Contemporary Problems in Statistical Physics

This collection of independent articles describes some mathematical problems recently developed in statistical physics and theoretical chemistry. The book introduces and reviews current research on such topics as nonlinear systems and colored noise, stochastic resonance, percolation, the trapping problem in the theory of random walks, and diffusive models for chemical kinetics. Some of these topics have never before been presented in expository book form. Applied mathematicians will be introduced to some contemporary problems in statistical physics. In addition, a number of unsolved problems currently attracting intensive research efforts are described.