Synergetics

ISBN-13: 9783519030119 / Niemiecki / Miękka / 1973 / 279 str.

Hermann Haken; Hermann Haken

Opis

At a first glance the reader of this book might be puzzled by the variety of its topics which range from phase-transition-like phenomena of chemical reactions, lasers and electrical currents to biological systems, like neuron networks and membranes, to population dynamics and socio logy. When looking more closely at the different subjects the reader will recognize, however, that this book deals with one main problem: the behaviour of systems which are composed of many elements of one or a few kinds. We are sure the reader will be surprised in the same way as the participants of a recent symposium on synergetics, who recognized that such systems have amazingly common features. Though the subsystems (e. g. electrons, cells, human beings) are quite different in nature, their joint action is governed by only a few principles which lead to strikingly similar phenomena. It hardly needs to be mentioned that once such common principles are established, they are of an enormous stimulus and help for future research. Though the articles of this book are based on invited papers given at the first International Symposium on Synergetics at Schlof. l. Elmau from April 30 to May 6, 1972, it differs from usual conference proceedings in a distinct way. The authors and subjects were chosen from the very beginning so that fmally a well organized total book arises. We hope that the reader will feel the same pleasure and enthusiasm the participants at the symposium had.

Spis treści

to Synergetics.- Mathematical and Physical Concepts for Cooperative Systems.- Stability Criteria in Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics.- Relaxation and Fluctuation of Macrovariables.- New Method in Non-Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics of Cooperative Systems.- Theory of Linear Non-Markoffian Processes.- Fluctuations near Phase Transitions in Restricted Geometries.- Instabilities and Phase-Transition-Like Phenomena in Physical Systems far from Thermal Equilibrium.- Phase-Transition-Like Phenomena in Lasers and Nonlinear Optics.- Dynamics of Current Instabilities.- Cooperative Phenomena in Data Processing.- Theory of Dissipative Structures.- Biochemical Kinetics and Population Dynamics.- A Gibbs Ensemble Approach to Biochemical Kinetics.- Models of Population Growth, Diffusion, Competition and Rearrangement.- Selforganization of Nucleic Acids and the Evolution of the Genetic Apparatus.- Computer Simulation of Helix-Coil Transition.- Biological Structures.- Mechanism of Pattern Recognition by the Visual System of Insects.- A Cooperative Model of Stereoscopic Depth Perception.- Cooperative Phenomena in a Homogeneous Cortical Tissue Model.- Cooperative Transitions in Biological Membranes.- A Model for Muscle Contraction.- Organisation and Long Range Selective Interaction in Biological and Other Pumped Systems.- Nonlinear Transport as a Possible Key to Physical Understanding in Biology.- General Structures.- Theory of Hierarchical Structures.- Metropolitan Models and Public Policy.- Fokker-Planck Equation Treatment of Interacting Social Groups.

O autorze

Hermann Haken is Professor of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Stuttgart. He is known as the founder of synergetics. His research has been in nonlinear optics (in particular laser physics), solid state physics, statistical physics, and group theory. After the implementation of the first laser in 1960, Professor Haken developed his institute to an international center for laser theory. The interpretation of the laser principles as self organization of non equilibrium systems paved the way to the development of synergetics, of which Haken is recognized as the founder. Hermann Haken has been visiting professor or guest scientist in England, France, Japan, USA, Russia, and China. He is the author of some 23 textbooks and monographs that cover an impressive number of topics from laser physics to synergetics, and editor of a book series in synergetics. For his pathbreaking work and his influence on academic research, he has been awarded many-times. Among others, he is member of the Order "Pour le merite" and received the Max Planck Medal in 1990.