The first complete proof of Arnold diffusion—one of the most important problems in dynamical systems and mathematical physics Arnold diffusion, which concerns the appearance of chaos in classical mechanics, is one of the most important problems in the fields of dynamical systems and mathematical physics. Since it was discovered by Vladimir Arnold in 1963, it has attracted the efforts of some of the most prominent researchers in mathematics. The question is whether a typical perturbation of a particular system will result in chaotic or unstable dynamical phenomena. In this groundbreaking book, Vadim Kaloshin and Ke Zhang provide the first complete proof of Arnold diffusion, demonstrating that that there is topological instability for typical perturbations of five-dimensional integrable systems (two and a half degrees of freedom). This proof realizes a plan John Mather announced in 2003 but was unable to complete before his death. Kaloshin and Zhang follow Mather's strategy but emphasize a more Hamiltonian approach, tying together normal forms theory, hyperbolic theory, Mather theory, and weak KAM theory. Offering a complete, clean, and modern explanation of the steps involved in the proof, and a clear account of background material, this book is designed to be accessible to students as well as researchers. The result is a critical contribution to mathematical physics and dynamical systems, especially Hamiltonian systems.

Dynamical systems that are amenable to formulation in terms of a Hamiltonian function or operator encompass a vast swath of fundamental cases in applied mathematics and physics. This carefully edited volume represents work carried out during the special program on Hamiltonian Systems at MSRI in the Fall of 2018. Topics covered include KAM theory, polygonal billiards, Arnold diffusion, quantum hydrodynamics, viscosity solutions of the Hamilton–Jacobi equation, surfaces of locally minimal flux, Denjoy subsystems and horseshoes, and relations to symplectic topology.

This book contains a collection of survey papers by leading researchers in ergodic theory, low-dimensional and topological dynamics and it comprises nine chapters on a range of important topics. These include: the role and usefulness of ultrafilters in ergodic theory, topological dynamics and Ramsey theory; topological aspects of kneading theory together with an analogous 2-dimensional theory called pruning; the dynamics of Markov odometers, Bratteli-Vershik diagrams and orbit equivalence of non-singular automorphisms; geometric proofs of Mather's connecting and accelerating theorems; recent results in one dimensional smooth dynamics; periodic points of nonexpansive maps; arithmetic dynamics; the defect of factor maps; entropy theory for actions of countable amenable groups.

This is a semi-popular mathematics book aimed at a broad readership of mathematically literate scientists, especially mathematicians and physicists who are not experts in classical mechanics or KAM theory, and scientific-minded readers. Parts of the book should also appeal to less mathematically trained readers with an interest in the history or philosophy of science.The scope of the book is broad: it not only describes KAM theory in some detail, but also presents its historical context (thus showing why it was a “breakthrough”). Also discussed are applications of KAM theory (especially to celestial mechanics and statistical mechanics) and the parts of mathematics and physics in which KAM theory resides (dynamical systems, classical mechanics, and Hamiltonian perturbation theory).Although a number of sources on KAM theory are now available for experts, this book attempts to fill a long-standing gap at a more descriptive level. It stands out very clearly from existing publications on KAM theory because it leads the reader through an accessible account of the theory and places it in its proper context in mathematics, physics, and the history of science.

"This book is a testament to the intimate, mutual embrace of mathematics and physics. It achieves that by telling the story of an historical event of tremendous impact upon society, both spiritually and technically - the mid-19th century construction of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable, which reduced the time to send a message across the ocean from weeks to minutes. The story of the cable actually begins decades earlier, at the start of the century, with the French mathematical physicist Joseph Fourier's development of the mathematics that the Scottish physicist William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) would use to analyze the electrical physics of the cable. The story of Fourier opens the book, that of Thomson completes it, and in-between the reader will learn how to derive Fourier's second-order partial differential equation for the flow of heat energy in matter, how Fourier solved the heat equation, how Thomson used Fourier's solutions to calculate the age of the Earth (imagined to be the result of the of an initially molten sphere of blinding brilliance) and, finally, how Thomson showed that the heat equation also describes the Atlantic cable. An epilogue describing the post-Thomson developments completes the book. All readers who have completed first courses at the level of AP-calculus and AP-physics will be able to read this book. This is a perhaps surprising feature of the book, as the mathematics discussed is normally not encountered until the second year (or even later) of college-level work. This book shows that, in fact, the technical material is fully graspable by a college freshman. Unlike a pure technical book, readers will also find a lot of fascinating history in this book (including the bizarre story of how the English novelist Charles Dickens used the Atlantic cable to send a coded message - during his 1867 American reading tour - to avoid a career-damaging scandal concerning his mistress)"--

Fluid mechanics is one of the greatest accomplishments of classical physics. The Navier-Stokes equations, first derived in the eighteenth century, serve as an accurate mathematical model with which to describe the flow of a broad class of real fluids. Not only is the subject of interest to mathematicians and physicists, but it is also indispensable to mechanical, aeronautical, and chemical engineers, who have to apply the equations to real-world examples, such as the flow of air around an aircraft wing or the motion of liquid droplets in a suspension. In this book, which first appeared in a comprehensive collection of essays entitled The Theory of Laminar Flows (Princeton, 1964), P. A. Lagerstrom imparts the essential theoretical framework of laminar flows to the reader. A concise and elegant description, Lagerstrom's work remains a model piece of writing and has much to offer today's reader seeking an introduction to the flow of nonturbulent fluids. Beginning with the conservation laws that result in the equation of continuity, the Navier-Stokes equation, and the energy transport equation, Lagerstrom moves on to consider viscous waves, low Reynolds-number approximations such as Stokes flow and the Oseen equations, and then high Reynolds-number approximations that are used to describe boundary layers, jets, and wakes. Finally, he examines some compressibility effects, such as those that occur in the laminar boundary layer around a flat plate, both with and without a pressure gradient.

A brand-new conceptual look at dynamical thermodynamics This book merges the two universalisms of thermodynamics and dynamical systems theory in a single compendium, with the latter providing an ideal language for the former, to develop a new and unique framework for dynamical thermodynamics. In particular, the book uses system-theoretic ideas to bring coherence, clarity, and precision to an important and poorly understood classical area of science. The dynamical systems formalism captures all of the key aspects of thermodynamics, including its fundamental laws, while providing a mathematically rigorous formulation for thermodynamical systems out of equilibrium by unifying the theory of mechanics with that of classical thermodynamics. This book includes topics on nonequilibrium irreversible thermodynamics, Boltzmann thermodynamics, mass-action kinetics and chemical reactions, finite-time thermodynamics, thermodynamic critical phenomena with continuous and discontinuous phase transitions, information theory, continuum and stochastic thermodynamics, and relativistic thermodynamics. A Dynamical Systems Theory of Thermodynamics develops a postmodern theory of thermodynamics as part of mathematical dynamical systems theory. The book establishes a clear nexus between thermodynamic irreversibility, the second law of thermodynamics, and the arrow of time to further unify discreteness and continuity, indeterminism and determinism, and quantum mechanics and general relativity in the pursuit of understanding the most fundamental property of the universe—the entropic arrow of time.

The first comprehensive graduate-level introduction to stochastic thermodynamics Stochastic thermodynamics is a well-defined subfield of statistical physics that aims to interpret thermodynamic concepts for systems ranging in size from a few to hundreds of nanometers, the behavior of which is inherently random due to thermal fluctuations. This growing field therefore describes the nonequilibrium dynamics of small systems, such as artificial nanodevices and biological molecular machines, which are of increasing scientific and technological relevance. This textbook provides an up-to-date pedagogical introduction to stochastic thermodynamics, guiding readers from basic concepts in statistical physics, probability theory, and thermodynamics to the most recent developments in the field. Gradually building up to more advanced material, the authors consistently prioritize simplicity and clarity over exhaustiveness and focus on the development of readers’ physical insight over mathematical formalism. This approach allows the reader to grow as the book proceeds, helping interested young scientists to enter the field with less effort and to contribute to its ongoing vibrant development. Chapters provide exercises to complement and reinforce learning. Appropriate for graduate students in physics and biophysics, as well as researchers, Stochastic Thermodynamics serves as an excellent initiation to this rapidly evolving field. Emphasizes a pedagogical approach to the subject Highlights connections with the thermodynamics of information Pays special attention to molecular biophysics applications Privileges physical intuition over mathematical formalism Solutions manual available on request for instructors adopting the book in a course

Kinematical problems of both classical and quantum mechanics are considered in these lecture notes ranging from differential calculus to the application of one of Chernoff's theorems. Originally published in 1970. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.