Methods

The first textbook on mathematical methods focusing on techniques for optical science and engineering, this text is ideal for upper division undergraduate and graduate students in optical physics. Containing detailed sections on the basic theory, the textbook places strong emphasis on connecting the abstract mathematical concepts to the optical systems to which they are applied. It covers many topics which usually only appear in more specialized books, such as Zernike polynomials, wavelet and fractional Fourier transforms, vector spherical harmonics, the z-transform, and the angular spectrum representation. Most chapters end by showing how the techniques covered can be used to solve an optical problem. Essay problems based on research publications and numerous exercises help to further strengthen the connection between the theory and its applications.

Econophysics applies the methodology of physics to the study of economics. However, whilst physicists have good understanding of statistical physics, they may be unfamiliar with recent advances in statistical conjectures, including Bayesian and predictive methods. Equally, economists with knowledge of probabilities do not have a background in statistical physics and agent-based models. Proposing a unified view for a dynamic probabilistic approach, this book is useful for advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers in physics, economics and finance. The book takes a finitary approach to the subject, discussing the essentials of applied probability, and covering finite Markov chain theory and its applications to real systems. Each chapter ends with a summary, suggestions for further reading, and exercises with solutions at the end of the book.

In this volume, the author covers the mathematical methods appropriate to both linear-systems theory and signal processing. The text deals with a number of topics usually found in introductory linear-systems courses, such as complex numbers and Laplace transforms, and addresses additional topics such as complex variable theory and Fourier series and transforms. Although the discussion is mathematically self-contained, it assumes that the reader has a firm background in calculus and differential equations. Each chapter contains a number of worked examples plus exercises designed to allow the student to put concepts into practice. The author writes in a mathematically elegant yet relaxed and readable style, and provides interesting historical notes along the way. Undergraduate students of electrical engineering, applied mathematics, and related disciplines - and their teachers - will welcome this book.

In this volume, the author covers the mathematical methods appropriate to both linear-systems theory and signal processing. The text deals with a number of topics usually found in introductory linear-systems courses, such as complex numbers and Laplace transforms, and addresses additional topics such as complex variable theory and Fourier series and transforms. Although the discussion is mathematically self-contained, it assumes that the reader has a firm background in calculus and differential equations. Each chapter contains a number of worked examples plus exercises designed to allow the student to put concepts into practice. The author writes in a mathematically elegant yet relaxed and readable style, and provides interesting historical notes along the way. Undergraduate students of electrical engineering, applied mathematics, and related disciplines - and their teachers - will welcome this book.

Geodynamics is the study of the deformation and flow of the solid Earth and other planetary interiors. Focusing on the Earth's mantle, this book provides a comprehensive, mathematically advanced treatment of the continuum mechanics of mantle processes and the craft of formulating geodynamical models to approximate them. Topics covered include slow viscous flow, elasticity and viscoelasticity, boundary-layer theory, long-wave theories including lubrication theory and shell theory, two-phase flow, and hydrodynamic stability and thermal convection. A unifying theme is the utility of powerful general methods (dimensional analysis, scaling analysis, and asymptotic analysis) that can be applied in many specific contexts. Featuring abundant exercises with worked solutions for graduate students and researchers, this book will make a useful resource for Earth scientists and applied mathematicians with an interest in mantle dynamics and geodynamics more broadly.

Kernel methods provide a powerful and unified framework for pattern discovery, motivating algorithms that can act on general types of data (e.g. strings, vectors or text) and look for general types of relations (e.g. rankings, classifications, regressions, clusters). The application areas range from neural networks and pattern recognition to machine learning and data mining. This book, developed from lectures and tutorials, fulfils two major roles: firstly it provides practitioners with a large toolkit of algorithms, kernels and solutions ready to use for standard pattern discovery problems in fields such as bioinformatics, text analysis, image analysis. Secondly it provides an easy introduction for students and researchers to the growing field of kernel-based pattern analysis, demonstrating with examples how to handcraft an algorithm or a kernel for a new specific application, and covering all the necessary conceptual and mathematical tools to do so.

Integral equations form an important class of problems, arising frequently in engineering, and in mathematical and scientific analysis. This textbook provides a readable account of techniques for their numerical solution. The authors devote their attention primarily to efficient techniques using high order approximations, taking particular account of situations where singularities are present. The classes of problems which arise frequently in practice, Fredholm of the first and second kind and eigenvalue problems, are dealt with in depth. Volterra equations, although attractive to treat theoretically, arise less often in practical problems and so have been given less emphasis. Some knowledge of numerical methods and linear algebra is assumed, but the book includes introductory sections on numerical quadrature and function space concepts. This book should serve as a valuable text for final year undergraduate or postgraduate courses, and as an introduction or reference work for practisin

This volume collects the proceedings of the conference 'Topological methods in group theory', held at Ohio State University in 2014 in honor of Ross Geoghegan's 70th birthday. It consists of eleven peer-reviewed papers on some of the most recent developments at the interface of topology and geometric group theory. The authors have given particular attention to clear exposition, making this volume especially useful for graduate students and for mathematicians in other areas interested in gaining a taste of this rich and active field. A wide cross-section of topics in geometric group theory and topology are represented, including left-orderable groups, groups defined by automata, connectivity properties and Σ-invariants of groups, amenability and non-amenability problems, and boundaries of certain groups. Also included are topics that are more geometric or topological in nature, such as the geometry of simplices, decomposition complexity of certain groups, and problems in shape theory.

Originally published in 1996, this is a presentation of some complex problems of discrete mathematics in a simple and unified form using an original, general combinatorial scheme. The author's aim is not always to present the most general results, but rather to focus attention on ones that illustrate the methods described. A distinctive aspect of the book is the large number of asymptotic formulae derived. Professor Sachkov begins with a discussion of block designs and Latin squares before proceeding to treat transversals, devoting much attention to enumerative problems. The main role in these problems is played by generating functions, which are considered in Chapter 3. The general combinatorial scheme is then introduced and in the last chapter Polya's enumerative theory is discussed. This is an important book, describing many ideas not previously available in English; the author has taken the chance to update the text and references where appropriate.

Inferring the precise locations and splicing patterns of genes in DNA is a difficult but important task, with broad applications to biomedicine. The mathematical and statistical techniques that have been applied to this problem are surveyed and organized into a logical framework based on the theory of parsing. Both established approaches and methods at the forefront of current research are discussed. Numerous case studies of existing software systems are provided, in addition to detailed examples that work through the actual implementation of effective gene-predictors using hidden Markov models and other machine-learning techniques. Background material on probability theory, discrete mathematics, computer science, and molecular biology is provided, making the book accessible to students and researchers from across the life and computational sciences. This book is ideal for use in a first course in bioinformatics at graduate or advanced undergraduate level, and for anyone wanting to kee

Inferring the precise locations and splicing patterns of genes in DNA is a difficult but important task, with broad applications to biomedicine. The mathematical and statistical techniques that have been applied to this problem are surveyed and organized into a logical framework based on the theory of parsing. Both established approaches and methods at the forefront of current research are discussed. Numerous case studies of existing software systems are provided, in addition to detailed examples that work through the actual implementation of effective gene-predictors using hidden Markov models and other machine-learning techniques. Background material on probability theory, discrete mathematics, computer science, and molecular biology is provided, making the book accessible to students and researchers from across the life and computational sciences. This book is ideal for use in a first course in bioinformatics at graduate or advanced undergraduate level, and for anyone wanting to kee

This 2002 book introduces the quantum theory of gauge fields. Emphasis is placed on four non-perturbative methods: path integrals, lattice gauge theories, the 1/N expansion, and reduced matrix models, all of which have important contemporary applications. Written as a textbook, it assumes a knowledge of quantum mechanics and elements of perturbation theory, while many relevant concepts are pedagogically introduced at a basic level in the first half of the book. The second half comprehensively covers large-N Yang-Mills theory. The book uses an approach to gauge theories based on path-dependent phase factors known as the Wilson loops, and contains problems with detailed solutions to aid understanding. Suitable for advanced graduate courses in quantum field theory, the book will also be of interest to researchers in high energy theory and condensed matter physics as a survey of recent developments in gauge theory.

This 2002 book introduces the quantum theory of gauge fields. Emphasis is placed on four non-perturbative methods: path integrals, lattice gauge theories, the 1/N expansion, and reduced matrix models, all of which have important contemporary applications. Written as a textbook, it assumes a knowledge of quantum mechanics and elements of perturbation theory, while many relevant concepts are pedagogically introduced at a basic level in the first half of the book. The second half comprehensively covers large-N Yang-Mills theory. The book uses an approach to gauge theories based on path-dependent phase factors known as the Wilson loops, and contains problems with detailed solutions to aid understanding. Suitable for advanced graduate courses in quantum field theory, the book will also be of interest to researchers in high energy theory and condensed matter physics as a survey of recent developments in gauge theory.

Originally published in 1996, this is a presentation of some complex problems of discrete mathematics in a simple and unified form using an original, general combinatorial scheme. The author's aim is not always to present the most general results, but rather to focus attention on ones that illustrate the methods described. A distinctive aspect of the book is the large number of asymptotic formulae derived. Professor Sachkov begins with a discussion of block designs and Latin squares before proceeding to treat transversals, devoting much attention to enumerative problems. The main role in these problems is played by generating functions, which are considered in Chapter 3. The general combinatorial scheme is then introduced and in the last chapter Polya's enumerative theory is discussed. This is an important book, describing many ideas not previously available in English; the author has taken the chance to update the text and references where appropriate.

This is a textbook written for mechanical engineering students at first-year graduate level. As such, it emphasizes the development of finite element methods used in applied mechanics. The book starts with fundamental formulations of heat conduction and linear elasticity and derives the weak form (i.e. the principle of virtual work in elasticity) from a boundary value problem that represents the mechanical behaviour of solids and fluids. Finite element approximations are then derived from this weak form. The book contains many useful exercises and the author appropriately provides the student with computer programs in both BASIC and FORTRAN for solving them. Furthermore, a workbook is available with additional computer listings, and also an accompanying disc that contains the BASIC programs for use on IBM-PC microcomputers and their compatibles. Thus the usefulness and versatility of this text is enhanced by the student's ability to practise problem solving on accessible microcomputers

Learn how to create the illusion of three-dimensional space in your drawings It is as mundane as it is astounding: placed in the right way, a couple of lines on paper create three-dimensional space. T

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