The discipline of nonlinear dynamics has developed explosively in all areas of physics. This comprehensive primer summarizes the main developments in the mathematical theory of dynamical systems, chaos, pattern formation and complexity. An introduction to mathematical concepts and techniques is given in the first part of the book, before being applied to stellar, interstellar, galactic and large scale complex phenomena in the Universe. Regev demonstrates the possible application of ideas including strange attractors, Poincaré sections, fractals, bifurcations, and complex spatial patterns, to specific astrophysical problems. This self-contained text will appeal to a broad audience of astrophysicists and astronomers who wish to understand and apply modern dynamical approaches to the problems they are working on. It provides researchers and graduate students with the investigative tools they need to fully explore chaotic and complex phenomena.
Review of the hardback:'There are countless books on dynamical systems, chaos, nonlinear dynamics, and so on, but this is the best for the all-round astrophysicist. It is not a straight-laced textbook or a how-to manual, but a good-natured guidebook to the literature. … you will end up much better educated, learning lots of facts and insights into a wide range of topics from Liapounov indicators to the theory of turbulence. … Without eschewing deep results, the book is as readable as a novel, and like any decent novel, deserves to be read from cover to cover …'
Source: The Observatory
Loading metrics...
* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.
Usage data cannot currently be displayed.
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.
Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.