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Author: Stefano Rabolli Pansera
Publisher: AA Publishing
Published: 2011
Total Pages: 172
ISBN-13: 9781907896064
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis text marks the conclusion of the 'Beyond Entropy' cluster, and is produced in tandem with an exhibition on show at the AA in May 2011.
Author: Hans Christian Öttinger
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Published: 2005-05-13
Total Pages: 651
ISBN-13: 0471727911
DOWNLOAD EBOOKBeyond Equilibrium Thermodynamics fills a niche in the market by providing a comprehensive introduction to a new, emerging topic in the field. The importance of non-equilibrium thermodynamics is addressed in order to fully understand how a system works, whether it is in a biological system like the brain or a system that develops plastic. In order to fully grasp the subject, the book clearly explains the physical concepts and mathematics involved, as well as presenting problems and solutions; over 200 exercises and answers are included. Engineers, scientists, and applied mathematicians can all use the book to address their problems in modelling, calculating, and understanding dynamic responses of materials.
Author: Roderick C. Dewar
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2013-12-02
Total Pages: 434
ISBN-13: 3642401546
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe Second Law, a cornerstone of thermodynamics, governs the average direction of dissipative, non-equilibrium processes. But it says nothing about their actual rates or the probability of fluctuations about the average. This interdisciplinary book, written and peer-reviewed by international experts, presents recent advances in the search for new non-equilibrium principles beyond the Second Law, and their applications to a wide range of systems across physics, chemistry and biology. Beyond The Second Law brings together traditionally isolated areas of non-equilibrium research and highlights potentially fruitful connections between them, with entropy production playing the unifying role. Key theoretical concepts include the Maximum Entropy Production principle, the Fluctuation Theorem, and the Maximum Entropy method of statistical inference. Applications of these principles are illustrated in such diverse fields as climatology, cosmology, crystal growth morphology, Earth system science, environmental physics, evolutionary biology and technology, fluid turbulence, microbial biogeochemistry, plasma physics, and radiative transport, using a wide variety of analytical and experimental techniques. Beyond The Second Law will appeal to students and researchers wishing to gain an understanding of entropy production and its central place in the science of non-equilibrium systems – both in detail and in terms of the bigger picture.
Author: Brian G. Henning
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2013-02-01
Total Pages: 488
ISBN-13: 0739174371
DOWNLOAD EBOOKIt has been said that new discoveries and developments in the human, social, and natural sciences hang “in the air” (Bowler, 1983; 2008) prior to their consummation. While neo-Darwinist biology has been powerfully served by its mechanistic metaphysic and a reductionist methodology in which living organisms are considered machines, many of the chapters in this volume place this paradigm into question. Pairing scientists and philosophers together, this volume explores what might be termed “the New Frontiers” of biology, namely contemporary areas of research that appear to call an updating, a supplementation, or a relaxation of some of the main tenets of the Modern Synthesis. Such areas of investigation include: Emergence Theory, Systems Biology, Biosemiotics, Homeostasis, Symbiogenesis, Niche Construction, the Theory of Organic Selection (also known as “the Baldwin Effect”), Self-Organization and Teleodynamics, as well as Epigenetics. Most of the chapters in this book offer critical reflections on the neo-Darwinist outlook and work to promote a novel synthesis that is open to a greater degree of inclusivity as well as to a more holistic orientation in the biological sciences.
Author: Christian Wüthrich
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2021-08-26
Total Pages: 288
ISBN-13: 019258247X
DOWNLOAD EBOOKQuantum gravity seeks a unified theory in which quantum matter is dynamically related to generally relativistic spacetime. Although a continuing work in progress, research programmes in the field such as string theory, loop quantum gravity, and causal set theory make it clear that a successful theory of quantum gravity will raise important challenges to our conceptions of space, time, and matter-perhaps abolishing them altogether as fundamental entities. But just as important, there is good reason to think that some of the problems in finding a theory of quantum gravity are themselves conceptual, in need of philosophical analysis. Philosophy Beyond Spacetime: Implications from Quantum Gravity assembles original papers from philosophers (and one physicist), establishing a definitive statement of the current state of play, on which future research into this area can build. Aiming to expand knowledge and understanding of the philosophy of quantum gravity, it emphasizes how debates in metaphysics—regarding emergence, composition, or grounding for example—shed light on the conceptual questions of quantum gravity. And conversely, how quantum theories of space and time call into question philosophical views grounded in classical spacetime. Furthermore, the philosophy of quantum gravity raises methodological questions, for instance concerning the relation between physics and metaphysics. The essays have been chosen to demonstrate to a wide range of philosophers the significance of the subject, as well as making novel contributions to it.
Author: Francoise Axel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Published: 2013-06-29
Total Pages: 624
ISBN-13: 3662031302
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis book is the collection of most of the written versions of the Courses given at the Winter School "Beyond Quasicrystals" in Les Houches (March 7-18, 1994). The School gathered lecturers and participants from all over the world and was prepared in the spirit of a general effort to promote theoretical and experimental interdisciplinary communication between mathematicians, theoretical and experimental physicists on the topic of the nature of geometric order in solids beyond standard periodicity and quasi periodicity. The overall structure of the book reflects the wish of the editors to pose this fundamental question of geometric order in solids from both the experimental and theoretical point of view. The first part is devoted more specifically to quasicrystals. These materials were the common starting point of most of the audience and present a first concrete example of a non-trivial geometric order. We chose to focus on a few fundamental aspects of quasicrystals related to hidden symmetries in solids which are not easily found in standard textbooks on the topic, not to reach an exhaustive survey which is already available elsewhere.
Author: Axel Kleidon
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Published: 2004-11-18
Total Pages: 288
ISBN-13: 9783540224952
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe present volume studies the application of concepts from non-equilibrium thermodynamics to a variety of research topics. Emphasis is on the Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) principle and applications to Geosphere-Biosphere couplings. Written by leading researchers from a wide range of backgrounds, the book presents a first coherent account of an emerging field at the interface of thermodynamics, geophysics and life sciences.
Author: Sir Oliver Lodge
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2015-12-14
Total Pages: 92
ISBN-13: 1317276787
DOWNLOAD EBOOKOriginally published in 1930, Sir Oliver Lodge proposes a connection between physics and philosophy, or as he describes it, a key to unlock the intricate connection between mind and matter. A response to early twentieth century mathematically-led philosophy, Lodge looks at physics from a physical direction rather than from a theoretical model. This title will be of interest to students of philosophy as well physics.
Author: Haydn Washington
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2016-04-14
Total Pages: 260
ISBN-13: 1317358333
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThere is a fundamental denial at the centre of why we have an environmental crisis – a denial that ignores that endless physical growth on a finite planet is impossible. Nature provides the ecosystem services that support our civilisation, thus making humanity unavoidably dependent upon it. However, society continues to ignore and deny this dependence. A Future Beyond Growth explores the reason why the endless growth economy is fundamentally unsustainable and considers ways in which society can move beyond this to a steady state economy. The book brings together some of the deepest thinkers from around the world to consider how to advance beyond growth. The main themes consider the deep problems of the current system and key aspects of a steady state economy, such as population; throughput and consumerism; ethics and equity; and policy for change. The policy section and conclusion bring together these various themes and indicates how we can move past the growth economy to a truly sustainable future. This volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of economics, sustainability and environmental studies in general.
Author: Michael J. Dinneen
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2012-02-15
Total Pages: 436
ISBN-13: 3642276547
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis Festschrift volume has been published in honor of Cristian Calude on the occasion of his 60th birthday and contains contributions from invited speakers and regular papers presented at the International Workshop on Theoretical Computer Science, WTCS 2012, held in Auckland, New Zealand, in February 2012. Cristian Calude has made a significant contribution to research in computer science theory. Along with early work by Chaitin, Kučera, Kurtz, Solovay, and Terwijn his papers published in the mid-1990s jointly with Khoussainov, Hertling, and Wang laid the foundation for the development of modern theory of algorithmic randomness. His work was essential for establishing the leading role of New Zealand in this area. The research interests of Cristian Calude are reflected in the topics covered by the 32 papers included in this book, namely: algorithmic information theory, algorithms, automata and formal languages, computing and natural sciences, computability and applications, logic and applications, philosophy of computation, physics and computation, and unconventional models of computation. They have been organized into four parts. The first part consists of papers discussing his life achievements. This is followed by papers in the three general areas of complexity, computability, and randomness; physics, philosophy (and logic), and computation; and algorithms, automata, and formal models (including unconventional computing).
