The Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics of Open and Closed Systems

This is the first unified treatment of the properties of thermodynamically open and closed systems. It provides the theory and methodology that are necessary to understand nonlinear processes. The section on Classical Systems covers topics ranging from the evolution of probability to open and closed systems and non-Hamiltonian systems. The concluding section on Quantum Systems is equally detailed, treating the evolution of quantum systems, c-number fluctuations and operator fluctuations.

The material covered is applicable to weather systems, ocean currents, dye lasers and many other nonequilibrium systems. The text is also suitable for students in graduate course. Numerous physical chemical examples facilitate self-study.Verkaufsargumente:
1. Nichtlineare prozesse sind derzeit hochaktuell. Dieses Buch ent- halt die dafur notwendige Theorie und Methodologie 2. Die hier beschriebenen Sachverhalte sind anwendbar auf Wetter- systeme, Meeresstromungen, Farbstofflaser und viele andere Nicht-Gleichgewichtssysteme.
3. Interessant fur Physikochemiker, Physiker, Ingenieure und Angewandte Mathematiker.
4. Das Buch kann auch als Begleitbuch fur entsprechende Kurse und zum Selbststudium verwendet werden (viele Beispile aus der Physikalischen Chemie). Chapter 1 Introduction 1

PART I Classical Systems

Chapter 2 Evolution of Probability 18

Chapter 3 Open Systems 54

Chapter 4 Closed Systems (Hamiltonian Systems) 176

Chapter 5 Reduced Discriptions of Non-Hamiltonian Systems 233

PART II Quantum Systems

Chapter 6 Evolution of Quantum Systems 281

Chapter 7 Open Systems (c-Number Fluctuations) 291

Chapter 8 Closed Quantum Systems (Operator Fluctuations) 325

References 418

Author Index 433

Subject index 440

K. Lindenberg and B. J. West are the authors of The Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics of Open and Closed Systems, published by Wiley.