A Dynamical Systems Theory of Thermodynamics

“This remarkable book studies thermodynamics within the framework of dynamical systems theory. A major contribution by any standard, it is a gem in the tiara of books being written by one of the most prolific, deep-thinking, and insightful researchers working today.”—Frank Lewis, University of Texas, Arlington“Haddad develops an original mathematical framework for thermodynamics deeply rooted in modern systems theory, threading postulates and analyses of a science that has evolved from the seemingly mundane quest for efficiency in steam engines to the flow of time and the workings of the cosmos and life itself. He succeeds in presenting an all-encompassing treatise, from the early works of Carnot and Clausius to the insights of relativity and the conundrum of the time arrow, in a lucid exposition that systematically details a rigorous base for future generations of scientists and theorists.”—Tryphon Georgiou, University of California, Irvine“By applying ideas and techniques from compartmental systems theory, Haddad’s treatise places thermodynamics on a solid foundation for the twenty-first century.“—Dennis Bernstein, University of Michigan“This effective blend of thermodynamics and the theory of dynamical systems provides a unified, coherent, and mathematically accurate framework that is currently missing in the literature. This is a significant contribution to several fields spanning dynamical systems, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and more. It will provide the underlying foundation for additional research and conceptual understanding of physical phenomena.”—Kyriakos G. Vamvoudakis, Georgia Institute of Technology

Wassim M. Haddad is a professor in the School of Aerospace Engineering, the David Lewis Chair in Dynamical Systems and Control, and chair of the Flight Mechanics and Control Discipline, all at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he also holds a joint appointment in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He is the coauthor of numerous books, including Stability and Control of Large-Scale Dynamical Systems and Nonlinear Dynamical Systems and Control (both Princeton).