Spatio-temporal patterns appear almost everywhere in nature, and their description and understanding still raise important and basic questions. However, if one looks back 20 or 30 years, definite progress has been made in the modeling of insta bilities, analysis of the dynamics in their vicinity, pattern formation and stability, quantitative experimental and numerical analysis of patterns, and so on. Universal behaviors of complex systems close to instabilities have been determined, leading to the wide interdisciplinarity of a field that is now referred to as nonlinear science or science of...

This book deals with the methods and concepts of nonlinear dynamics, pattern formation, bifurcation theory, irreversible thermodynamics, and their application to advanced materials science problems. The focus is on the effect of dynamical instabilities on materials behavior and properties.

The book is addressed to physicists, chemists, mathematicians and engineers who wish to work in this domain, or to learn about its latest advances. It is also aimed at bridging gaps between science and technology.

Spatio-temporal patterns appear almost everywhere in nature, and their description and understanding still raise important and basic questions. However, if one looks back 20 or 30 years, definite progress has been made in the modeling of insta bilities, analysis of the dynamics in their vicinity, pattern formation and stability, quantitative experimental and numerical analysis of patterns, and so on. Universal behaviors of complex systems close to instabilities have been determined, leading to the wide interdisciplinarity of a field that is now referred to as nonlinear science or science of...