Interdisciplinary Nonlinear Dynamics:THERMODYNAMICS OF SMALL SYSTEMSME 438 Spring quarter 2001 Organizational meeting: Monday, March 26, 2:00, Room E311 Small collections of molecules often do not behave like bulk material but reveal new types of behavior. Recently it has become possible to manipulate, probe and fabricate devices which consist of only a few molecules. These devices are hailed as the technology of the future in fields as diverse as the life sciences and manufacturing. Consequently, there is the need to better understand under what conditions bulk properties fail and to formulate models of small-scale behavior. In this course, we explore the dynamics and statistical mechanics of small systems. In particular, the nonlinear dynamics, diffusion, chaotic advection, entropy production and pattern formation of small systems will be studied through simple models. The course will consist of lectures plus a project. The projects will be designed to explore a particular subject in depth through simulations and/or analysis.
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