Written for an interdisciplinary readership, this book is a practical guide to the fascinating world of solitons. The author approaches the subject from the standpoint of applications in optics, hydrodynamics, and electrical and chemical engineering. This third edition has been thoroughly revised and updated.

Written for an interdisciplinary readership of physicists, engineers, and chemists, this book is a practical guide to the fascinating world of solitons. These waves of large amplitude propagate over long distances without dispersing and therefore show one of the most striking aspects of nonlinearity. The author addresses students, practitioners, and researchers, approaching the subject from the standpoint of applications in optics, hydrodynamics, and electrical and chemical engineering. The book also encourages readers to perform their own experiments. Since the printing of the second edition of this book, there has been a large growth in the literature on nonlinear waves and so has the wide applicability of the subject to the physical, chemical and biological sciences. This third edition has been thoroughly revised. Some of the topics are brought up to date with pertinent references. Furthermore, the book now includes a completely new chapter on solitary waves in diffuse systems.

D ferlantes, mascarets, tornades, cyclones, tsunamis, s ismes, crues clair...: hydrodynamiques ou m caniques, cardiaques ou c r brales, pid miques ou humaines, les ondes sont partout. Rides minuscules ou vagues colossales, par leurs aspects exotiques elles intriguent ou merveillent, d vastatrices elles suscitent la crainte. Sources d'inspiration pour les artistes, elles sont l'objet de recherches permanentes pour les scientifiques. Grand reporter, Eric parcourt la plan te la d couverte de ces transports d' nergie, l'image du soliton, susceptibles de provoquer destruction et malheur des milliers de kilom tres de leur source. Avec ses amis il est victime d'intimidations et d'agressions, et ses tribulations nous r v lent un univers fascinant o les catastrophes dites naturelles sont monnaie courante et font la une des m dias. Ce roman scientifique grand public n'est pas de la science fiction et ne n cessite aucune connaissance pr alable, il entra ne le lecteur dans un monde fascinant et dangereux o magie et myst re s'opposent aux explications rationnelles de la science en train de se faire.