The last thirty years were a period of continuous and intense growth in the subject of dynamical systems. New concepts and techniques and at the same time new areas of applications of the theory were found. The 31st session of the Seminaire de Mathematiques Superieures (SMS) held at the Universite de Montreal in July 1992 was on dynamical systems having as its center theme "Bifurcations and periodic orbits of vector fields." This session of the SMS was a NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI). This ASI had the purpose of acquainting the participants with some of the most recent developments and...

The use of numerical grid methods to solve the Schrodinger equation has rapidly evolved in the past decade.The early attempts to demonstrate the computational viability of grid methods have been largely superseded by applications to specific problems and deeper research into more sophisticated quadrature schemes. Underpinning this research, of course, is the belief that the generic nature of grid methods can enjoy a symbiotic development with advances in computer technology, harnessing this technology in an effective manner. The contributions to this proceedings demonstrate these points in...

This volume describes the current state of knowledge of random spatial processes, particularly those arising in physics. The emphasis is on survey articles which describe areas of current interest to probabilists and physicists working on the probability theory of phase transition. Special attention is given to topics deserving further research. The principal contributions by leading researchers concern the mathematical theory of random walk, interacting particle systems, percolation, Ising and Potts models, spin glasses, cellular automata, quantum spin systems, and metastability.
The...

The blossoming of adaptive optical techniques has brought about a revolution in the field of astronomical observation. Coupled with the new generation of large, ground-based telescopes, it allows us to achieve an unprecendented angular resolution in the analysis of faint astronomical sources at optical wavelengths. This book provides the basic concepts of adaptive optics, discusses the possible instrumental strategies and the state-of-the-art technical achievements of this development and presents the key astrophysical programs which will most benefit from it. Over fifteen well-known experts...

Based on invited lectures at the 1992 Canadian Algebra Seminar, this volume represents an up-to-date and unique report on finite-dimensional algebras as a subject with many serious interactions with other mathematical disciplines, including algebraic groups and Lie theory, automorphic forms, sheaf theory, finite groups, and homological algebra. It will interest mathematicians and graduate students in these and related subjects as an introduction to research in an area of increasing relevance and importance.

Synchrotron Techniques in Interfacial Chemistry covers the structure of the electrode--solution interface and surface films, theory of X-ray scattering at surfaces and interfaces, synchrotron radiation instrumentation, surface X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS and XANES), standing wave techniques, and IR spectroscopy. The use of each technique in the study of electrochemical problems is illustrated.

The almost universal presence of water in our everyday lives and the very common' nature of its presence and properties possibly deflects attention from the fact that it has a number of very unusual characteristics which, furthermore, are found to be extremely sensitive to physical parameters, chemical environment and other influences. Hydrogen-bonding effects, too, are not restricted to water, so it is necessary to investigate other systems as well, in order to understand the characteristics in a wider context. Hydrogen Bond Networks reflects the diversity and relevance of...

The technique of smal1-angle soattering (SAS) is now about sixty years o1d. Soon after the first observations of, a continuous, intense X-ray scattering near the primary beam from samp1es such as canbo:tt,bla:cks, it was recognized that this scattering arose from e1ectron density heterogeneities on a scale of severa! tens to severa! hundred times the wave1ength of the radiation used. By the time the classic monograph of Guinier and Foumet appeared in 1955, much of the basic theory and instrumentation had been developed, and applications to colloidal suspensions, macromolecular solutions...

Approximation Theory, Wavelets and Applications draws together the latest developments in the subject, provides directions for future research, and paves the way for collaborative research. The main topics covered include constructive multivariate approximation, theory of splines, spline wavelets, polynomial and trigonometric wavelets, interpolation theory, polynomial and rational approximation. Among the scientific applications were de-noising using wavelets, including the de-noising of speech and images, and signal and digital image processing. In the area of the approximation of...

An important aspect of molecular engineering is the property directed' synthesis of large molecules and molecular assemblies. Synthetic expertise has advanced to a state which allows the assembly of supramolecules containing thousands of atoms using a construction kit' of molecular building blocks. Expansion in the field is driven by the appearance of new building blocks and by an improved understanding of the rules for joining them in the design of nanometer-sized devices.
Another aspect is the transition from supramolecules to materials. At present no single molecule (however large)...