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Group action analysis developed and applied mainly by Louis Michel to the study of N-dimensional periodic lattices is the main subject of the book. Different basic mathematical tools currently used for the description of lattice geometry are introduced and illustrated through applications to crystal structures in two- and three-dimensional space, to abstract multi-dimensional lattices and to lattices associated with integrable dynamical systems. Starting from general Delone sets authors turn to different symmetry and topological classifications including explicit construction of orbifolds for two- and three-dimensional point and space groups. Voronoï and Delone cells together with positive quadratic forms and lattice description by root systems are introduced to demonstrate alternative approaches to lattice geometry study. Zonotopes and zonohedral families of 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-dimensional lattices are explicitly visualized using graph theory approach. Along with crystallographic applications, qualitative features of lattices of quantum states appearing for quantum problems associated with classical Hamiltonian integrable dynamical systems are shortly discussed. The presentation of the material is done through a number of concrete examples with an extensive use of graphical visualization. The book is addressed to graduated and post-graduate students and young researches in theoretical physics, dynamical systems, applied mathematics, solid state physics, crystallography, molecular physics, theoretical chemistry, ...

What makes one scientist a good communicator and another a poor one? How communicate scientific results through adequate and efficient scientific writing? How does the editorial process of a journal function, and why do scientific papers need to be refereed? All these questions, and many more, led the Board of Directors of the leading professional journal Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) and its publisher EDP Sciences to organize, under the direction of Christiaan Sterken, the Scientific Writing for Young Astronomers courses for beginning PhD Students. This book contains a set of seven lectures that were delivered during two schools that took place in 2008 and 2009 in Blankenberge, Belgium. The contributions discuss all aspects of scientific publication, from the history and operations of A&A, its Editors' views of the peerreview and publishing processes, and the publication process as seen from the Publisher's side. Two chapters written by the A&A language editors deal with the principles of effective scientific writing. The last two contributions focus on the use of library services and large database facilities in the context of astronomical research and publication.

Le parc electronucleaire francais est l'un des plus importants de la planete. Ils suscitent, comme tout ce qui concerne le nucleaire, de nombreuses interrogations. Ainsi, les grands enjeux autour de ce parc sont des themes essentiels pour l'autonomie energetique sont la surete, la disponibilite, la radioprotection et la protection de l'environnement. Fruit d'un retour d'experience de plus de 1100 campagnes d'irradiation realisees sur 4 paliers de tranches depuis 1977, le present ouvrage presente la declinaison industrielle et quotidienne de ces enjeux, dans le domaine de l'exploitation des c urs. Les principes et objectifs de la gestion du combustible sont tout d'abord rappeles et illustres par un historique l'ensemble des gestions mises en uvre sur le parc des reacteurs; l'elaboration des plans de chargement est ensuite decrite, et on aborde les contraintes techniques industrielles ainsi que les enjeux economiques et de surete. La surveillance du c ur en exploitation est traitee au travers de la description de l'instrumentation des REP et de son utilisation dans le cadre des essais physiques periodiques et de redemarrage. Le volet surete presente les risques encourus par la premiere barriere (gaine du combustible) et expose les principes des systemes de surveillance et de protection des c urs. La disponibilite et le service au reseau, exigence specifique au parc nucleaire francais qui assure 80 % de la production nationale d'electricite, sont illustres dans le chapitre consacre au pilotage des c urs, avec le rappel des phenomenes physiques associes et la description des differents modes de pilotage utilises. Enfin, l'application de la reglementation est abordee a partir de quelques elements des Regles Generales d'Exploitation lies au combustible. Cet ouvrage interessera les etudiants en sciences et techniques nucleaires, mais egalement la communaute des ingenieurs et techniciens qui optimisent, exploitent et surveillent les nombreux reacteurs a eau pressurisee du parc electronucleaire francais.

La théorie quantique des champs, la physique des particules, l'astrophysique des hautes énergies, etc. sont autant de domaines de la physique moderne qui s'appuient sur la relativité restreinte. Celle-ci est ici présentée en adoptant directement un point de vue quadridimensionnel, c'est-à-dire en passant par l'espace-temps de Minkowski. Ce livre scientifique a ceci de particulier qu'il ne se limite pas aux référentiels inertiels et considère des observateurs accélérés ou en rotation. Cela permet de discuter simplement et de manière rigoureuse d'effets physiques tels que la précession de Thomas ou l'effet Sagnac. Les derniers chapitres abordent des aspects plus avancés: champs tensoriels, calcul extérieur, hydrodynamique relativiste et traitement de la gravitation. Illustré et agrémenté de nombreuses notes historiques, cet ouvrage fait une part belle aux applications, de la physique des particules (accélérateurs, collisions de particules, plasma quark-gluon) à l'astrophysique (jets relativistes, noyaux actifs de galaxie), en passant par les applications pratiques (gyromètres à effet Sagnac, rayonnement synchrotron, GPS). Le livre contient également des développements mathématiques tels que l'analyse détaillée du groupe de Lorentz et de son algèbre de Lie.

Where will humanity stand at the dawn of the 22nd century? The answer depends on our determination to control the powerful transformations that accompany the beginning of the 21st: unprecedented demographic growth, ageing of populations, irrepressible migratory flows, dramatic reduction of some natural resources, disruption of millennial climatic cycles, rapid spread of new pathologies... A number of these transformations are part of the generally complex, often inevitable evolution of our planet, not only geo-ecologically, but also in economics, politics, society... However, many of them present a challenge to development, that unique ability of human societies to improve their condition To cope with these evolutions and threats, the resources offered by science have never seemed so crucial, even if science alone cannot provide the answer. Nothing less than a scientific revolution is needed, a revolution that will give us more durable control of our destiny, leading to a world of greater solidarity and respect of our environment. All, or almost all, scientific disciplines are concerned. But the life sciences are more than any other, already engaged as they are today in a process of profound change in their concepts, exploratory techniques and applications.

The diverse forms that stars assume in the course of their lives can all be derived from the initial conditions: the mass and the original chemical composition. In this textbook Stars and Stellar Evolution the basic concepts of stellar structure and the main roads of stellar evolution are described. First, the observable parameters are presented, which are based on the radiation emerging from a stellar atmosphere. Then the basic physics is described, such as the physics of gases, radiation transport, and nuclear processes, followed by essential aspects of modelling the structure of stars. After a chapter on star formation, the various steps in the evolution of stars are presented. This leads us to brown dwarfs, to the way a star changes into the red-giant state and numerous other stages of evolution and ultimately to the stellar ashes such as white dwarfs, supernovae and neutron stars. Stellar winds, stellar rotation and convection all in uence the way a star evolves. The evolution of binary stars is included by using several canonical examples in which interactive processes lead to X-ray binaries and supernovae of type Ia. Finally, the consequences of the study of stellar evolution are tied to observed mass and luminosity functions and to the overall evolution of matter in the universe. The authors aim at reaching an understanding of stars and their evolution by both graduate students and astronomers who are not themselves investigating stars. To that end, numerous graphs and sketches, among which the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram is the dominant one, help trace the ways of stellar evolution. Ample references to specialised review articles as well as to relevant research papers are included.

This book gives a progress report on the many and original contributions of radiation chemistry to the fundamental knowledge of the vast domain of chemical reactions and its applications. Radiation chemistry techniques indeed make it possible to elucidate detailed physicochemical mechanisms in inorganic and organic chemistry (including in space) and in biochemistry. Moreover, this comprehension is applied in materials science to precisely control syntheses by radiation, such as radiopolymerisation, radiografting, speci c treatment of surfaces (textiles, paintings, inks, etc.), synthesis of complex nanomaterials, degradation of environmental pollutants and radioresistance of materials for nuclear reactors. In life sciences, the study of the effects of radiation on biomacromolecules (DNA, proteins, lipids) not only permits the comprehension of normal or pathological biological mechanisms, but also the improvement of our health. In particular, many advances in cancer radiotherapy, in the radioprotection of nuclear workers and the general population, as well as in the treatment of diseases and the radiosterilization of drugs, could be obtained thanks to this research. Abundantly illustrated and written in English by top international specialists who have taken care to render the subjects accessible, this work will greatly interest those curious about a scienti c eld that is new to them and students attracted by the original and multidisciplinary aspects of the eld. At a time when radiation chemistry research is experiencing spectacular development in numerous countries, this book will attract many newcomers to the eld.

Originally just an offshoot of nuclear physics, neutron physics soon became a branch of physics in its own right. It deals with the movement of neutrons in nuclear reactors and all the nuclear reactions they trigger there, particularly the fi ssion of heavy nuclei which starts a chain reaction to produce energy. Neutron Physics covers the whole range of knowledge of this complex science, discussing the basics of neutron physics and some principles of neutron physics calculations. Because neutron physics is the essential part of reactor physics, it is the main subject taught to students of Nuclear Engineering. This book takes an instructional approach for that purpose. Neutron Physics is also intended for all physicists and engineers involved in development or operational aspects of nuclear power.