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Many-body theory stands at the foundation of modern quantum
statistical mechanics. It is introduced here to graduate students
in physics, chemistry, engineering and biology. The book provides a
contemporary understanding of irreversibility, particularly in
quantum systems. It explains entropy production in quantum kinetic
theory and in the master equation formulation of non-equilibrium
statistical mechanics. The first half of the book focuses on the
foundations of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics with emphasis
on quantum mechanics. The second half of the book contains
alternative views of quantum statistical mechanics, and topics of
current interest for advanced graduate level study and research.
Unique to textbooks on this subject, this book contains a
discussion of the fundamental Gleason theorem. Quantum
entanglements are treated in application to quantum computation and
the difficulties arising from decoherence. The relativistic
generalization of the Boltzmann equation is derived, and modern
transport applications to reservoir ballistic transport are
developed.
Twentieth-century research in the field of chemical pattern
formation saw extraordinary progress due to the pathbreaking
contributions of Nobel laureate Ilya Prigogine and his co-workers.
Evidence exists that the dissipative structures studied by
Prigogine and his colleagues may play a dominant role in the
processes of self-organization of biological systems, the
fundamental phenomena that govern all life forms. Brought together
in this valuable volume are topical papers from the this research.
Important aspects of nonlinear chemical pattern
formation-dissipative structures-in chemical, biochemical, and
geological systems are surveyed by leading scientists in the field
of nonlinear chemistry. Topics covered include experimental
observations of pattern formation in a variety of systems,
bifurcation theory and analysis of nonlinear chemical rate
equations, and the stochastic theory of nonlinear chemical
reactions. Of particular interest are the studies of the effects of
electric fields on the determination of nonequilibrium states of
chemical systems.
The contributions to this volume attempt to apply different aspects
of Ilya Prigogine's Nobel-prize-winning work on dissipative
structures to nonchemical systems as a way of linking the natural
and social sciences. They address both the mathematical methods for
description of pattern and form as they evolve in biological
systems and the mechanisms of the evolution of social systems,
containing many variables responding to subjective, qualitative
stimuli. The mathematical modeling of human systems, especially
those far from thermodynamic equilibrium, must involve both chance
and determinism, aspects both quantitative and qualitative. Such
systems (and the physical states of matter which they resemble) are
referred to as self-organized or dissipative structures in order to
emphasize their dependence on the flows of matter and energy to and
from their surroundings. Some such systems evolve along lines of
inevitable change, but there occur instances of choice, or
bifurcation, when chance is an important factor in the qualitative
modification of structure. Such systems suggest that evolution is
not a system moving toward equilibrium but instead is one which
most aptly evokes the patterns of the living world. The volume is
truly interdisciplinary and should appeal to researchers in both
the physical and social sciences. Based on a workshop on
dissipative structures held in 1978 at the University of Texas,
contributors include Prigogine, A. G. Wilson, Andre de Palma, D.
Kahn, J. L. Deneubourgh, J. W. Stucki, Richard N. Adams, and Erick
Jantsch. The papers presented include Allen, "Self-Organization in
the Urban System"; Robert Herman, "Remarks on Traffic Flow Theories
and the Characterization of Traffic in Cities"; W. H. Zurek and
Schieve, "Nucleation Paradigm: Survival Threshold in Population
Dynamics"; De Palma et al., "Boolean Equations with Temporal
Delays"; Nicholas Georgescu-Roegin, "Energy Analysis and Technology
Assessment"; Magoroh Maruyama, "Four Different Causal Meta-types in
Biological and Social Sciences"; and Jantsch, "From Self-Reference
to Self-Transcendence: The Evolution of Self-Organization
Dynamics."
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