Studies in Statistical Mechanics

这笔赠款由材料研究部的材料理论项目、物理部的数学物理活动和数学科学部的应用数学项目支持。该奖项支持统计力学方面的教育和广泛的研究计划，目的是更好地理解宏观现象，如平衡和非平衡系统中的相变，这些现象源于物质的微观成分的合作行为。具体的研究课题包括：扩展最近的工作，旨在发展关于沸腾和熔化等相变的连续统理论；连续介质流体和合金在从均匀高温相突然冷却到共存区后发生的相分离动力学问题，特别侧重于承受外部应力的弹性合金；宏观系统的稳态非平衡态的性质，例如那些携带稳态电流的系统；以及宏观系统的量子描述，其中包括平衡中的波动和大偏差以及非平衡系统中的不可逆行为。这笔赠款得到了材料研究部的材料理论项目、物理部的数学物理活动和数学科学部的应用数学项目的支持。将对统计力学中的一些问题进行研究，这些问题将有助于更好地理解物质(如流体)的大尺度行为与其潜在的颗粒性质(如分子)之间的关系。这项研究是基础性的，但与许多具有实际意义的问题相关的战略问题也得到了解决。

9813268LebowitzThis grant is supported by the Materials Theory Program in the Division of Materials Research, the Mathematical Physics Activity in the Physics Division and the Applied Mathematics Program in the Division of Mathematical Sciences. This award supports education and a broad research program in statistical mechanics with the aim of a better understanding of macroscopic phenomena, such as phase transitions in equilibrium and nonequilibrium systems, originating in the cooperative behavior of the microscopic constituents of matter. Specific topics for investigation include: extending recent work with the aim of developing a continuum theory of phase transitions such as boiling and melting; the problem of the kinetics of phase segregation of continuum fluids and alloys that occurs following the sudden cooling from a uniform high temperature phase into a coexistence region, with a particular focus on elastic alloys subjected to external stresses; the properties of stationary nonequilibrium states of macroscopic systems, such as those carrying steady state currents; and the quantum description of macroscopic systems which includes fluctuations and large deviations in equilibrium and irreversible behavior in nonequilibrium systems. %%% This grant is supported by the Materials Theory Program in the Division of Materials Research, the Mathematical Physics Activity in the Physics Division and the Applied Mathematics Program in the Division of Mathematical Sciences. Research will be done on a number of problems in statistical mechanics which will lead to a better understanding of the relationship between the large-scale behavior of matter, e.g., fluids, and its underlying particulate nature, e.g., molecules. This research is fundamental, but strategic issues associated with many problems of practical interest are addressed.***