Springer, Berlin-Heidelberg, 2005. 965 pp.
Diffusion as the process of migration and mixing due to irregular movement of particles is one of the basic and ubiquitous phenomena in nature as well as in society. In the latter case the word "particles" may stand for men or ideas, and in the former for atoms or galaxies. In this sense diffusion is a truly universal and transdisciplinary topic. The present book is confined to diffusion of atoms and molecules.
As this process shows up in all states of matter over very large time and length scales, the subject is still very general involving a large variety of natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology and their interfacial disciplines. Besides its scientific interest, diffusion is of enormous practical relevance for industry and life, ranging from steel making to oxide/carbon dioxide exchange in the human lung.
The book consists of 23 chapters written by leading researchers in their respective fields. Although each chapter is independent and self-contained (using its own notation, listed at the end of the chapter), the editors have taken the liberty of adding many cross-references to other chapters and sections.
Diffusion as the process of migration and mixing due to irregular movement of particles is one of the basic and ubiquitous phenomena in nature as well as in society. In the latter case the word "particles" may stand for men or ideas, and in the former for atoms or galaxies. In this sense diffusion is a truly universal and transdisciplinary topic. The present book is confined to diffusion of atoms and molecules.
As this process shows up in all states of matter over very large time and length scales, the subject is still very general involving a large variety of natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology and their interfacial disciplines. Besides its scientific interest, diffusion is of enormous practical relevance for industry and life, ranging from steel making to oxide/carbon dioxide exchange in the human lung.
The book consists of 23 chapters written by leading researchers in their respective fields. Although each chapter is independent and self-contained (using its own notation, listed at the end of the chapter), the editors have taken the liberty of adding many cross-references to other chapters and sections.