Beyond Equilibrium Thermodynamics

Preface

The Credo of Coarse-Graining "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Albert Einstein

"It's too early to write such a book," was my standard reply to colleagues who asked me when I would finally write a book on modern nonequilibrium thermodynamics. I' m afraid that this answer is still true, even today, on September 23, 2004. Therefore, what you have in your hands should not be considered as a regular or final book. Rather it, is the beginning of a project, the maybe premature birth of a textbook-encyclopedia-research guide chimera, a vivid vision to be materialized in forthcoming decades. The title of the project, "Heyond Equilibrium Thermodynamics," is meant to indicate that its horizon extends f ... read full excerpt from Beyond Equilibrium Thermodynamics ebook