This book contains state of the art contributions to this rapidly growing research area. It will be of essential value to mathematicians, physicists and engineers working in the fields of fractals and related phenomena and to researchers working in medicine and the life sciences.
Fractals: A User's Guide for the Natural Sciences explains Mandelbrot's fractal geometry and describes some of its applications in the natural world. Written to enable students and researchers to master the methods of this timely subject, the book steers a middle course between the formality of many papers in mathematics and the informality of picture-orientated books on fractals. It is both a logically developed text and an essential `fractals for users' handbook.
Fractal Geometry in Biological Systems was written by the leading experts in the field of mathematics and the biological sciences together. It is intended to inform researchers in the bringing about the fundamental nature of fractals and their widespread appearance in biological systems. The chapters explain how the presence of fractal geometry can be used in an analytical way to predict outcomes in systems, to generate hypotheses, and to help design experiments. The authors make the mathematics accessible to a wide audience and do not assume prior experience in this area.
The seminal text on fractal geometry for students and researchers: extensively revised and updated with new material, notes and references that reflect recent directions. Interest in fractal geometry continues to grow rapidly, both as a subject that is fascinating in its own right and as a concept that is central to many areas of mathematics, science and scientific research. Since its initial publication in 1990 Fractal Geometry: Mathematical Foundations and Applications has become a seminal text on the mathematics of fractals. The book introduces and develops the general theory and applications of fractals in a way that is accessible to students and researchers from a wide range of disciplines. Fractal Geometry: Mathematical Foundations and Applications is an excellent course book for undergraduate and graduate students studying fractal geometry, with suggestions for material appropriate for a first course indicated. The book also provides an invaluable foundation and reference for researchers who encounter fractals not only in mathematics but also in other areas across physics, engineering and the applied sciences. Provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the mathematical theory and applications of fractals Carefully explains each topic using illustrative examples and diagrams Includes the necessary mathematical background material, along with notes and references to enable the reader to pursue individual topics Features a wide range of exercises, enabling readers to consolidate their understanding Supported by a website with solutions to exercises and additional material www.wileyeurope.com/fractal Leads onto the more advanced sequel Techniques in Fractal Geometry (also by Kenneth Falconer and available from Wiley)
Historically, science has developed by reducing complex situations to simple ones, analyzing the components and synthesizing the original situation. While this 'reductionist' approach has been extremely successful, there are phenomena of such complexity that one cannot simplify them without eliminating the problem itself. Recently, attention has turned to such problems in a wide variety of fields. This is in part due to the development of fractal geometry. Fractal geometry provides the mathematical tools for handling complexity. The present volume is a collection of papers that deal with the application of fractals in both traditional scientific disciplines and in applied fields. This volume shows the advance of our understanding of complex phenomena across a spectrum of disciplines. While these diverse fields work on very different problems, fractals provide a unifying formalism for approaching these problems.
One of the ways to understand the complexity in scientific disciplines is through the use of fractal geometry. Tremendous progress has been made in this field since its inception some two decades ago. This book collects the papers at the cutting-edge, reflecting the current status of fractals. With its special emphasis on the multidisciplinary research, the book represents a unique contribution to the understanding of the complex phenomena in nature.
The main part of the book consists of the dialogue between physicist Otto Rössler, and artist and AI researcher Bill Seaman with the commentaries disclosing information perspective by information scientist Mark Burgin and Bill Seaman. In this dialogue, Rössler and Seaman discuss concepts surrounding Rössler's major research over his lifetime. Additionally, each research topic is linked to the set of papers and books published by Rössler and other related collaborative researchers. The goal is to delineate an intellectual directory for future researchers. The discussed topics being transdisciplinary in nature cross many fields in science and technology. A comprehensive historical bibliography is also included. The work explores many fields germane to theoretical science as Rössler was often quite early in developing these fields and interacting with many famous scientists. This work pertains to information theory, which has often been left out of the historical literature.Burgin as an expert in information theory is providing an information perspective on this dialogue adding historical discussion and relevant scientific and mathematical underpinnings of the discussed ideas. His observations are complemented by Seaman, who presents the synthesis of artistic and scientific outlook.Addendum contains articles describing Rössler's relationships to colleagues from multiple fields, a parable by Rössler and papers related to Rössler's research and theoretical models of processes in the universe.
Written in a style that is accessible to a wide audience, The Fractal Geometry of Nature inspired popular interest in this emerging field. Mandelbrot's unique style, and rich illustrations will inspire readers of all backgrounds.
The topics covered in this volume include formation of fractal structures (kinetics of aggregation and gelation, depositions, cluster growth, chemical reactions, fractures, self-organized criticality, etc.) physical properties of fractals (transport, vibrations, magnetism, etc.), and especially applications of fractal concepts in materials science, geosciences, biological sciences and order fields.