Phase Transitions (Primers in Complex Systems) by Ricard V. Sol??

by Ricard V. Solé

Phase transitions--changes between different states of organization in a complex system--have long helped to explain physics concepts, such as why water freezes into a solid or boils to become a gas. How might phase transitions shed light on important problems in biological and ecological complex systems? Exploring the origins and implications of sudden changes in nature and society, Phase Transitions examines different dynamical behaviors in a broad range of complex systems. Using a compelling set of examples, from gene networks and ant colonies to human language and the degradation of diverse ecosystems, the book illustrates the power of simple models to reveal how phase transitions occur.Introductory chapters provide the critical concepts and the simplest mathematical techniques required to study phase transitions. In a series of example-driven chapters, Ricard Sol shows how such concepts and techniques can be applied to the analysis and prediction of complex system behavior, including the origins of life, viral replication, epidemics, language evolution, and the emergence and breakdown of societies.Written at an undergraduate mathematical level, this book provides the essential theoretical tools and foundations required to develop basic models to explain collective phase transitions for a wide variety of ecosystems.

Genres: Physics, Science, Evolution

Paperback

First published August 14, 2011

Reviews

[Zak J · Rating 3 out of 5]

The choice of problems was nice and the presentation decent. However, there are a ton of typos, many of which are in critical places that fundamentally change the key concepts! It's one thing to misspell a word, but it's another to make a mistake that leads the reader in the wrong direction and detracts from the point. Also, several references in the text are not found in the reference section. Hire a better editor or better yet a graduate student. Since the author is clearly an expert this can only be explained by carelessness. This is a shame because had someone gone through it another time or two before printing it could have been a nice treatment that would serve as a useful launching off point for anyone interested in finding broad connections between fields or research topics to explore further.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, excellent book filled with applications of phase transitions to different concepts. Book is written in a dry, objective style, and the editing could have been improved (a large portion of the references I could not find on the list at the back) but even given all of this the book turns out to be very insightful and rich of ideas.