The book gives up-to-date information on slow dynamics in complex systems, such as polymers, emulsions, colloidal suspensions, glass-forming liquids, etc., many of which exhibit glass transitions. It contains review articles by leading scientists and contributed papers by authors at the forefront of research. Experiments along with theories and computer simulations are emphasized.

This book gives up-to-date information on the liquid-glass transition in various disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, polymer science, and computer science. The book contains review articles by leading scientists and contributed papers by authors in the forefront of research. The systems studied covered almost all states of matter including solids, liquids, complex solutions, polymers, and suspensions. Significant progress was made on a variety of topics. Among these were experimental and theoretical studies of colloidal systems; experiments on glass to glass transitions in micellar systems; theoretical studies of polyelectrolytes and polymer melts and networks; theoretical and computer studies of hydrodynamics in suspensions and Rayleigh-Taylor and Rayleigh-Couette instabilities; theoretical and experimental studies of the glass transition; computer simulations of the glass transition in thin films; vibrational motions in glass forming liquids and glasses; the effects of shear on supercooled liquids; engineering and experimental studies of metallic glasses; mode-coupling studies of complex glass formation; and Lorentz gas studies of the translational and rotational motion of a rigid rod.

Arising out of the growing interest in and applications of modern dynamical systems theory, this book explores how to derive relatively simple dynamical equations that model complex physical interactions. The author?s objectives are to use sound theory to explore algebraic techniques, develop interesting applications, and discover general modeling principles. Model Emergent Dynamics in Complex Systems unifies into one powerful and coherent approach the many varied extant methods for mathematical model reduction and approximation. Using mathematical models at various levels of resolution and complexity, the book establishes the relationships between such multiscale models and clarifying difficulties and apparent paradoxes and addresses model reduction for systems, resolves initial conditions, and illuminates control and uncertainty. The basis for the author?s methodology is the theory and the geometric picture of both coordinate transforms and invariant manifolds in dynamical systems; in particular, center and slow manifolds are heavily used. The wonderful aspect of this approach is the range of geometric interpretations of the modeling process that it produces?simple geometric pictures inspire sound methods of analysis and construction. Further, pictures drawn of state spaces also provide a route to better assess a model?s limitations and strengths. Geometry and algebra form a powerful partnership and coordinate transforms and manifolds provide a powerfully enhanced and unified view of a swathe of other complex system modeling methodologies such as averaging, homogenization, multiple scales, singular perturbations, two timing, and WKB theory.

This book aims to develop models and modeling techniques that are useful when applied to all complex systems. It adopts both analytic tools and computer simulation. The book is intended for students and researchers with a variety of backgrounds.

Dynamical evolution over long time scales is a prominent feature of all the systems we intuitively think of as complex — for example, ecosystems, the brain or the economy. In physics, the term ageing is used for this type of slow change, occurring over time scales much longer than the patience, or indeed the lifetime, of the observer. The main focus of this book is on the stochastic processes which cause ageing, and the surprising fact that the ageing dynamics of systems which are very different at the microscopic level can be treated in similar ways.The first part of this book provides the necessary mathematical and computational tools and the second part describes the intuition needed to deal with these systems. Some of the first few chapters have been covered in several other books, but the emphasis and selection of the topics reflect both the authors' interests and the overall theme of the book. The second part contains an introduction to the scientific literature and deals in some detail with the description of complex phenomena of a physical and biological nature, for example, disordered magnetic materials, superconductors and glasses, models of co-evolution in ecosystems and even of ant behaviour. These heterogeneous topics are all dealt with in detail using similar analytical techniques.This book emphasizes the unity of complex dynamics and provides the tools needed to treat a large number of complex systems of current interest. The ideas and the approach to complex dynamics it presents have not appeared in book form until now./a

This book contains the contributions presented at the international workshop "The Dynamics of Complex Urban Systems: an interdisciplinary approach" held in Ascona, Switzerland in November 2004. Experts from several disciplines outline a conceptual framework for modeling and forecasting the dynamics of both growth-limited cities and megacities. Coverage reflects the various interdependencies between structural and social development.

This book presents a theory as well as methods to understand and to purposively influence complex systems. It suggests a theory of complex systems as nested systems, i. e. systems that enclose other systems and that are simultaneously enclosed by even other systems. According to the theory presented, each enclosing system emerges through time from the generative activities of the systems they enclose. Systems are nested and often emerge unplanned, and every system of high dynamics is enclosed by a system of slower dynamics. An understanding of systems with faster dynamics, which are always guided by systems of slower dynamics, opens up not only new ways to understanding systems, but also to effectively influence them. The aim and subject of this book is to lay out these thoughts and explain their relevance to the purposive development of complex systems, which are exemplified in case studies from an urban system. The interested reader, who is not required to be familiar with system-theoretical concepts or with theories of emergence, will be guided through the development of a theory of emergent nested systems. The reader will also learn about new ways to influence the course of events - even though the course of events is, in principle, unpredictable, due to the ever-new emergence of real novelty.