Springer Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications: 560 (Lecture Notes in Physics, 560)

Nonextensive statistical mechanics is now a rapidly growing field and a new stream in the research of the foundations of statistical mechanics. This generalization of the well-known Boltzmann--Gibbs theory enables the study of systems with long-range interactions, long-term memories or multi-fractal structures. This book consists of a set of self-contained lectures and includes additional contributions where some of the latest developments -- ranging from astro- to biophysics -- are covered. Addressing primarily graduate students and lecturers, this book will also be a useful reference for all researchers working in the field. Review "This is an extremely interesting book that consists of a set of articles based on the generalization of entropic measure introduced be C. Tsallis. [...] Topics examined in the book cover a wide variety of interesting material such as classical and quantum many body systems, thermodynamic systems, applications to spin glass models and to protein folding. All of these can be read even by the non-expert relatively easily after the basic concepts [...] have been assimilated. This is a book that will be useful to many people and I can positively recommend it." (Brian L. Burrows, Mathematical Reviews 2002m) From the Back Cover Nonextensive statistical mechanics is now a rapidly growing field and a new stream in the research of the foundations of statistical mechanics. This generalization of the well-known Boltzmann--Gibbs theory enables the study of systems with long-range interactions, long-term memories or multi-fractal structures. This book consists of a set of self-contained lectures and includes additional contributions where some of the latest developments -- ranging from astro- to biophysics -- are covered. Addressing primarily graduate students and lecturers, this book will also be a useful reference for all researchers working in the field.