Originally published in 1991, this book, based on the 1989 Beg-Rohu summer school, contains six sets of pedagogical lectures by internationally respected researchers on the statistical physics of crystal growth. Providing a course in which the phenomena of shape and growth are viewed from a fresh vantage point, the lectures cover a variety of developments in the field and reflect on problems that have received inadequate attention. Statistical physicists, condensed matter physicists, metallurgists, and applied mathematicians will find this a stimulating and valuable book on an important topic.

The article by Fulde, Thalmeier and Zwicknagl traces many of the recent developments in the field of strongly correlated many electron systems. It is very useful both as a reference and a pedagogical exposition since it places these developments into a historical context beginning with early developments in the electron theory of solids. The second article in this volume, by Bréchet and Hutchinson, concerns pattern formation in metals and alloys. Spontaneous pattern formation is the development of a regularity, either in the spatial distribution of the material in a system or in its development in time, of a lower symmetry than that of its cause. These phenomena have been of considerable interest to the non-linear physics community, in particular in fluid dynamics and in chemical reactions.- Continuation of prestigious serial - Covers cutting edge research and topics in solid state physics- Studies strongly correlated electron systems and pattern formation in metal and alloys

This series of books covers all areas of computational physics, collecting together reviews where a newcomer can learn about the state of the art regarding methods and results.The present volume emphasizes simulations of specific materials (polymers, water, and amphiphilic systems), and then discusses surfaces, percolation, and critical slowing-down. Also emphasized is complex optimization, such as spin glasses, simulated annealing, and the graph colouring problem.

"Digital computer simulation helps study phenomena of great complexity, but how much do we know about the limits and possibilities of this new scientific practice? How do simulations compare to traditional experiments? And are they reliable? Scrutinizing these issues with a philosophical lens, Eric Winsberg explores the impact of simulation on such issues as the nature of scientific evidence, the role of values in science, the nature and role of fictions in science, and the relationship between simulation and experiment, theories and data, and theories at different levels of description"--Cover.

This book examines the historical roots and evolution of simulation from an epistemological, institutional and technical perspective. Rich case studies go far beyond documentation of simulation’s capacity for application in many domains; they also explore the "functional" and "structural" debate that continues to traverse simulation thought and action. This book is an essential contribution to the assessment of simulation as scientific instrument.

Used widely in courses and frequently sought as a reference, this 2-volume work features comprehensive coverage of its subject. Volume 1 examines the fundamental theory of equilibrium properties of perfect crystalline solids. Volume 2 addresses non-equilibrium properties, defects, and disordered systems. 1973 edition.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the fact that a crystal can take a variety of external forms is something we have come to understand only in the last few decades. This is due to recent developments in theoretical and experimental investigations of crystal growth mechanisms. Morphology of Crystals is divided into three separately available volumes. Part A contains chapters on roughening transition; equilibrium form; step pattern theory; modern PBC; and surface microtopography. This part provides essentially theoretical treatments of the problem, particularly the solid-liquid interface. Part B contains chapters on ultra-fine particles; minerals; transition from polyhedral to dendrite; theory of dendrite; and snow crystals. All chapters are written by world leaders in their respective areas, and some can be seen as representing the essence of a life's work. This is the first English-language work which covers all aspects of the morphology of crystals - a topic which has attracted top scientific minds for centuries. As such, it is indispensable for anyone seeking an answer to a question relating to this fascinating problem: mineralogists, petrologists, crystallographers, materials scientists, workers in solid-state physics and chemistry, etc. In Parts A: Fundamentals and B: Fine Particles, Minerals and Snow equilibrium and kinetic properties of crystals are generally approached from an `atomistic' point of view. In contrast, Part C: The Geometry of Crystal Growth follows the alternative and complementary `geometrical' description, where bulk phases are considered as continuous media and their interfaces as mathematical surfaces with orientation-dependent properties. Equations of motion for a crystal surface are expressed in terms of vector and tensor operators working on surface free energy and growth rate, both expressed as functions of surface orientation and driving force, or `affinity' for growth. This approach emphasizes the interrelation between equilibrium and kinetic behavior. Part 1 establishes the theoretical framework. Part 2 gives a construction toolbox for explicit (analytic) functions. An extra chapter is devoted to experimental techniques for measuring such functions: a new approach to sphere growth experiments. The emphasis throughout is on principles and new concepts. Audience: Advanced readers familiar with traditional aspects of crystal growth theory. Can be used as the basis for an advanced course, provided supplementation is provided in the areas of atomistic models of the advancing surface, diffusion fields, etc.