12/1/03
8
Complex Systems
¥
Many interacting elements
¥
Local vs. global order: entropy
¥
Scale (space, time)
¥
Phase space
¥
Difficult to understand
¥
Open systems
open systems
¥entropy can decrease in open system
¥nonequilibrium thermodynamics (dissipative systems, irreversible processes)
¥energy flow can create structure
¥self-sustaining (persistent) nonequilibrium system