Self-Organization and Complexity

 
Systems far from equilibrium like lasers, hydrodynamic flows and chemical reactions are able to spontaneously form

• spatial
• spatio-temporal
• as well as functional structures

In contrast to closed equilibrium systems, which due to the laws of thermodynamics  approach a stationary, structureless state, nonequilibrium systems are emergent systems: Due to the nonlinear interaction between microscopic subsystems systems far from equilibrium form spatio-temporal patterns which are not imposed from the outside. The processes of self-organization obey universal laws. The behaviour of quite different systems
can be treated on the basis of a uniform theory.

The scientific aims of the working bgroup on Self-Organization and Complexity are to explore universal properties of nonequilibrium systems with theoretical and numerical methods. Of considerable interests are methods of nonlinear dynamics like bifurcation thoery, chaos theory as well as methods of statistical physics and the theory of stochastic processes.

The following issues are under current investigation

• Basic mechanisms of pattern formation and self-organization
  
• Analysis of complex systems
• Stochastic processes
• Turbulent fields
  

Corresponding projects are funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft,  VolkswagenStiftung, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung.

The working group Self-Organization and Complexity is strongly involved in the research activities

• Sonderforschungsbereich 458: Ionic Motion in Materials with Disordered Structures-From Elementary Steps to Macroscopic Transport
  
• Deustch-Chinesicher Transregio 61: Multilevel Molecular Assemblies-Structure, Dynamics and Functions

A junior research group

• Theory and Ab-inition Simulation of Plasma Turbulence

(Impuls- und Vernetzungsfonds der Helmholtz Gesellschaft) headed by  Prof. Dr. F. Jenko (Max-Planck-Insitut für Plasmaphysik, Garching) is associated to the working group Self-Organization and Complexity.

The working group is a member of the Center of Nonlinear Science of the WWU Münster.