Nonlinear Waves, Solitons and Chaos

by Eryk Infeld, George Rowlands

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521635578
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/13/2000
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	412
Product dimensions:	6.93(w) x 9.76(h) x 0.91(d)

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.

Editorial Reviews

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.

From the Publisher