Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The field of biological physics is a broad, multidisciplinary, and dynamic one, touching on many areas of research in physics, biology, chemistry and medicine. New findings are published in a large number of publications within these disci plines, making it difficult for students and scientists working in biological physics to keep up with advances occurring in disciplines other than their own. The Bi ological Physics Series is intended therefore to be a comprehensive one covering a broad range of topics important to the study of biological physics. Its goal is to provide scientists and engineers with text books, monographs and reference books to address the growing need for information. Books in the Biological Physics Series will emphasize frontier areas of science including molecular, membrane, and mathematical biophysics; photosynthetic en ergy harvesting and conversion; information processing; physical principles of ge netics; sensory communications; automata networks, neural networks, and cellu lar automata. Equally important will be coverage of current and potential applied aspects of biological physics such as biomolecular electronic components and de vices, biosensors, medicine, imaging, physical principles of renewable energy pro duction, and environmental control and engineering. We are fortunate to have a distinguished roster of consulting editors on the Editorial Board, reflecting the breadth of biological physics. We believe that the Biological Physics Series can help advance the knowledge in the field by providing a home for publications in the field and that scientists and practitioners from many disciplines will find much to learn from the upcoming volumes."
Synopsis
A reissue of a classic book -- corrected, edited, typeset, redrawn, and indexed for the Biological Physics Series. In- tended for undergraduate courses in biophysics, biological physics, physiology, medical physics, and biomedical engineering, this is an introduction to statistical physics with examples and problems from the medical and biological sciences. Topics include the elements of the theory of probability, Poisson statistics, thermal equilibrium, entropy and free energy, and the second law of thermodynamics. It can be used as a supplement to standard introductory physics courses, and as a text for medical schools, medical physics courses, and biology departments. The three volumes combined present all the major topics in physics. These books are being reissued in response to frequent requests to satisfy the growing need among students and practitioners in the medical and biological sciences with a working knowledge of the physical sciences. The books are also in demand in physics departments either as supplements to traditional intro texts or as a main text for those departments offering courses with biological or medical physics orientation.