The aim of this book is the pedagogical exploration of the basic principles of quantum-statistical thermodynamics as applied to various states of matter – ranging from rare gases to astrophysical matter with high-energy density. The reader will learn in this work that thermodynamics and quantum statistics are still the concepts on which even the most advanced research is operating - despite of a flood of modern concepts, classical entities like temperature, pressure, energy and entropy are shown to remain fundamental.

The physics of gases, plasmas and high-energy density matter is still a growing field and even though solids and liquids dominate our daily life, more than 99 percent of the visible Universe is in the state of gases and plasmas and the overwhelming part of matter exists at extreme conditions connected with very large energy densities, such as in the interior of stars.

This text, combining material from lectures and advanced seminars given by the authors over many decades, is a must-have introduction and reference for both newcomers and seasoned researchers alike.

The book is unique in covering in detail the experimental and theoretical fundamentals of self-organizing systems as well as such selected features as random processes, structural networks and multistable systems, while focusing on the physical and theoretical modeling of natural selection and evolution processes. The authors take examples from physics, chemistry, biology and social systems, and include results hitherto unpublished in English.

The result is a one-stop resource relevant for students and scientists in physics or related interdisciplinary fields, including mathematical physics, biophysics, information science and nanotechnology.

The book is unique in covering in detail the experimental and theoretical fundamentals of self-organizing systems as well as such selected features as random processes, structural networks and multistable systems, while focusing on the physical and theoretical modeling of natural selection and evolution processes. The authors take examples from physics, chemistry, biology and social systems, and include results hitherto unpublished in English.

The result is a one-stop resource relevant for students and scientists in physics or related interdisciplinary fields, including mathematical physics, biophysics, information science and nanotechnology.

Die Autorengeben als aktiv Beteiligte erstmalig aus ihrem persönlichen Erleben einenEinblick auf die ersten zwei Jahrzehnte der Synergetik-Geschichte. HermannHaken führt in die Begrifflichkeit der Synergetik ein und verdeutlicht dieSchwierigkeiten, eine neues Denken in der Wissenschaft zu etablieren. PeterPlath geht exemplarisch auf die Vorgeschichte der Synergetik ein und zeigt aneinem Fallbeispiel aus der Chemie, wie die Idee der Synergetik zum Leitmotiveiner Forschungsgruppe wurde. Werner Ebeling und Yuri Romanovsky beschreibendie intensive Kooperation der Wissenschaftler aus Ost und West bei derHerausbildung neuer Ideen zur Synergetik. 

The aim of this book is the pedagogical exploration of the basic principles of quantum-statistical thermodynamics as applied to various states of matter – ranging from rare gases to astrophysical matter with high-energy density. The reader will learn in this work that thermodynamics and quantum statistics are still the concepts on which even the most advanced research is operating - despite of a flood of modern concepts, classical entities like temperature, pressure, energy and entropy are shown to remain fundamental.

The physics of gases, plasmas and high-energy density matter is still a growing field and even though solids and liquids dominate our daily life, more than 99 percent of the visible Universe is in the state of gases and plasmas and the overwhelming part of matter exists at extreme conditions connected with very large energy densities, such as in the interior of stars.

This text, combining material from lectures and advanced seminars given by the authors over many decades, is a must-have introduction and reference for both newcomers and seasoned researchers alike.

The book is unique in covering in detail the experimental and theoretical fundamentals of self-organizing systems as well as such selected features as random processes, structural networks and multistable systems, while focusing on the physical and theoretical modeling of natural selection and evolution processes. The authors take examples from physics, chemistry, biology and social systems, and include results hitherto unpublished in English.

The result is a one-stop resource relevant for students and scientists in physics or related interdisciplinary fields, including mathematical physics, biophysics, information science and nanotechnology.

The book is unique in covering in detail the experimental and theoretical fundamentals of self-organizing systems as well as such selected features as random processes, structural networks and multistable systems, while focusing on the physical and theoretical modeling of natural selection and evolution processes. The authors take examples from physics, chemistry, biology and social systems, and include results hitherto unpublished in English.

The result is a one-stop resource relevant for students and scientists in physics or related interdisciplinary fields, including mathematical physics, biophysics, information science and nanotechnology.

Die Autorengeben als aktiv Beteiligte erstmalig aus ihrem persönlichen Erleben einenEinblick auf die ersten zwei Jahrzehnte der Synergetik-Geschichte. HermannHaken führt in die Begrifflichkeit der Synergetik ein und verdeutlicht dieSchwierigkeiten, eine neues Denken in der Wissenschaft zu etablieren. PeterPlath geht exemplarisch auf die Vorgeschichte der Synergetik ein und zeigt aneinem Fallbeispiel aus der Chemie, wie die Idee der Synergetik zum Leitmotiveiner Forschungsgruppe wurde. Werner Ebeling und Yuri Romanovsky beschreibendie intensive Kooperation der Wissenschaftler aus Ost und West bei derHerausbildung neuer Ideen zur Synergetik.