Proceedings of the 240 Conference Science's Great Challenges, Volume 157

Based on the '240' Conference held at the University of Chicago in September of 2012, this special volume of The Advances in Chemical Physics series celebrates scientific research contributions and careers of R. Stephen Berry, Stuart A. Rice and Joshua Jortner. In addition to continuing the chemical physics field with a forum for critical, authoritative evaluations of advances in the discipline, Volume 157 explores the following topics:

The Emergence and Breakdown of Complexity

Dynamics at Extremes

Grand Questions Regarding Biomolecular Homochirality in the Origin and Evolution of Life

The book:

• celebrates the scientific research contributions and careers of R. Stephen Berry, Stuart A. Rice and Joshua Jortner
• contributes to the only series available that presents the cutting edge of research in chemical physics
• includes contributions from experts in this field of research
• structured with an editorial framework that makes the book an excellent supplement to an advanced graduate class in physical chemistry or chemical physics

AARON R. DINNER received his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from Harvard University, after which he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford and the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the faculty at The University of Chicago in 2003.

STUART A. RICE received his master’s degree and doctorate from Harvard University and was a junior fellow at Harvard for two years before joining the faculty of The University of Chicago in 1957, where he is currently the Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus.

Part I The Emergence and Breakdown of Complexity

Features of Complexity 3
by Ronnie Kosloff

Exploring Quantum-Classical Boundary 19
by Kenji Ohmori

Transition from Atoms to Clusters to Condensed Matter 25
by Julius Jellinek

Free Energies of Staging a Scenario and Perpetual Motion Machines of the Third Kind 43
by Peter Salamon, Bjarne Andresen, Karl Heinz Hoffmann, James D. Nulton, Anca M. Segall, and Forest L. Rohwer

Finite-Time Thermodynamics Tools to Analyze Dissipative Processes 57
by Karl Heinz Hoffmann, Bjarne Andresen, and Peter Salamon

New Types of Complexity in Chemical Kinetics: Intersections, Coincidences, and Special Symmetrical Relationships 69
by G. S. Yablonsky, D. Constales, and G. B. Marin

Opportunities in the Area of Noise in Biological Reaction Networks 75
by Aaron R. Dinner

Thermodynamic Approach to Chemical Networks 85
by G. Nicolis and C. Nicolis

On the Emergence of Simple Structures in Complex Phenomena: Concepts and Some Numerical Examples 97
by Martin Quack

The Emergence of Simplicity from Complexity 119
by John D. Weeks and John C. Tully

Part II Dynamics at Extremes

On the Way to a Theory of Solid State Synthesis: Issues and Open Questions 125
by J. Christian Schön

Beyond Molecular Conduction: Optical and Thermal Effects in Molecular Junctions 135
by Abraham Nitzan

Thermal Conductance at the Interface Between Molecules 159
by David M. Leitner

Laser Energy Deposition in Nanodroplets and Nuclear Fusion Driven by Coulomb Explosion 165
by Andreas Heidenreich

Understanding Ultraintense x-ray Interactions with Matter 183
by Linda Young

Time-Dependent Computational Methods for Matter Under Extreme Conditions 195
by Barry I. Schneider, Klaus R. Bartschat, Xiaoxu Guan, David Feder, and Lee A. Collins

Elementary Excitations in Ultracold Finite Systems 215
by John Weiner

Part III Grand Questions

On Biomolecular Homochirality as a Quasi-Fossil of the Evolution of Life 249
by Martin Quack

Origins of Life 293
by Sydney Leach

Author Index 315

Subject Index 343

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