This book aims to provide a lively working knowledge of the thermodynamic control of microscopic simulations, while summarizing the historical development of the subject, along with some personal reminiscences. Many computational examples are described so that they are well-suited to learning by doing. The contents enhance the current understanding of the reversibility paradox and are accessible to advanced undergraduates and researchers in physics, computation, and irreversible thermodynamics.

This book aims to provide a lively working knowledge of the thermodynamic control of microscopic simulations, while summarizing the historical development of the subject, along with some personal reminiscences. Many computational examples are described so that they are well-suited to learning by doing. The contents enhance the current understanding of the reversibility paradox and are accessible to advanced undergraduates and researchers in physics, computation, and irreversible thermodynamics.

This book aims to provide an example-based education in numerical methods for atomistic and continuum simulations of systems at and away from equilibrium. The focus is on nonequilibrium systems, stressing the use of tools from dynamical systems theory for their analysis. Lyapunov instability and fractal dimensionality are introduced and algorithms for their analysis are detailed. The book is intended to be self-contained and accessible to students who are comfortable with calculus and differential equations.The wide range of topics covered will provide students, researchers and academics with effective tools for formulating and solving interesting problems, both atomistic and continuum. The detailed description of the use of thermostats to control nonequilibrium systems will help readers in writing their own programs rather than being saddled with packaged software.

The book explores several open questions in the philosophy and the foundations of statistical mechanics. Each chapter is written by a leading expert in philosophy of physics and/or mathematical physics. Here is a list of questions that are addressed in the book:

This book highlights the latest findings on nonlinear dynamical systems including two types of attractors: self-excited and hidden attractors. Further, it presents both theoretical and practical approaches to investigating nonlinear dynamical systems with self-excited and hidden attractors. The book includes 20 chapters contributed by respected experts, which focus on various applications such as biological systems, memristor-based systems, fractional-order systems, finance systems, business cycles, oscillators, coupled systems, hyperchaotic systems, flexible robot manipulators, electronic circuits, and control models. Special attention is given to modeling, design, circuit realization, and practical applications to address recent research problems in nonlinear dynamical systems. The book provides a valuable reference guide to nonlinear dynamical systems for engineers, researchers, and graduate students, especially those whose work involves mechanics, electrical engineering, and control systems.

Contents:Acknowledgements Foreword (Lt. Ervin J. Rokke)Preface (Davis S. Alberts and Thomas Czerwinski)SETTING THE SCENEThe Simple and the Complex (Murray Gell-Mann)America in the World Today (Zbigniew Brzezinski)COMPLEXITY THEORY and NATIONAL SECURITY POLICYComplex Systems: The Role of Interactions (Robert Jervis)Many Damn Things Simultaneously: Complexity Theory and World Affairs (James N. Rosenau)Complexity, Chaos, and National Security Policy: Metaphors or Tools? (Alvin M. Saperstein)The Reaction to Chaos (Steven R. Mann)COMPLEXITY THEORY, STRATEGY, and OPERATIONSClausewitz, Nonlinearity, and the Importance of Imagery (Alan D. Beyerchen)Complexity and Organization Management (Robert R. Maxfield)Command and (Out of) Control: The Military Implications of Complexity Theory (John F. Schmitt)Complexity Theory and Air Power (Steven M. Rinaldi)Chaos Theory and U. S. Military Strategy: A "Leapfrog" Strategy for U.S. Defense Policy (Michael J. Mazarr)Contributors EditorsBibliography

Modern technological, biological, and socioeconomic systems are extremely complex. The study of such systems largely relies on the concepts of competition and cooperation (synchronization). The main approaches to the study of nonlinear dynamics of complex systems are now associated with models of collective dynamics of networks and ensembles, formed by interacting dynamical elements.Unfortunately, the applicability of analytical and qualitative methods of nonlinear dynamics to such complex systems is severely restricted due to the high dimension of phase space. Therefore, studying the simplest models of networks, which are ensembles with a small number of elements, becomes of particular interest. Such models allow to make use of the entire spectrum of analytical, qualitative, and numerical methods of nonlinear dynamics. This book is devoted to the investigation of a kind of such systems, namely small ensembles of coupled, phase-controlled oscillators. Both traditional issues, like synchronization, that are relevant for applications in radio-communications, radio-location, energy, etc., and nontraditional issues of excitation of chaotic oscillations and their possible application in advanced communication systems are addressed.

Robust chaos is defined by the absence of periodic windows and coexisting attractors in some neighborhoods in the parameter space of a dynamical system. This unique book explores the definition, sources, and roles of robust chaos. The book is written in a reasonably self-contained manner and aims to provide students and researchers with the necessary understanding of the subject. Most of the known results, experiments, and conjectures about chaos in general and about robust chaos in particular are collected here in a pedagogical form. Many examples of dynamical systems, ranging from purely mathematical to natural and social processes displaying robust chaos, are discussed in detail. At the end of each chapter is a set of exercises and open problems intended to reinforce the ideas and provide additional experiences for both readers and researchers in nonlinear science in general, and chaos theory in particular.

This book presents a collection of problems for nonlinear dynamics, chaos theory and fractals. Besides the solved problems, supplementary problems are also added. Each chapter contains an introduction with suitable definitions and explanations to tackle the problems.The material is self-contained, and the topics range in difficulty from elementary to advanced. While students can learn important principles and strategies required for problem solving, lecturers will also find this text useful, either as a supplement or text, since concepts and techniques are developed in the problems.