This book explores the foundations of hamiltonian dynamical systems and statistical mechanics, in particular phase transition, from the point of view of geometry and topology. A broad participation of topology in these fields has been lacking and this book will provide a welcome overview of the current research in the area, in which the author himself is a pioneer. Using geometrical thinking to solve fundamental problems in these areas, compared to the purely analytical methods usually used in physics could be highly productive. The author skillfully guides the reader, whether mathematician or physicists through the background needed to understand and use these techniques.

Dr. Marco Pettini is affiliated with the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica âEUR" Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arretri in Firenze, Italy.

From the foreword:

"It is in particular the quality of mind of the author and his deep physical, as well as mathematical insights, which make this book so special and inspiring. It is a "must" for those who want to venture into a new approach to old problems or want to use new tools for new problems." -- Professor E. G. D. Cohen, Rockefellar University, New York.

Autorentext
The author is one of few pioneering individuals in this recently emerged important research area. His book will be a unique contribution to the field.

Zusammenfassung
Itisaspecialpleasureformetowritethisforewordforaremarkablebookbya remarkableauthor.MarcoPettiniisadeepthinker,whohasspentmanyyears probing the foundations of Hamiltonian chaos and statistical mechanics, in particular phase transitions, from the point of view of geometry and topology. Itisinparticularthequalityofmindoftheauthorandhisdeepphysical,as well as mathematical insights which make this book so special and inspiring. It is a must for those who want to venture into a new approach to old problems or want to use new tools for new problems. Although topology has penetrated a number of ?elds of physics, a broad participationoftopologyintheclari?cationandprogressoffundamentalpr- lems in the above-mentioned ?elds has been lacking. The new perspectives topology gives to the above-mentioned problems are bound to help in their clari?cation and to spread to other ?elds of science. The sparsity of geometric thinking and of its use to solve fundamental problems, when compared with purely analytical methods in physics, could be relieved and made highly productive using the material discussed in this book. It is unavoidable that the physicist reader may have then to learn some new mathematics and be challenged to a new way of thinking, but with the author as a guide, he is assured of the best help in achieving this that is presently available.

Inhalt
Background in Physics.- Geometrization of Hamiltonian Dynamics.- Integrability.- Geometry and Chaos.- Geometry of Chaos and Phase Transitions.- Topological Hypothesis on the Origin.- Geometry, Topology and Thermodynamics.- Phase Transitions and Topology: Necessity Theorems.- Phase Transitions and Topology: Exact Results.- Future Developments.