Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications [Paperback]

Nonextensive statistical mechanics is now a rapidly growing field and a new stream in the research of the foundations of statistical mechanics. This generalization of the well-known Boltzmann--Gibbs theory enables the study of systems with long-range interactions, long-term memories or multi-fractal structures. This book consists of a set of self-contained lectures and includes additional contributions where some of the latest developments -- ranging from astro- to biophysics -- are covered. Addressing primarily graduate students and lecturers, this book will also be a useful reference for all researchers working in the field.Nonextensive statistical mechanics is now a rapidly growing field and a new stream in the research of the foundations of statistical mechanics. This generalization of the well-known Boltzmann--Gibbs theory enables the study of systems with long-range interactions, long-term memories or multi-fractal structures. This book consists of a set of self-contained lectures and includes additional contributions where some of the latest developments -- ranging from astro- to biophysics -- are covered. Addressing primarily graduate students and lecturers, this book will also be a useful reference for all researchers working in the field.Lectures on Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics.- I. Nonextensive Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics: Historical Background and Present Status.- II. Quantum Density Matrix Description of Nonextensive Systems.- III. Tsallis Theory, the Maximum Entropy Principle, and Evolution Equations.- IV. ComputationalMetho ds for the Simulation of Classical and Quantum Many Body Systems Arising from Nonextensive Thermostatistics.- Further Topics.- V. Correlation Induced by Nonextensivity and the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.- VI. Dynamic and Thermodynamic Stability of Nonextensive Systems.- VII. Generalized Simulated Annealing Algorithms Using Tsallis Statistics: Application to ?J Spin Glass Model.- VIII. Protein Folding Simulationl³„