Synopses & Reviews
This book contains two introductory papers on important topics of nonlinear physics. The first one, by M. San Miguel et al., refers to the effect of noise in nonequilibrium systems. The second, by M.E. Brachet, is a modern introduction to turbulence in fluids. The material can be very useful for short courses and is presented accordingly. The authors have made their texts self-contained. The volume also contains a selection of the invited seminars given at the Sixth International Workshop on Instabilities and Nonequilibrium Structures. Audience: This book should be of interest to graduate students and scientists interested in the fascinating problems of nonlinear physics.
Table of Contents
Foreword. Biographical Sketch of Professor Walter Zeller. Acknowledgements. Preface. Part I: Review Lectures. A primer in classical turbulence theory; M.E. Brachet. Stochastic effects in physical systems; M. San Miguel, R. Toral. Part II: Pattern Selection, Defects and Granular Matter. Spatio-temporal intermittency in the spatial unfolding of Andronov's Bifurcations; M. Argentina, P. Coullet. Thermodynamics and dynamics of supersolids; Y. Pomeau. Large Amplitude Patterns in Bistable Reaction-Diffusion Systems; S. Métens, et al. Bénard Cell: A Centennial Puzzle; C. Pérez-García,. B. Echebarria. A parametric oscillator in a highly viscous fluid; E. Cerda. Spiral waves and target waves in single cells; A. Babloyantz, N. Ellis. Pattern Selection and Stability in Polymeric Fluid Convection; J. Martínez-Mardones, et al. Wavelength Selection of Spiral Waves in Liquid Crystals; E. Hamm, et al. Surface Waves Scattering by a Vertical Vortex: A progress report; F. Vivanco, et al. Spreading of molecularly thin wetting films on solid interfaces; S.F. Burlatsky, et al. Developable Cones and Crumpled Paper: An experimental point of view; S. Chaïeb, F. Melo. Quantum Topological Defects and the Schwinger mechanism; C. Elphick. Imperfect coagulation reaction A + A --> A: An analitical approach; M. Hoyuelos. Mixing and Segregation in Granular Matter; E. Guyon, D. Bideau. Pressure and Surface Dilation measurements in vibrated granular layers; N. Mujica, et al. Part III: Stochastic behavior and Statistical Mechanics. Quantum Coherence and Decoherence by Spontaneous Emission in a Quantum Optical Realization of a Driven Pendulum; R. Graham. Covariant Non-Linear Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics and the Ergodic Theory of Stochastic and Quantum Flows; D. Rapaport. Stochastic Inflation: A Semiclassical Approach; M. Bellini, et al. Upper Bounds for Correlation Functions: Bose Systems; M. Corgini, D.P. Sankovich. Multifractal Behavior of a Fibonacci Crystal built over p coupled chains; E. Lazo. Stationary probability for systems presenting weak noise transitions; O. Descalzi, et al. Subject Index.