As our title suggests, there are two aspects in the subject of this book. The first is the mathematical investigation of the dynamics of infinite systems of in teracting particles and the description of the time evolution of their states. The second is the rigorous derivation of kinetic equations starting from the results of the aforementioned investigation. As is well known, statistical mechanics started in the last century with some papers written by Maxwell and Boltzmann. Although some of their statements seemed statistically obvious, we must prove that they do not contradict what me chanics predicts. In some cases, in particular for equilibrium states, it turns out that mechanics easily provides the required justification. However things are not so easy, if we take a step forward and consider a gas is not in equilibrium, as is, e.g., the case for air around a flying vehicle. Questions of this kind have been asked since the dawn of the kinetic theory of gases, especially when certain results appeared to lead to paradoxical conclu sions. Today this matter is rather well understood and a rigorous kinetic theory is emerging. The importance of these developments stems not only from the need of providing a careful foundation of such a basic physical theory, but also to exhibit a prototype of a mathematical construct central to the theory of non-equilibrium phenomena of macroscopic size."

As our title suggests, there are two aspects in the subject of this book. The first is the mathematical investigation of the dynamics of infinite systems of in teracting particles and the description of the time evolution of their states. The second is the rigorous derivation of kinetic equations starting from the results of the aforementioned investigation. As is well known, statistical mechanics started in the last century with some papers written by Maxwell and Boltzmann. Although some of their statements seemed statistically obvious, we must prove that they do not contradict what me chanics predicts. In some cases, in particular for equilibrium states, it turns out that mechanics easily provides the required justification. However things are not so easy, if we take a step forward and consider a gas is not in equilibrium, as is, e.g., the case for air around a flying vehicle. Questions of this kind have been asked since the dawn of the kinetic theory of gases, especially when certain results appeared to lead to paradoxical conclu sions. Today this matter is rather well understood and a rigorous kinetic theory is emerging. The importance of these developments stems not only from the need of providing a careful foundation of such a basic physical theory, but also to exhibit a prototype of a mathematical construct central to the theory of non-equilibrium phenomena of macroscopic size."

Granular matter displays a variety of peculiarities that distinguish it from other appearances studied in condensed matter physics and renders its overall mathematical modelling somewhat arduous. Prominent directions in the modelling granular flows are analyzed from various points of view. Foundational issues, numerical schemes and experimental results are discussed. The volume furnishes a rather complete overview of the current research trends in the mechanics of granular matter. Various chapters introduce the reader to different points of view and related techniques. New models describing granular bodies as complex bodies are presented. Results on the analysis of the inelastic Boltzmann equations are collected in different chapters. Gallavotti-Cohen symmetry is also discussed.

This classic book, now reissued in paperback, presents a detailed account of the mathematical theory of viscosity, thermal conduction, and diffusion in non-uniform gases based on the solution of the Maxwell-Boltzmann equations. The theory of Chapman and Enskog, describing work on dense gases, quantum theory of collisions, and the theory of conduction and diffusion in ionized gases in the presence of electric and magnetic fields is also included in the later chapters. This reprint of the third edition, first published in 1970, includes revisions that take account of extensions of the theory to fresh molecular models and of new methods used in discussing dense gases and plasmas.