Studies in Statistical Mechanics, Volume VII: Fluctuation Phenomena Fluctuation explores different aspects of fluctuation behavior and their relation to microscopic processes and other phenomena, including the nucleation of a new phase following the quenching of a system into the coexistence region. It looks at phenomenological fluctuation theories, stochastic processes such as Markoff and momentless processes, and stochastic geometric aspects of amorphous solids. Comprised of five chapters, this volume begins with an overview of fluctuations and the Ehrenfest dog-flea model. It then turns to a discussion of density fluctuations in dilute gases, the Langevin theory of Brownian motion, and classical diffusion and random walks. It also systematically introduces the reader to the statistical mechanical theory of the kinetics of phase transitions, the molecular theory of metastability, and multidimensional continuous time random walks, along with the effect of boundaries and defects onf stochastic processes. In addition, it describes the phenomenological theory of the kinetics of nucleation and its application to nucleation, spinodal decomposition, and condensation. Other chapters focus on a stochastic model for the kinetics of phase transitions, the physical ideas used in theories of metastability, and the importance of dynamics in the study of metastability. The book explains how to estimate the escape rate and describes the statistical mechanics of clusters before concluding with a discussion of slowly-varying ensembles. This book is a valuable resource for students, physicists, and researchers who want to gain more knowledge and learn about statistical mechanics in general and fluctuation phenomena in particular.

These Proceedings of a NATO-ARW (HTECH ARW 96 00 52) held at the International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy from Aug 5 till Aug 9, 1996 resulted from many discussions between various workers, concerning the need for a gathering of all (if possible) who were concerned about the subject of superconductivity fluctuations in High critical Temperature Superconductors (HTS). It appeared to many that the Skocpol-Tinkham work of 1975 had to be revitalized in view of the discovery of the new superconducting ceramics and the enormous amount of work having already taken place. The study of HTS is one of the most prominent research subject in solid state sciences. The understanding of the role of fluctuations is also thought to be necessary before technological applications since the fluctuations may destroy the superconducting state. The workshop discussions have touched upon (i) Superconducting fluctuations in the vicinity of the critical transition, (ii) Superconductivity fluctuations near the percolation transition, and (iii) Fluctuations of the vortex lattice at the lattice melting temperature. These topics served as initiators for a very great amount of discussions with many comments from the audience. More than forty "long lectures" and two "poster sessions" were held. Private discussions going unrecorded but obviously took place at many locations : lecture halls, staircases, cafetaria, bedrooms, bars, beach, . . .

This book addresses the issues of nonlinearity and disorder. It covers mathematical and numerical techniques as well as applications of nonlinearity and disorder. The analysis of continuous and discrete systems is also shown.

Holger Bartolf discusses state-of-the-art detection concepts based on superconducting nanotechnology as well as sophisticated analytical formulæ that model dissipative fluctuation-phenomena in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. Such knowledge is desirable for the development of advanced devices which are designed to possess an intrinsic robustness against vortex-fluctuations and it provides the perspective for honorable fundamental science in condensed matter physics. Especially the nanowire detector allows for ultra-low noise detection of signals with single-photon sensitivity and GHz repetition rates. Such devices have a huge potential for future technological impact and might enable unique applications (e.g. high rate interplanetary deep-space data links from Mars to Earth).

A summary of recent developments in theoretical and experimental studies of fluctuation effects in itinerant electron magnets, focusing on novel physical phenomena: soft-mode spin fluctuations and zero-point effects, strong spin anharmonicity, magnetic frustrations in metals, fluctuation effects in Invar alloys and low-dimensional systems. All of these may be important for novel high-technology applications.

This volume shows how collective magnetic excitations determine most of the magnetic properties of itinerant electron magnets. Previous theories were mainly restricted to the Curie-Weiss law temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibilities. Based on the spin amplitude conservation idea including the zero-point fluctuation amplitude, this book shows that the entire temperature and magnetic field dependence of magnetization curves, even in the ground state, is determined by the effect of spin fluctuations. It also shows that the theoretical consequences are largely in agreement with many experimental observations. The readers will therefore gain a new comprehensive perspective of their unified understanding of itinerant electron magnetism.

This important book provides an introduction to the liquid state. A qualitative description of liquid properties is first given, followed by detailed chapters on thermodynamics, liquid structure in relation to interaction forces and transport properties such as diffusion and viscosity. Treatment of complex fluids such as anisotropic liquid crystals and polymers, and of technically important topics such as non-Newtonian and turbulent flows, is included. Surface properties and characteristics of the liquid-vapour critical point are also discussed. While the book focuses on classical liquids, the final chapter deals with quantal fluids.