Foundations of complex systems : emergence, information and predicition

✍ Scribed by G Nicolis; Catherine Nicolis

• Publisher: World Scientific
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 384
• Edition: 2
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book provides a self-contained presentation of the physical and mathematical laws governing complex systems. Complex systems arising in natural, engineering, environmental, life and social sciences are approached from a unifying point of view using an array of methodologies such as microscopic and macroscopic level formulations, deterministic and probabilistic tools, modeling and simulation. The book can be used as a textbook by graduate students, researchers and teachers in science, as well as non-experts who wish to have an overview of one of the most open, markedly interdisciplinary and fast-growing branches of present-day science

✦ Table of Contents

Content: Preface; Preface to the Second Edition; Contents; 1 The Phenomenology of Complex Systems; 1.1 Complexity, a new paradigm; 1.2 Signatures of complexity; 1.3 Onset of complexity; 1.4 Four case studies; 1.4.1 Emergence of macroscopic order: Rayleigh-Benard convection; 1.4.2 The challenge of prediction: atmospheric and climatic variability; 1.4.3 Information transfer and collective decision making: food recruitment in ants; 1.4.4 Human systems; 1.5 Summing up; Exercises and Problems; Relevant references; 2 Deterministic View; 2.1 Dynamical systems, phase space, stability.
Abstract:

Provides a self-contained presentation of the physical and mathematical laws governing complex systems. This book approaches complex systems arising in natural, engineering, environmental, life and social sciences from a point of view using an array of methodologies such as microscopic and macroscopic level formulations, and more. Read more...