Nonlinear Physics With Mathematica For Scientists And Engineers

Nonlinear physics continues to be an area of dynamic modern research, with applications to physics, engineering, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, biology, medicine and economics. In this text extensive use is made of the Mathematica computer algebra system. No prior knowledge of Mathematica or programming is assumed. This book includes 33 experimental activities that are designed to deepen and broaden the reader's understanding of nonlinear physics. These activities are correlated with Part I, the theoretical framework of the text.

CD-ROM contains: Illustrative nonlinear examples solved with Mathematica.

Philosophy of the Text This text has been designed to be an introductory survey of the basic concepts and applied mathematical methods of nonlinear science. Students in engineer ing, physics, chemistry, mathematics, computing science, and biology should be able to successfully use this text. In an effort to provide the students with a cutting edge approach to one of the most dynamic, often subtle, complex, and still rapidly evolving, areas of modern research-nonlinear physics-we have made extensive use of the symbolic, numeric, and plotting capabilities of Maple V Release 4 applied to examples from these disciplines. No prior knowledge of Maple or computer programming is assumed, the reader being gently introduced to Maple as an auxiliary tool as the concepts of nonlinear science are developed. The diskette which accompanies the text gives a wide variety of illustrative nonlinear examples solved with Maple. An accompanying laboratory manual of experimental activities keyed to the text allows the student the option of "hands on" experience in exploring nonlinear phenomena in the REAL world. Although the experiments are easy to perform, they give rise to experimental and theoretical complexities which are not to be underestimated. The Level of the Text The essential prerequisites for the first eight chapters of this text would nor mally be one semester of ordinary differential equations and an intermediate course in classical mechanics.

More than ever before, complicated mathematical procedures are integral to the success and advancement of technology, engineering, and even industrial production. Knowledge of and experience with these procedures is therefore vital to present and future scientists, engineers and technologists. Mathematical Methods in Physics and Engineering

This book introduces readers to the full range of current and background activity in the rapidly growing field of nonlinear dynamics. It uses a step-by-step introduction to dynamics and geometry in state space to help in understanding nonlinear dynamics and includes a thorough treatment of both differential equation models and iterated map models as well as a derivation of the famous Feigenbaum numbers. It is the only introductory book available that includes the important field of pattern formation and a survey of the controversial questions of quantum chaos. This second edition has been restructured for easier use and the extensive annotated references are updated through January 2000 and include many web sites for a number of the major nonlinear dynamics research centers. With over 200 figures and diagrams, analytic and computer exercises this book is a necessity for both the classroom and the lab.

The book is devoted to the problems of modeling physical systems and fields using the tools and capabilities of the 'Mathematica' software package. In the process of teaching classical courses in mechanics and mathematical physics, one often has to overcome significant difficulties associated with the cumbersomeness of the mathematical apparatus, which more than once distracts from the essence of the problems under consideration. The use of the 'Mathematica' package, which has a rich set of analytical and graphic tools, makes the presentation of classic issues related to modeling and interpretation of physical processes much more transparent. This package enables the visualization of both analytical solutions of nonlinear differential equations and solutions obtained in the form of infinite series or special functions.The textbook consists of two parts that can be studied independently of each other. The first part deals with the issues of nonlinear mechanics and the theory of oscillations. The second part covers linear problems of classical mathematical physics and nonlinear evolution models describing, inter alia, transport phenomena and propagation of waves. The book contains the codes of programs written in the 'Mathematica' package environment. Supplementary materials of programs illustrating and often complementing the presented material are available on the publisher's website.

Appropriate for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of scientific and engineering fields, this text introduces linear and nonlinear problems and their associated models. The first part covers linear systems, emphasizing perturbation or approximation techniques and asymptotic methods. The second part comprises nonlinear problems, including weakly nonlinear oscillatory systems and nonlinear difference equations. The two parts, both of which include exercises, merge smoothly, and many of the nonlinear techniques arise from the study of the linear systems. 1990 edition. 70 figures. 4 tables. Appendix. Index.