Dynamics of Self-Organized and Self-Assembled Structures

Physical and biological systems driven out of equilibrium may spontaneously evolve to form spatial structures. In some systems molecular constituents may self-assemble to produce complex ordered structures. This book describes how such pattern formation processes occur and how they can be modeled. Experimental observations are used to introduce the diverse systems and phenomena leading to pattern formation. The physical origins of various spatial structures are discussed, and models for their formation are constructed. In contrast to many treatments, pattern-forming processes in nonequilibrium systems are treated in a coherent fashion. The book shows how near-equilibrium and far-from-equilibrium modeling concepts are often combined to describe physical systems. This inter-disciplinary book can form the basis of graduate courses in pattern formation and self-assembly. It is a useful reference for graduate students and researchers in a number of disciplines, including condensed matter science, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, chemical biophysics, materials science, and engineering.

Author: Rashmi C. Desai, Raymond Kapral
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 03/26/2009
Pages: 344
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.80lbs
Size: 9.70h x 6.80w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780521883610

About the Author
Desai, Rashmi C.: - Rashmi C. Desai is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Toronto.Kapral, Raymond: - Raymond Kapral is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Toronto.