Robert W. Batterman's Books

A Middle Way

A Non-Fundamental Approach to Many-Body Physics

By: Robert W. Batterman

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A Middle Way

A Non-Fundamental Approach to Many-Body Physics

By: Robert W. Batterman

Autonomy -- Hydrodynamics -- Brownian motion -- From Brownian motion to bending beams -- An engineering approach -- The right variables and natural kinds.

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189

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Oxford University Press

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ISBN 10

0197568610

ISBN 13

9780197568613

The Devil in the Details

Asymptotic Reasoning in Explanation, Reduction, and Emergence

By: Robert W. Batterman

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The Devil in the Details

Asymptotic Reasoning in Explanation, Reduction, and Emergence

By: Robert W. Batterman

Robert Batterman examines a form of scientific reasoning called asymptotic reasoning, arguing that it has important consequences for our understanding of the scientific process as a whole. He maintains that asymptotic reasoning is essential for explaining what physicists call universal behavior. With clarity and rigor, he simplifies complex questions about universal behavior, demonstrating a profound understanding of the underlying structures that ground them. This book introduces a valuable new method that is certain to fill explanatory gaps across disciplines.

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156

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Oxford University Press

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ISBN 10

0198033478

ISBN 13

9780198033479

A Middle Way

A Non-Fundamental Approach to Many-Body Physics

By: Robert W. Batterman

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A Middle Way

A Non-Fundamental Approach to Many-Body Physics

By: Robert W. Batterman

Robert W. Batterman's monograph examines a ubiquitous methodology in physics and the science of materials that has virtually been ignored in the philosophical literature. This method focuses on mesoscale structures as a means for investigating complex many-body systems. It challenges foundational pictures of physics where the most important properties are taken to be found at lower, more fundamental scales. This so-called "hydrodynamic approach" has its origins in Einstein's pioneering work on Brownian motion. This work can be understood to be one of the first instances of "upscaling" or homogenization whereby values for effective continuum scale parameters can be theoretically determined. Einstein also provided the first statement of what came to be called the "Fluctuation-Dissipation" theorem. This theorem justifies the use of equilibrium statistical mechanics to study the nonequilibrium behaviors of many-body systems. Batterman focuses on the consequences of the Fluctuation-Dissipation theorem for a proper understanding of what can be considered natural parameters or natural kinds for studying behaviors of such systems. He challenges various claims that such natural, or joint carving, parameters are always to be found at the most fundamental level. Overall, Batterman argues for mesoscale first, middle-out approach to many questions concerning the relationships between fundamental theories and their phenomenological, continuum scale cousins.

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189

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Oxford University Press

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ISBN 10

0197568637

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9780197568637

The Devil in the Details

Asymptotic Reasoning in Explanation, Reduction, and Emergence

By: Robert W. Batterman

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The Devil in the Details

Asymptotic Reasoning in Explanation, Reduction, and Emergence

By: Robert W. Batterman

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Oxford University Press, USA

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0195314883

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9780195314885

The Middle Way

A Non-fundamental Approach to Many-body Physics

By: Robert W. Batterman

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The Middle Way

A Non-fundamental Approach to Many-body Physics

By: Robert W. Batterman

This book focuses on a method for exploring, explaining, and understanding the behavior of large many-body systems. It describes an approach to non-equilibrium behavior that focuses on structures (represented by correlation functions) that characterize mesoscale properties of the systems. In other words, rather than a fully bottom-up approach, starting with the components at the atomic or molecular scale, the "hydrodynamic approach'' aims to describe and account for continuum behaviors by largely ignoring details at the "fundamental'' level. This methodological approach has its origins in Einstein's work on Brownian motion. He gave what may be the first instance of "upscaling'' to determine an effective (continuum) value for a material parameter---the viscosity. His method is of a kind with much work in the science of materials. This connection and the wide-ranging interdisciplinary nature of these methods are stressed. Einstein also provided the first expression of a fundamental theorem of statistical mechanics called the Fluctuation-Dissipation theorem. This theorem provides the primary justification for the hydrodynamic, mesoscale methodology. Philosophical consequences include an argument to the effect that mesoscale parameters can be the natural variables for characterizing many-body systems. Further, the book offers a new argument for why continuum theories (fluid mechanics and equations for the bending of beams) are still justified despite completely ignoring the fact that fluids and materials have lower scale structure. The book argues for a middle way between continuum theories and atomic theories. A proper understanding of those connections can be had when mesoscales are taken seriously"--

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0197568629

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9780197568620

Book's by Robert W. Batterman

A Middle Way

A Middle Way

The Devil in the Details

The Devil in the Details

A Middle Way

A Middle Way

The Devil in the Details

The Devil in the Details

The Middle Way

The Middle Way

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