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Original Essays | September 23, 2009

Jonathan Lethem: IMG Stops: On Those Things My New Novel Forgot to Be About, Maybe



For me, there's a weird, unfathomable gulf — I almost wrote gulp — between the completion of a novel and its publication. Some days this duration feels interminable, as though the book has... Continue »
  1. $19.56 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

    Chronic City

    Jonathan Lethem

Complexity: Hierarchical Structures & Scaling in Physics

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Very successful book in the Cambridge Nonlinear Science Series, now available in paperback.

Review:

"The approach throughout is no-nonsense...for a mathematically mature reader determined to ponder what complexity might mean, this book will provide some rewarding exercise." Nature"The book presents a comprehensive review of the results which have been achieved in the understanding of the phenomenon of complexity and its quantitative description." Mathematical Reviews"...focused on the formal description of complex systems...the authors discuss a great number of ideas developed in the field of complex systems and complexity....Those working on complexity theory will find this book an invaluable source since it offers a great number of stimulating ideas and guidance for future research." Journal of Statistical Physics"It is the definitive source for complexity in physical systems. Scientists and graduate students working or interested in this new field, especially physicists, mathematicians and theoretical computer scientists will find this book of value." Pageoph

Synopsis:

This is a comprehensive discussion of complexity as it arises in physical, chemical, and biological systems, as well as in mathematical models of nature. Common features of these apparently unrelated fields are emphasised and incorporated into a uniform mathematical description, with the support of a large number of detailed examples and illustrations. The uniformity of notation and the relegation of technical mathematical notions to the appendices will help the reader follow the main course of the discussion without much need for consulting standard textbooks or the original research papers.

Description:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 293-310) and index.

Table of Contents

Part I. Phenomenology and Models: 1. Introduction; 2. Examples of complex behaviour; 3. Mathematical models; Part II: 4. Symbolic representations of physical systems; 5. Probability, ergodic theory, and information; 6. Thermodynamic formalism; Part III. Formal Characterization of Complexity: 7. Physical and computational analysis of symbolic signals; 8. Algorithmic and grammatical complexities; 9. Hierarchical scaling complexities; 10. Summary and perspectives.

Product Details

ISBN:
9780521418904
Subtitle:
Hierarchical Structures and Scaling in Physics
With:
Politi, Antonio
With:
Politi, Antonio
Author:
Swinney, Harry
Author:
Badii, Remo
Author:
Chirikov, Boris
Author:
Politi, Antonio
Author:
Cvitanovic, Predrag
Author:
Moss, Frank
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Location:
Cambridge ;
Subject:
General science
Subject:
Physics
Subject:
Philosophy & Social Aspects
Subject:
Mathematical Physics
Subject:
Statistical physics
Subject:
Complexity (philosophy)
Subject:
Scaling (Statistical physics)
Subject:
Scaling
Subject:
Complexity
Series:
Cambridge nonlinear science series ;
Series Volume:
0006
Publication Date:
19990812
Binding:
Hardback
Grade Level:
Professional and scholarly
Language:
English
Illustrations:
56 line diagrams 5 half-tones 1 tabl
Pages:
332
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