How Nature Works

The Science of Self-Organized Criticality

By: Per Bak, P. Bak

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 May 1999

At a Glance

Paperback
240 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.39 x 15.6 x 1.3

Paperback

$64.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $16.25 with

Ships in 7 to 10 business days

and acknowledgments Self-organized criticality is a new way of viewing nature. The basic picture is one where nature is perpetually out of balance, but organized in a poised state-the critical state-where anything can happen within well-defined statistical laws. The aim of the science of self-organized criticality is to yield insight into the fundamental question of why nature is complex, not simple, as the laws of physics imply. Self-organized criticality explains some ubiquitous patterns existing in nature that we view as complex. Fractal structure and catastrophic events are among those regularities. Applications range from the study of pulsars and black holes to earthquakes and the evolution of life. One intriguing conse- quence of the theory is that catastrophes can occur for no reason whatsoever. Mass extinctions may take place without any external triggering mechanism such as a volcanic eruption or a meteorite hitting the earth (although the the- ory of course cannot rule out that this has in fact occurred). xu How Nature Works Since we first proposed the idea in 1987, more than 2, ooo papers have been written on self-organized criticality, making ours the most cited paper in physics during that period. How Nature Works is the first book to deal with the subject. The basic idea is simple, and most of the mathematical models that have been used in the implementation of the theory are not complicated.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Mathematics Applied Mathematics Chaos Theory Reference, Information & Interdisciplinary Subjects Research & Information Information theory Cybernetics & Systems Theory Science Physics Calculus & Mathematical Analysis Differential Calculus & Equations

Integral Calculus & Equations Chemistry Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning Earth Sciences

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

Published: 1st June 1996

View Product

Preface and Acknowledgments
Complexity and Criticality	p. 1
The Discovery of Self-Organized Criticality	p. 33
The Sandpile Paradigm	p. 49
Real Sandpiles and Landscape Formation	p. 65
Earthquakes, Starquakes, and Solar Flares	p. 85
The "Game of Life": Complexity Is Criticality	p. 105
Is Life a Self-Organized Critical Phenomenon?	p. 113
Mass Extinctions and Punctuated Equilibria in a Simple Model of Evolution	p. 129
Theory of the Punctuated Equilibrium Model	p. 161
The Brain	p. 175
On Economics and Traffic Jams	p. 183
Bibliography	p. 199
Index	p. 207
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

How Nature Works

The Science of Self-Organized Criticality

At a Glance

Paperback

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

Other Editions and Formats

Hardcover

More in Chaos Theory

Making Sense of Chaos

A Better Economics for a Better World

Beautiful Security

When Science Meets Cybersecurity

The e-Dimensionality Information Principle

Data, Representation, and Algorithms

STATISTICAL PHYSICS

STATICS, DYNAMICS...

Every Life Is On Fire

How Thermodynamics Explains the Origins of Living Things

Beautiful Security

When Science Meets Cybersecurity

Borrowed Knowledge

Chaos Theory and the Challenge of Learning across Disciplines

The Mermaid's Tale

Four Billion Years of Cooperation in the Making of Living Things

Nonlinear Workbook, The

Chaos, Fractals, Cellular Automata, Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms, Gene Expression Programming, Support Vector Machine, Wavelets, Hidden Markov Models, Fuzzy Logic With C++, Java And Symbolicc++ Programs (4th Edition)

Progress in Chaos Complexity Research

Chaos and Complexity : New Research

New Research

The Symmetry of Chaos

Wavelets and Renormalizations

Approximations & Decomposition Series

Encounters in Nonlinear Optics : Selected Papers of Nicolaas Bloembergen, with Commentary

Selected Papers of Nicolaas Bloembergen, with Commentary

From Chaos to Order : Methodologies, Perspectives, and Applications

Methodologies, Perspectives, and Applications

Rayleigh-Benard Convection : Structures and Dynamics

Structures and Dynamics

Topics in Nonlinear Dynamics : Applications to Physics, Biology and Economic Systems

Applications to Physics, Biology and Economic Systems

Acoustic Interactions with Submerged Elastic Structures

Series on Stability, Vibration, and Control of Systems. Series B, V. 5

Nonlinear Dynamics : From Lasers to Butterflies

From Lasers to Butterflies

Cellular Automata: A Discrete Universe

A Discrete Universe

New Research on Chaos and Complexity

Dynamics of Fractal Surfaces

Dynamics of Fractal Surfaces

Fractal Space-Time and Microphysics : Towards a Theory of Scale Relativity

Towards a Theory of Scale Relativity

This product is categorised by