This book discusses the properties of quantized vortex lines in superfluid helium-4 in the light of research on vortices in modern fluid mechanics, and gives the first comprehensive treatment of the problem. The author's comprehensive approach will make this book invaluable for students taking advanced undergraduate or graduate courses, and for all those involved in research on classical and quantum vortices.

This book springs from the programme Quantized Vortex Dynamics and Sup- ?uid Turbulence held at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences (University of Cambridge) in August 2000. What motivated the programme was the recognition that two recent developments have moved the study of qu- tized vorticity, traditionally carried out within the low-temperature physics and condensed-matter physics communities, into a new era. The ?rst development is the increasing contact with classical ?uid dynamics and its ideas and methods. For example, some current experiments with - lium II now deal with very classical issues, such as the measurement of velocity spectra and turbulence decay rates. The evidence from these experiments and many others is that super?uid turbulence and classical turbulence share many features. The challenge is now to explain these similarities and explore the time scales and length scales over which they hold true. The observed classical aspects have also attracted attention to the role played by the ?ow of the normal ?uid, which was somewhat neglected in the past because of the lack of direct ?ow visualization. Increased computing power is also making it possible to study the coupled motion of super?uid vortices and normal ?uids. Another contact with classical physics arises through the interest in the study of super?uid vortex - connections. Reconnections have been studied for some time in the contexts of classical ?uid dynamics and magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD), and it is useful to learn from the experience acquired in other ?elds.

Topological quantum numbers are distinguished from quantum numbers based on symmetry because they are insensitive to the imperfections of the systems in which they are observed. They have become very important in precision measurements in recent years, and provide the best measurements of voltage and electrical resistance. This book describes the theory of such quantum numbers, starting with Dirac's argument for the quantization of electric charge, and continuing with discussions on the helium superfluids, flux quantization and the Josephson effect in superconductors, the quantum Hall effect, solids and liquid crystals, and topological phase transitions. The accompanying reprints include some of the classic experimental and theoretical papers in this area.Physicists — both experimental and theoretical — who are interested in the topic will find this book an invaluable reference.

One of the most spectacular consequences of the description of the superfluid condensate in superfluid He or in superconductors as a single macroscopic quantum state is the quantization of circulation, resulting in quantized vortex lines. This book draws no distinction between superfluid He3 and He4 and superconductors. The reader will find the essential introductory chapters and the most recent theoretical and experimental progress in our understanding of the vortex state in both superconductors and superfluids, from lectures given by leading experts in the field, both experimentalists and theoreticians, who gathered in Cargèse for a NATO ASI. The peculiar features related to short coherence lengths, 2D geometry, high temperatures, disorder, and pinning are thoroughly discussed.

This book provides an up-to-date overview of research articles in applied and industrial mathematics in Italy. This is done through the presentation of a number of investigations focusing on subjects as nonlinear optimization, life science, semiconductor industry, cultural heritage, scientific computing and others. This volume is important as it gives a report on modern applied and industrial mathematics, and will be of specific interest to the community of applied mathematicians. This book collects selected papers presented at the 9th Conference of SIMAI. The subjects discussed include image analysis methods, optimization problems, mathematics in the life sciences, differential models in applied mathematics, inverse problems, complex systems, innovative numerical methods and others. Sample Chapter(s). Chapter 1: Multichannel Wavelet Scheme for Color Image Processing (759 KB). Contents: Existence and Uniqueness for a Three Dimensional Model of Ferromagnetism (V Berti et al.); Wave Propagation in Continuously-Layered Electromagnetic Media (G Caviglia & A Morro); Mathematical Models for Biofilms on the Surface of Monuments (F Clarelli et al.); Conservation Laws with Unilateral Constraints in Traffic Modeling (R M Colombo et al.); On a Model for the Codiffusion of Isotopes (E Comparini et al.); Multiscale Models of Drug Delivery by Thin Implantable Devices (C D''Angelo & P Zunino); A Mathematical Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (G Dell''Acqua & F Castiglione); A Dissipative System Arising in Strain-Gradient Plasticity (L Giacomelli & G Tomassetti); Material Symmetry and Invariants for a 2D Fiber-Reinforced Network with Bending Stiffness (G Indelicato); Kinetic Treatment of Charge Carrier and Phonon Transport in Graphene (P Lichtenberger et al.); Mathematical Models and Numerical Simulation of Controlled Drug Release (S Minisini & L Formaggia); A Lattice Boltzmann Model on Unstructured Grids with Application in Hemodynamics (G Pontrelli et al.); Toward Analytical Contour Dynamics (G Riccardi & D Durante); Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of Ground Deformation in Volcanic Areas (D Scandura et al.); and other papers. Readership: Researchers in applied and computational mathematics.

This book draws together all the basic principles of vortex dynamics in neutral superfluids in one comprehensive volume.

The conceptofspontaneous symmetry breaking plays a fundamental role in contemporary physics. It is essential for the description of degenerate ground states, massless modes, and topological defects. Examples are abundant in condensed matter physics, atomic and particle physics, as well as in astro physics and cosmology. In fact, spontaneous symmetry breaking can be re garded as a cornerstone ofa whole branch ofphysics which intersects the above mentioned traditionally distinct fields. In the year 2000 the European Science Foundation (ESF) started the Pro gramme "Cosmology in the Laboratory" (COSLAB), with the goal to search for and to develop analogies betweencondensed matterphysics, particle physics, and cosmology. Not surprisingly, spontaneous symmetry breaking is among the most useful notions in that endeavour. It has been decided that in the sec ond year of the Programme a School should be held in order to work out and deliver to a wide audience of students synthetic overviews of achievements and of current research topics of COSLAB. This idea has been supported by the Scientific and Environmental Affairs Division of NATO by including the School in the renowned series of its Advanced Study Institutes. The School, entitled" Patterns of Symmetry Breaking", was held in Cracow during 16-28 September 2002. It gathered 17 lecturers and about 60 students. The present volume contains notes ofmost of the lectures from that School. We hope that of the physics of spon it will convey to the reader the breadth and the beauty taneous symmetry breaking.