Physics Colloquium - Fall 2006 - Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics: A growing frontier of "pure and applied" theoretical physics
Dept of Physics & Astronomy
University of Maine, Orono, Maine
Presents
Royce K.P. Zia
Professor of Physics
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics : A growing frontier of "pure and applied" theoretical physics
Founded over a century ago, statistical mechanics for systems in thermal equilibrium has been so successful that, nowadays, it forms part of our physics core curriculum. On the other hand, most of "real life" phenomena occur under non-equilibrium conditions. Unfortunately, statistical mechanics for such systems is far from being well established. The goal of understanding complex collective behavior from simple microscopic rules (of evolution, say) remains elusive. As an example of the difficulties we face, consider predicting the existence of a tree from an appropriate collection of H,O,C,N,... atoms!
Over the last two decades, an increasing number of condensed matter theorists are devoting their efforts to this frontier. After a brief summary of the crucial differences between text-book equilibrium statistical mechanics and its non-equilibrium counterpart, I will give a bird's-eye view of some key issues, ranging from the "fundamental" to (a small set of) the "applied." The methods used also span a wide spectrum, from "easy" computer simulations to sophisticated field theoretic techniques. These will be illustrated in the context of an overview of the projects carried out at Virginia Tech.
Friday, September 15, 2006
3:10 pm
140 Bennett Hall
Refreshments will follow in Rm. 114, Bennett Hall
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