Roberto Livi

Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics (eBook, ePUB)

A Modern Perspective

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Statistical mechanics has been proven to be successful at describing physical systems at thermodynamic equilibrium. Since most natural phenomena occur in nonequilibrium conditions, the present challenge is to find suitable physical approaches for such conditions: this book provides a pedagogical pathway that explores various perspectives. The use of clear language, and explanatory figures and diagrams to describe models, simulations and experimental findings makes the book a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate students, and also for lecturers organizing teaching at varying levels of experience in the field. Written in three parts, it covers basic and traditional concepts of nonequilibrium physics, modern aspects concerning nonequilibrium phase transitions, and application-orientated topics from a modern perspective. A broad range of topics is covered, including Langevin equations, Levy processes, directed percolation, kinetic roughening and pattern formation.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Erscheinungstermin: 5. Oktober 2017
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781108363525
• Artikelnr.: 49988533

Autorenporträt

Roberto Livi is Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Florence, where he teaches courses on statistical physics and thermodynamics. He is also the Director of the Interdepartment Center for the Study of Complex Dynamics and an associate member of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and of the Institute for Complex Systems of the National Research Council (CNR).

Inhaltsangabe

Preface; Acknowledgements; Notations and acronyms; 1. Brownian motion, Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations; 2. Linear response theory and transport phenomena; 3. From equilibrium to out-of-equilibrium phase transitions; 4. Out-of-equilibrium critical phenomena; 5. Stochastic dynamics of surfaces and interfaces; 6. Phase-ordering kinetics; 7. Highlights on pattern formation; Appendix A. Central limit theorem and its limitations; Appendix B. Spectral properties of stochastic matrices; Appendix C. Reversibility and ergodicity in a Markov chain; Appendix D. Diffusion equation and random walk; Appendix E. Kramers-Moyal expansion; Appendix F. Mathematical properties of response functions; Appendix G. The van der Waals equation; Appendix H. The Ising model; Appendix I. Derivation of the Ginzburg-Landau free energy; Appendix J. Kinetic Monte Carlo; Appendix K. Mean-field phase diagram of the bridge model; Appendix L. The deterministic KPZ and the Burgers' equation; Appendix M. The perturbative renormalization group for KPZ: a few details; Appendix N. The Gibbs-Thomson relation; Appendix O. The Allen-Cahn equation; Appendix P. The Rayleigh-Bénard instability; Appendix Q. General conditions for the Turing instability; Appendix R. Steady states of the one-dimensional TDGL equation; Appendix S. Multiscale analysis; Index.

Rezensionen

'Statistical physics has grown over the past few decades' way beyond its original aims for the understanding of gases and thermal systems at equilibrium, and it is hard to agree on its precise scope, let alone to write a definitive textbook on the subject. [This book] succeeds remarkably well in this task. Cutting a broad swath through the many ramifications of statistical physics in recent times, the book includes a comprehensive review of the many techniques and paradigmatic systems that have come to be regarded as standards of the field. Having solidly covered these essentials, in the third and last part of the book the authors discuss a smorgasbord of topics, from coarsening and kinetic roughening, to pattern formation, to phase-ordering phenomena, selected from their decades of research and expertise in these areas. The book is ambitious and rather comprehensive in its scope. The explanations are succinct and crystal clear, making the volume valuable not only as a textbook but also as a reference work that is sure to become ubiquitous on the shelves of students, teachers, and of young and well-seasoned researchers alike.' Daniel ben-Avraham, Clarkson University, New York