Product Description
This valuable and highly-praised reference collects and explains, in simple language and reasonably deductive form, those formulas and methods and their applications used in modern Statistical Physics, including the foundations of Markov systems, stochastic differential equations, Fokker-Planck equations, approximation methods, chemical master equations, and quantum-mechanical Markov processes. The practical orientation and broad coverage appeal to researchers and a… More >>
Handbook of Stochastic Methods: for Physics, Chemistry and the Natural Sciences
Tags: approximation methods, chemistry, differential, foundations, handbook of stochastic methods, natural sciences, planck equations, quantum, statistical physics, stochastic differential equations
#1 by Anonymous on June 26, 2010 - 5:20 pm
This is a great book. The different chapters are very clearly written and each of them could be applied as a tool for solving similar problems, one may encounter in his (hers) research. Although the text is not introductory, with some effort, the reader could avoid going through more elementary books on the subject first.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by K. MCHALE on June 26, 2010 - 8:10 pm
“Handbook” is a fitting title. It reads more like a collection of solution techniques than like a book meant to actually teach the subject to someone, which is perfectly acceptable for a reference book but not really suitable for a textbook.
Unfortunately for this book, however, van Kampen’s book is better as both a reference and a textbook. While generally written with a somewhat higher degree of sophistication, van Kampen is organized so much more logically and is so much more complete in its development of the subject that it is far easier to read, even as (or maybe especially as?) an introductory book.
Gardiner is a good book, and there are things that it has over van Kampen: a chapter on approximation methods, a chapter on simulation methods, and a little bit more detail on certain topics. However, van Kampen’s is a phenomenal book and really should be chosen over this one except by those readers with very specific needs.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Bhattacharya on June 26, 2010 - 10:49 pm
This is a great book on stochastic processes. The author has a unique perspective on the subject and elegantly moves from one topic to the next. A great help in understanding difficult concepts.
Rating: 5 / 5