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The Nonlinear Universe

Chaos, Emergence, Life

  • Book
  • © 2007

Overview

Authors:
  1. Alwyn C. Scott

    1. Tucson, USA

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  • Easy to follow and fun to read
  • Written by a pioneer of nonlinear dynamics
  • Complete overview of nonlinear phenomena
  • New directions feature strongly
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: The Frontiers Collection (FRONTCOLL)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XIV
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  2. Introduction

    Pages 1-18

  3. Chaos

    Pages 19-41

  4. Solitons

    Pages 43-61

  5. Nerve Pulses and Reaction-Diffusion Systems

    Pages 63-77

  6. The Unity of Nonlinear Science

    Pages 79-100

  7. Physical Applications of Nonlinear Theory

    Pages 101-179

  8. Nonlinear Biology

    Pages 181-276

  9. Reductionism and Life

    Pages 277-301

  10. Epilogue

    Pages 303-305

  11. Back Matter

    Pages 307-365
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Keywords

About this book

It has been suggested that the big questions of science are answered – that science has entered a “twilight age” where all the important knowledge is known and only the details need mopping up. And yet, the unprecedented progress in science and technology in the twentieth century has raised qu- tions that weren’t conceived of a century ago. This book argues that, far from being nearlycomplete, the storyof sciencehas many morechapters,yet unwritten. With the perspective of the century’s advance, it’s as if we have climbed a mountain and can see just how much broader the story is. Instead of asking how an apple falls from a tree, as Isaac Newton did in the17thcentury,wecannowask:Whatisthefundamentalnatureofanapple (matter)? How does an apple (biological organism) form and grow? Whence came the breeze that blew it loose (meteorology)? What in a physical sense (synaptic ?rings) was the idea that Newton had, and how did it form? A new approach to science that can answer such questions has sprung up in the past 30 years. This approach – known as nonlinear science–ismore than a new ?eld. Put simply, it is the recognition that throughout nature, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Unexpected things happen.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"The book begins with an engaging outline of the history of nonlinear science, followed by chapters on its main aspects, namely, chaos, solitons, and reaction-diffusion systems. … The book charms with historical and personal vignettes. The bibliography contains 1,087, mostly referenced, entries. … it is a must read for anyone in or near nonlinear science. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty." (J. Mayer, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (9), 2008)

"Alwyn Scott (1931-2007) completed this summary of his life’s study in December 2006 … . This history book wonderfully summarizes ideas that were so important to him in a way that is largely accessible to ‘general readers who would understand science and for university undergraduates who would become researchers in or teachers of science.’ It also displays his humanity, charm, and broad-reaching interests and knowledge." (Robert E. O’Malley, SIAM Review, Vol. 50 (2), 2008)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Tucson, USA

    Alwyn C. Scott

About the author

One of the pioneers in the area, Alwyn Scott entered nonlinear science as a teacher and researcher after completing his doctoral work at MIT in the late 1950s. His research, both experimental and theoretical, has addressed a wide range of topics from nonlinear laser optics to neuroscience. In 1981, Scott was selected as the founding director of the Center for Nonlinear Studies at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was also a founding editor of Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, the first journal devoted exclusively to the area. His other books include Neuroscience: A Mathematical Primer (Springer, New York) and Nonlinear Science: Emergence and Dynamics of Coherent Structures (Oxford University Press) and he served as editor of the recently published Encyclopedia of Nonlinear Science (Routledge). He completed 'The Nonlinear Universe' shortly before his untimely death in January 2007.

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