Harland, D. M. (Ed.)

The Big Bang
A View from the 21st Century

2003 Approx. 350 p. Softcover
1-85233-713-3

David Harland describes the historical development of particle physics, and explains, in a non-mathematical way, how particle physics has influenced the structure of the Universe from the very beginning of time. He demonstrates the close links between discoveries in particle physics and in cosmology up to the present. He describes how our understanding of the Universe has developed from the discovery that the Universe is expanding, to the idea that all matter originated in a hot, Big Bang, then explains the many subtle improvements to the basic theory that have been necessary to understand how the very smallest particles and earliest structures (the 'microscale') in the Universe evolved to produce the Universe as it is now (the 'macroscale'). The author also describes how scientists are attempting to develop a 'Theory of Everything' that would explain how an instant after the Big Bang a single primordial force was transformed into the four forces of nature that we observe today, which hitherto were believed to be 'fundamental'.

Keywords: cosmology, galaxy, black holes

Contents: Expanding Universe.- Within the Atom.- The Big Bang.- Do we live in a black hole?

Series: Springer Praxis Books.

Hassani, S., Illinois, IL, USA

Mathematical Methods Using Mathematica
For Students of Physics and Related Fields

2003 Approx. 255 p. 93 illus. With CD-ROM. Softcover
0-387-95523-2

Intended as a companion for textbooks in mathematical methods for science and engineering, this book presents a large number of numerical topics and exercises together with discussions of methods for solving such problems using Mathematica(R). The accompanying CD contains Mathematica Notebooks for illustrating most of the topics in the text and for solving problems in mathematical physics. Although it is primarily designed for use with the author's "Mathematical Methods: For Students of Physics and Related Fields," the discussions in the book sufficiently self-contained that the book can be used as a supplement to any of the standard textbooks in mathematical methods for undergraduate students of physical sciences or engineering.

Contents: Mathematica in a Nutshell.- Vectors and Matrices in Mathematica.- Integration.- Infinite Series and Finite Sums.- Numerical Solutions of ODE's: Theory.- Numerical Solutions of ODE's: Examples Using Mathematica.

Series: Undergraduate Texts in Contemporary Physics.

Heck, A., University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Introduction to Maple

3rd ed. 2003 Approx. 850 p. 162 illus. Hardcover
0-387-00230-8

This is a fully revised edition of the best-selling Introduction to Maple. The book presents the modern computer algebra system Maple, teaching the reader not only what can be done by Maple, but also how and why it can be done. The book also provides the necessary background for those who want the most of Maple or want to extend its built-in knowledge. Emphasis is on understanding the Maple system more than on factual knowledge of built-in possibilities. To this end, the book contains both elementary and more sophisticated examples as well as many exercises. The typical reader should have a background in mathematics at the intermediate level. Andre Heck began developing and teaching Maple courses at the University of Nijmegen in 1987. In 1989 he was appointed managing director of the CAN Expertise Center in Amsterdam. CAN, Computer Algebra in the Netherlands, stimulates and coordinates the use of computer algebra in education and research. In 1996 the CAN Expertise Center was integrated into the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam, into what became the AMSTEL Institute. The institute program focuses on the innovation of computer activities in mathematics and science education on all levels of education. The author is actively involved in the research and development aimed at the integrated computer learning environment Coach for mathematics and science education at secondary school level.

Contents: Introduction to Computer Algebra.- The First Steps: Calculus on Numbers.- Variables and Names.- Getting Around with Maple.- Polynomials and Rational Functions.- Internal Data Representation and Substitution.- Manipulation of Polynomials and Rational Expressions.- Functions.- Differentiation.- Integration and Summation.- Series, Approximation, and Limits.- Composite Data Types.- The Assume Facility.- Simplification.- Graphics.- Solving Equations.- Differential Equations.- The Linear-Algebra Package.- Linear Algebra: Applications.- The Groebner Basis.- References.- Index.

Lange, K., UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Applied Probability

2003 XII, 300 p. Hardcover
0-387-00425-4

This textbook on applied probability is intended for graduate students in applied mathematics, biostatistics, computational biology, computer science, physics, and statistics. It presupposes knowledge of multivariate calculus, linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, and elementary probability theory. Given these prerequisites, Applied Probability presents a unique blend of theory and applications, with special emphasis on mathematical modeling, computational techniques, and examples from the biological sciences. Chapter 1 reviews elementary probability and provides a brief survey of relevant results from measure theory. Chapter 2 is an extended essay on calculating expectations. Chapter 3 deals with probabilistic applications of convexity, inequalities, and optimization theory. Chapters 4 and 5 touch on combinatorics and combinatorial optimization. Chapters 6 through 11 present core material on stochastic processes. If supplemented with appropriate sections from Chapters 1 and 2, there is sufficient material here for a traditional semester-long course in stochastic processes covering the basics of Poisson processes, Markov chains, branching processes, martingales, and diffusion processes. Finally, Chapters 12 and 13 develop the Chen-Stein method of Poisson approximation and connections between probability and number theory. Kenneth Lange is Professor of Biomathematics and Human Genetics and Chair of the Department of Human Genetics at the UCLA School of Medicine. He has held appointments at the University of New Hampshire, MIT, Harvard, and the University of Michigan. While at the University of Michigan, he was the Pharmacia & Upjohn Foundation Professor of Biostatistics.

Contents: Basic Notions of Probability Theory.- Calculation of Expectations.- Convexity, Optimization, and Inequalities.- Combinatorics.- Combinatorial Optimization.- Poisson Processes.- Discrete-Time Markov Chains.- Continuous-Time Markov Chains.- Branching Processes.- Martingales.- Diffusion Processes.- Poisson Approximation.- Number Theory.

Series: Springer Texts in Statistics.

Matousek, J., Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia

Using the Borsuk-Ulam Theorem
Lectures on Topological Methods in Combinatorics and Geometry

2003 Approx. 200 p. Softcover
3-540-00362-2

This book is the first textbook treatment of a significant part of such results. It focuses on so-called equivariant methods, based on the Borsuk-Ulam theorem and its generalizations. The topological tools are intentionally kept on a very elementary level (for example, homology theory and homotopy groups are completely avoided). No prior knowledge of algebraic topology is assumed, only a background in undergraduate mathematics, and the required topological notions and results are gradually explained.

Keywords: Combinatorics, applications of algebraic topology, discrete geometry

Contents:

Preliminaries.- 1 Simplicial Complexes: 1.1 Topological spaces; 1.2 Homotopy equivalence and homotopy; 1.3 Geometric simplicial complexes; 1.4 Triangulations; 1.5 Abstract simplicial complexes; 1.6 Dimension of geometric realizations; 1.7 Simplicial complexes and posets.- 2 The Borsuk-Ulam Theorem: 2.1 The Borsuk-Ulam theorem in various guises; 2.2 A geometric proof; 2.3 A discrete version: Tucker's lemma; 2.4 Another proof of Tucker's lemma.- 3 Direct Applications of Borsuk--Ulam: 3.1 The ham sandwich theorem; 3.2 On multicolored partitions and necklaces; 3.3 Kneser's conjecture; 3.4 More general Kneser graphs: Dolnikov's theorem; 3.5 Gale's lemma and Schrijver's theorem.- 4 A Topological Interlude: 4.1 Quotient spaces; 4.2 Joins (and products); 4.3 k-connectedness; 4.4 Recipes for showing k-connectedness; 4.5 Cell complexes.- 5 Z_2-Maps and Nonembeddability: 5.1 Nonembeddability theorems: An introduction; 5.2 Z_2-spaces and Z_2-maps; 5.3 The Z_2-index; 5.4 Deleted products good ...; 5.5 ... deleted joins better; 5.6 Bier spheres and the Van Kampen-Flores theorem; 5.7 Sarkaria's inequality; 5.8 Nonembeddability and Kneser colorings; 5.9 A general lower bound for the chromatic number.- 6 Multiple Points of Coincidence: 6.1 G-spaces; 6.2 E_nG spaces and the G-index; 6.3 Deleted joins and deleted products; 6.4 Necklace for many thieves; 6.5 The topological Tverberg theorem; 6.6 Many Tverberg partitions; 6.7 Z_p-index, Kneser colorings, and p-fold points; 6.8 The colored Tverberg theorem.- A Quick Summary.- Hints to Selected Exercises.- Bibliography.- Index.

Series: Universitext.