Nonlinear Waves, Solitons and Chaos
This revised and updated second edition of a highly successful text embraces a universal approach to three major developments in classical physics: namely, nonlinear waves, solitons, and chaos. The authors include new material on biology and laser theory, and go on to discuss important recent developments such as soliton metamorphosis. They also offer a new section on a direct method to study transverse instabilities of pulse-like structures. A comprehensive treatment of basic plasma and fluid configurations and instabilities is followed by a study of the relevant nonlinear structures. Additional key features comprise color illustrations of soliton dynamics and end-of-chapter problems. In general, it will be of value to final year undergraduates and beginning graduate students studying fluid dynamics, plasma physics and applied mathematics.
- Over 100 diagrams and over 50 exercises
- Now includes a discussion of recent research
- Colour illustrations of soliton dynamics have been added
Reviews & endorsements
From reviews of the first edition: ' … as clear an introduction to nonlinear waves and solitons as one may find.' Appl. Mech. Rev.
' … highly recommended as a brief introduction to these important developments in classical physics …' Physics in Canada
' … an important contribution to the study of nonlinear waves …' Math. Rev.
Product details
July 2000Paperback
9780521635578
412 pages
248 × 176 × 23 mm
0.915kg
99 b/w illus. 55 exercises
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Linear waves and instabilities in infinite media
- 3. Convective and non-convective instabilities
- group velocity in unstable media
- 4. A first look at surface waves and instabilities
- 5. Model equations for small amplitude waves and solitons
- weakly nonlinear theory
- 6. Exact methods for fully nonlinear waves and solitons
- 7. Cartesian solitons in one and two space dimensions
- 8. Evolution and stability of initially one-dimensional waves and solitons
- 9. Cylindrical and spherical solitons in plasmas and other media
- 10. Soliton metamorphosis
- 11. Non-coherent phenonemena
- Appendices
- References.