Progress and Applications of Linear and Nonlinear Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics

Author: Peng Shaofang, Zhang Zhao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In the development of science, nonlinear non-equilibrium thermodynamics has become the theoretical foundation of nonlinear science. Around this topic, this book is divided into four parts, including irreversible process thermodynamics and its applications, nonlinear non-equilibrium thermodynamics (dissipative structures), an introduction to chaos, and fractal theory and its applications, comprising 13 chapters. It introduces the basic theories and applications of nonlinear non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The book first introduces linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics and its applications, then expands on the universal phenomena such as chemical oscillations and chaos spontaneously generated by the effects of non-equilibrium processes in systems under far-from-equilibrium conditions, introducing nonlinear non-equilibrium thermodynamics and its applications. It then briefly introduces the analytical methods combining thermodynamic stability theory with nonlinear dynamics, as well as the specific stability criteria and conditions for generating dissipative structures obtained through this method. Finally, it introduces fractal theory and its applications, which have become an important part of nonlinear science, and extends to the dynamics of fractal media. These interdisciplinary fields with inherent connections are integrated for presentation because they have broad applications in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science, and they will promote and guide the development direction of research in these fields. The book omits the complex mathematical derivations in nonlinear thermodynamics theory, focusing on introductory explanations of the basic concepts, fundamental theories, and interrelationships in this field. It clarifies its applications in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials through numerous examples, making the relatively profound theories of nonlinear thermodynamics more accessible and understandable. The book is well-organized, rich in content, and can serve as a textbook for graduate students and senior undergraduate students in science and engineering disciplines studying these cutting-edge topics. It can also be referenced by engineering and technical researchers.