Complexity: Hierarchical Structures and Scaling in Physics

ISBN-13: 9780521663854 / Angielski / Miękka / 1999 / 336 str.

Remo Badii; Antonio Politi; Boris Chirikov

Opis

This is a comprehensive discussion of complexity as it arises in physical, chemical and biological systems, as well as in mathematical models of nature. The aim of this book is to illustrate the ways in which complexity manifests itself and to introduce a sequence of increasingly sharp mathematical methods for the classification of complex behavior. This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in physics (nonlinear dynamics, fluid dynamics, solid-state, cellular automata, stochastic processes, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics), mathematics (dynamical systems, ergodic and probability theory), information and computer science (coding, information theory and algorithmic complexity), electrical engineering and theoretical biology.

Recenzje

‘This is a book for professional scientists, but it is by no means solely for specialists: its admirable breadth of outlook should provide something for every scientist.’ Peter Bradshaw, The Times Higher Education Supplement

Spis treści

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.