Pattern Formation And Dynamics In Nonequilibrium Systems

Many exciting frontiers of science and engineering require understanding the spatiotemporal properties of sustained nonequilibrium systems such as fluids, plasmas, reacting and diffusing chemicals, crystals solidifying from a melt, heart muscle, and networks of excitable neurons in brains. This introductory textbook for graduate students in biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics provides a systematic account of the basic science common to these diverse areas. This book provides a careful pedagogical motivation of key concepts, discusses why diverse nonequilibrium systems often show similar patterns and dynamics, and gives a balanced discussion of the role of experiments, simulation, and analytics. It contains numerous worked examples and over 150 exercises. This book will also interest scientists who want to learn about the experiments, simulations, and theory that explain how complex patterns form in sustained nonequilibrium systems.

Account of how complex patterns form in sustained nonequilibrium systems; for graduate students in biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

The basic aim of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "New Trends in Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern-Forming Phenomena: The Geometry of Nonequilibrium" was to bring together researchers from various areas of physics to review and explore new ideas regarding the organisation of systems driven far from equilibrium. Such systems are characterized by a close relationship between broken spatial and tempo ral symmetries. The main topics of interest included pattern formation in chemical systems, materials and convection, traveling waves in binary fluids and liquid crystals, defects and their role in the disorganisa tion of structures, spatio-temporal intermittency, instabilities and large-scale vortices in open flows, the mathematics of non-equilibrium systems, turbulence, and last but not least growth phenomena. Written contributions from participants have been grouped into chapters addressing these different areas. For additional clarity, the first chapter on pattern formation has been subdivided into sections. One of the main concerns was to focus on the unifying features between these diverse topics. The various scientific communities repre sented were encouraged to discuss and compare their approach so as to mutually benefit their respective fields. We hope that, to a large degree, these goals have been met and we thank all the participants for their efforts. The workshop was held in Cargese (Corsica, France) at the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques from August 2nd to August 12th, 1988. We greatly thank Yves Pomeau and Daniel Walgraef who, as members of the organising committee, gave us valuable advice and encouragements.

Spontaneous pattern formation in nonlinear dissipative systems far from equilibrium occurs in a variety of settings in nature and technology, and has applications ranging from nonlinear optics through solid and fluid mechanics, physical chemistry and chemical engineering to biology. This book explores the forefront of current research, describing in-depth the analytical methods that elucidate the complex evolution of nonlinear dissipative systems.

This book is devoted to the study of evolution of nonequilibrium systems. Such a system usually consists of regions with different dominant scales, which coexist in the space-time where the system lives. In the case of high nonuniformity in special direction, one can see patterns separated by clearly distinguishable boundaries or interfaces. The author considers several examples of nonequilibrium systems. One of the examples describes the invasion of the solid phase into the liquidphase during the crystallization process. Another example is the transition from oxidized to reduced states in certain chemical reactions. An easily understandable example of the transition in the temporal direction is a sound beat, and the author describes typical patterns associated with thisphenomenon. The main goal of the book is to present a mathematical approach to the study of highly nonuniform systems and to illustrate it with examples from physics and chemistry. The two main theories discussed are the theory of singular perturbations and the theory of dissipative systems. A set of carefully selected examples of physical and chemical systems nicely illustrates the general methods described in the book.

Spirals, vortices, crystalline lattices, and other attractive patterns are prevalent in Nature. How do such beautiful patterns appear from the initial chaos? What universal dynamical rules are responsible for their formation? What is the dynamical origin of spatial disorder in nonequilibrium media? Based on the many visual experiments in physics, hydrodynamics, chemistry, and biology, this invaluable book answers those and related intriguing questions. The mathematical models presented for the dynamical theory of pattern formation are nonlinear partial differential equations. The corresponding theory is not so accessible to a wide audience. Consequently, the authors have made every attempt to synthesize long and complex mathematical calculations to exhibit the underlying physics. The book will be useful for final year undergraduates, but is primarily aimed at graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and others interested in the puzzling phenomena of pattern formation. Contents:Patterns: Prelude to a Dynamical DescriptionLinear Stage of Pattern FormationModel EquationsThe Ginzburg–Landau Equation‘Crystal’ FormationQuasicrystalsBreaking of OrderLocalized PatternsSpiralsPatterns in Oscillating Soap FilmsPatterns in Colonies of MicroorganismsSpatial DisorderPatterns in Chaotic MediaEpilogue: Living Matter and Dynamic FormsA Short Guide to Nonlinear DynamicsKey Experiments in Pattern Formation Readership: Graduate students of mathematical physics and nonlinear science. Keywords:Quasicrystals;Disordered Patterns;Defects;Spirals;Turbulence;Synchronization;Convection;Capillary Waves;Chaotic Dynamics;Biological PatternsReviews: “This beautifully illustrated book brings together a remarkable array of pattern-forming phenomena … The authors have assembled an impressive collection of striking photographs and computer-generated images, and the book would be worth buying for this alone … the Appendix describing key experiments is a highlight. Here the authors outline the historical development of experiments in parametrically-excited patterns, thermal convection and diffusive chemical reactions.” UK Nonlinear News “This book contains a very impressive account of key ideas and results in nonlinear dynamics and an equally excellent description of important experiments in pattern formation … readers can gain quite comprehensive knowledge about all possible patterns and their mathematical theories by reading a single chapter, coupled with Appendix I.” Mathematical Reviews

The basic aim of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "New Trends in Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern-Forming Phenomena: The Geometry of Nonequilibrium" was to bring together researchers from various areas of physics to review and explore new ideas regarding the organisation of systems driven far from equilibrium. Such systems are characterized by a close relationship between broken spatial and tempo ral symmetries. The main topics of interest included pattern formation in chemical systems, materials and convection, traveling waves in binary fluids and liquid crystals, defects and their role in the disorganisa tion of structures, spatio-temporal intermittency, instabilities and large-scale vortices in open flows, the mathematics of non-equilibrium systems, turbulence, and last but not least growth phenomena. Written contributions from participants have been grouped into chapters addressing these different areas. For additional clarity, the first chapter on pattern formation has been subdivided into sections. One of the main concerns was to focus on the unifying features between these diverse topics. The various scientific communities repre sented were encouraged to discuss and compare their approach so as to mutually benefit their respective fields. We hope that, to a large degree, these goals have been met and we thank all the participants for their efforts. The workshop was held in Cargese (Corsica, France) at the Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques from August 2nd to August 12th, 1988. We greatly thank Yves Pomeau and Daniel Walgraef who, as members of the organising committee, gave us valuable advice and encouragements.

We present examples of familiar phenomena found in nonequilibrium systems, including oscillatory phenomena, order-formation processes, and pattern formation. In particular, we introduce commonly used mathematical methods to analyze their characteristics. First, we present oscillations described by the Lotka–Volterra and van der Pol equations, the Brusselator, the Oregonator, and relaxation oscillations as examples of oscillatory phenomena. Second, we investigate the order-formation process in colloidal crystals and present an experimental observation of 2D array formation. Third, we demonstrate pattern formation in crystals on the basis of the Mullins–Sekerka instability, and in chemical and biological systems on the basis of the Turing instability. In particular, we describe the optical properties and development of sophisticated structural patterns that directly interact with light. Finally, we briefly describe a theoretical phase-transition analogy that might clarify the concept of order formation in nonequilibrium systems.