An Introduction to Catastrophe Theory

By Peter Timothy Saunders

Book Overview

Almost every scientist has heard of catastrophe theory and knows that there has been a considerable amount of controversy surrounding it. Yet comparatively few know anything more about it than they may have read in an article written for the general public. The aim of this book is to make it possible for anyone with a comparatively modest background in mathematics - no more than is usually included in a first year university course for students not specialising in the subject - to understand the theory well enough to follow the arguments in papers in which it is used and, if the occasion arises, to use it. Over half the book is devoted to applications, partly because it is not possible yet for the mathematician applying catastrophe theory to separate the analysis from the original problem. Most of these examples are drawn from the biological sciences, partly because they are more easily understandable and partly because they give a better illustration of the distinctive nature of catastrophe theory. This controversial and intriguing book will find applications as a text and guide to theoretical biologists, and scientists generally who wish to learn more of a novel theory.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 052123042X
• ISBN13: 9780521230421
• Release Date: June 1980
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A concise intro

This is a concise intro to catastrophe theory that is aimed mainly at undergrad level folks, or those who are looking for a streamlined version of Rene Thom's groundbreaking _Structural Stability and Morphogenesis_.Most terms and concepts are explained adequately. The text is essentially a narrative for the algebra and differential equations that comprise the primary explanatory mechanism of the book. There is far less reliance on topology in this book than Thom's, and it tends to appear mainly in the things like the visualization of the obligatory seven elementary catastrophe types.The applications given are intended to be fairly simple to understand (in keeping with the lack of specialization of the intended audience), so they are fine for an intro book, but I would tend to call them only "examples" rather than "applications".I contrast this book with Thom's by saying that this intro book will give you the mechanics of catastrophe theory and some examples, whereas Thom's book paints a much broader conceptual picture with many profound speculations on the applications of catastrophe theory. Both books have their respective value and I feel they are good complements to each other to the newcomer to catastrophe theory.