Overview

Introducing a unified framework for describing and understanding complex interacting systems common in physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, and the social sciences, this comprehensive overview of dynamic critical phenomena covers the description of systems at thermal equilibrium, quantum systems, and non-equilibrium systems. Powerful mathematical techniques for dealing with complex dynamic systems are carefully introduced, including field-theoretic tools and the perturbative dynamical renormalization group approach, rapidly building up a mathematical toolbox of relevant skills. Heuristic and qualitative arguments outlining the essential theory behind each type of system are introduced at the start of each chapter, alongside real-world numerical and experimental data, firmly linking new mathematical techniques to their practical applications. Each chapter is supported by carefully tailored problems for solution, and comprehensive suggestions for further reading, making this an excellent introduction to critical dynamics for graduate students and researchers across many disciplines within physical and life sciences.

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9780521842235

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Reviews

'I was impressed by the balance and approach: the chapters are all presented by skilled writers who are also distinguished contributors to the debates ... The editor is to be congratulated on maintaining the high quality of the included chapters and on excluding dud ones.' Geoscientist

Author Information

Uwe C. Täuber is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Virginia Tech, where his research focuses on the characterization of phase transitions and generic scale invariance in non-equilibrium systems.

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