nobel prize-winning research in high temperature ceramic superconductors. Authors seamlessly introduce the rise of Tc materials, whose layer-like nature, anisotropic behavior, and other properties are discussed in Chapter 4. The next chapter is devoted to the discovery, development, and characteristics of organic superconductors, particularly in fullerene materials, whose discovery earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996. The authors then examine the properties and theoretical developments explaining the behavior of simple superconductors, highlighting their impact on theoretical physics. Subsequent chapters analyze the technological advances, production challenges, and future directions of large- and small-scale applications, Josephson effects, the development of SQUID technology, and the specific behavior of high temperature superconductors. The Rise of the Superconductors concludes with a brief look at the struggle for technical superiority between the U.S. and Japan, European contributions, and commentary on the current state of the art.

Addressing classical material as well as new perspectives, Instabilities of Flows and Transition to Turbulence presents a concise, up-to-date treatment of theory and applications of viscous flow instability. It covers materials from classical instability to contemporary research areas including bluff body flow instability, mixed convection flows, and application areas of aerospace and other branches of engineering. Transforms and perturbation techniques are used to link linear instability with receptivity of flows, as developed by the author. The book: Provides complete coverage of transition concepts, including receptivity and flow instability Introduces linear receptivity using bi-lateral Fourier-Laplace transform techniques Presents natural laminar flow (NLF) airfoil analysis and design as a practical application of classical and bypass transition Distinguishes strictly between instability and receptivity, which leads to identification of wall- and free stream-modes Describes energy-based receptivity theory for the description of bypass transitions Instabilities of Flows and Transition to Turbulence has evolved into an account of the personal research interests of the author over the years. A conscious effort has been made to keep the treatment at an elementary level requiring rudimentary knowledge of calculus, the Fourier-Laplace transform, and complex analysis. The book is equally amenable to undergraduate students, as well as researchers in the field.

Essential Dynamics and Relativity provides students with an introduction to the core aspects of dynamics and special relativity. The author reiterates important ideas and terms throughout and covers concepts that are often missing from other textbooks at this level. He also places each topic within the wider constructs of the theory, without jumping from topic to topic to illustrate a point. The first section of the book focuses on dynamics, discussing the basic aspects of single particle motion and analyzing the motion of multi-particle systems. The book also explains the dynamical behavior of both composite bodies (rigid bodies) and objects in non-inertial frames of reference (rotating reference frames). The second section concentrates on relativity. The author describes the ideas leading to the inception of special relativity. He also formulates fundamental aspects, such as time dilation, length contraction, Lorentz transformations, and the visual aids of Minkowski diagrams, necessary to develop more sophisticated ideas. He then develops the concepts within the context of relativistic mechanics. With many examples throughout and exercises at the end of each chapter, this text makes the often daunting and confusing ideas of dynamics and special relativity accessible to undergraduate students studying the subjects for the first time.