This book considers the behavior of fluids in a low-gravity environment (e.g. spacecraft) with special emphasis on application in PMD (propellant management device) systems. Since PMD designs are not testable on ground and thus completely rely on analytical or numerical concepts, this book treats three different flow problems with analytical, numerical and experimental means. These problems are linked together by the same set of equations and boundary conditions.

This book considers the behavior of fluids in a low-gravity environment (e.g. spacecraft) with special emphasis on application in PMD (propellant management device) systems. Since PMD designs are not testable on ground and thus completely rely on analytical or numerical concepts, this book treats three different flow problems with analytical, numerical and experimental means. These problems are linked together by the same set of equations and boundary conditions.

The emission of electrons from solid surfaces bombarded by slow neutral and ionized heavy particles (atoms, molecules) is reviewed both theoretically and in the light of recent experimental studies by leading groups in the field. The book integrates physics of ion beams, surfaces and chemical physics, and serves both as a reference work for researchers and a textbook for graduate students.

In the last two decades remarkable progress has been made in understanding and describing tunneling processes in complex systems in terms of classical trajectories. This book introduces recent concepts and achievements with particular emphasis on a dynamical formulation and relations to specific systems in mesoscopic, molecular, and atomic physics. Advanced instanton techniques, e.g. for decay rates and tunnel splittings, are discussed in the first part. The second part covers current developments for wave-packet tunneling in real-time, and the third part describes thermodynamics and dynamical approaches for barrier transmission in statistical, particularly dissipative systems.

The intent of this book is to report on the electrical, optical, and structural properties of silver and gold films in dependence on substrate material, annealing treatment, and gas adsorption. A main point is the calculation of the scattering cross section of the conduction electrons. All results are substantiated by extended experimental data, as well as numerous illustrations and tables.

The book describes the modern theory of light hydrogen-like systems. The discussion is based on quantum electrodynamics. Green's functions, relativistic bound-state equations and Feynman diagrams are extensively used. New theoretical approaches are described and explained. The book contains derivation of many theoretical results obtained in recent years. A complete set of all theoretical results for the energy levels of hydrogen-like bound states is presented.

Rotating Thermal Flows in Natural and Industrial Processes provides the reader with a systematic description of the different types of thermal convection and flow instabilities in rotating systems, as present in materials, crystal growth, thermal engineering, meteorology, oceanography, geophysics and astrophysics. It expressly shows how the isomorphism between small and large scale phenomena becomes beneficial to the definition and ensuing development of an integrated comprehensive framework. This allows the reader to understand and assimilate the underlying, quintessential mechanisms without requiring familiarity with specific literature on the subject. Topics treated in the first part of the book include: Thermogravitational convection in rotating fluids (from laminar to turbulent states); Stably stratified and unstratified shear flows; Barotropic and baroclinic instabilities; Rossby waves and Centrifugally-driven convection; Potential Vorticity, Quasi-Geostrophic Theory and related theorems; The dynamics of interacting vortices, interacting waves and mixed (hybrid) vortex-wave states; Geostrophic Turbulence and planetary patterns. The second part is entirely devoted to phenomena of practical interest, i.e. subjects relevant to the realms of industry and technology, among them: Surface-tension-driven convection in rotating fluids; Differential-rotation-driven (forced) flows; Crystal Growth from the melt of oxide or semiconductor materials; Directional solidification; Rotating Machinery; Flow control by Rotating magnetic fields; Angular Vibrations and Rocking motions; Covering a truly prodigious range of scales, from atmospheric and oceanic processes and fluid motion in "other solar-system bodies", to convection in its myriad manifestations in a variety of applications of technological relevance, this unifying text is an ideal reference for physicists and engineers, as well as an important resource for advanced students taking courses on the physics of fluids, fluid mechanics, thermal, mechanical and materials engineering, environmental phenomena, meteorology and geophysics.

The book covers selected problems in free surface flows. The topics range from linear and nonlinear gravity and capillary waves, thin film dynamics, equilibrium shape, stability, and dynamics of capillary surfaces to thermal Marangoni effects in several geometries. The fluid dynamical problems are supplemented by a review Eulerian based computational methods.

Landslides and debris flows belong to the most dangerous natural hazards in many parts of the world. Despite intensive research, these events continue to result in human suffering, property losses, and environmental degradation every year. Better understanding of the mechanisms and processes of landslides and debris flows will help make reliable predictions, develop mitigation strategies and reduce vulnerability of infrastructure. This book presents contributions to the workshop on Recent Developments in the Analysis, Monitoring and Forecast of Landslides and Debris Flow, in Vienna, Austria, September 9, 2013. The contributions cover a broad spectrum of topics from material behavior, physical modelling over numerical simulation to applications and case studies. The workshop is a joint event of three research projects funded by the European Commission within the 7th Framework Program: MUMOLADE (Multiscale modelling of landslides and debris flows, www.mumolade.com), REVENUES (Numerical Analysis of Slopes with Vegetations, http://www.revenues-eu.com) and HYDRODRIL (Integrated Risk Assessment of Hydrologically-Driven Landslides, www.boku.ac.at/igt/).