Foundations of Synergetics II

Book excerpt: This textbook is based on a lecture course in synergetics given at the University of Moscow. In this second of two volumes, we discuss the emergence and properties of complex chaotic patterns in distributed active systems. Such patterns can be produced autonomously by a system, or can result from selective amplification of fluctuations caused by external weak noise. Although the material in this book is often described by refined mathematical theories, we have tried to avoid a formal mathematical style. Instead of rigorous proofs, the reader will usually be offered only "demonstrations" (the term used by Prof. V. I. Arnold) to encourage intuitive understanding of a problem and to explain why a particular statement seems plausible. We also refrained from detailing concrete applications in physics or in other scientific fields, so that the book can be used by students of different disciplines. While preparing the lecture course and producing this book, we had intensive discussions with and asked the advice of Prof. V. I. Arnold, Prof. S. Grossmann, Prof. H. Haken, Prof. Yu. L. Klimontovich, Prof. R. L. Stratonovich and Prof. Ya.