In complex systems, the interactions between the systems parts may give rise to non-trivial collective properties that can hardly, if not at all, be inferred from properties of the parts. Complex systems science is typically interdisciplinary, with examples ranging from physics to biology, ecology and social sciences, but builds on a core of techniques characteristic of statistical physics and dynamical systems theory, This course aim at filling a gap in the current physics curriculum and presents a broad overview of concepts, techniques and tools commonly used in the study of complex phenomena, of physical, biological and socioeconomic kind.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of equilibrium statistical mechanics (as the one gained through the Statistical Physics I course) and/or of Dynamical Systems (as the one gained in the Physics of Dynamical Systems course)
Teaching Methods
The course is essentially based on lectures, during which the teacher presents the contents of the course in full detail, including mathematical derivations.
Assessment Methods
The examination is oral and it is divided into two parts: First of all, students are asked to choose (in agreement with the instructor) a topic among those covered in the course. In the first part of the exam, they will be asked to discuss it in sufficient depth both at a qualitative and quantitative level. This part of the exam is aimed at verifying: - the knowledge of the specific topic. - the understanding of its most important features - the capability of discussing it from a technical viewpoint. In the second part of the exam – in order to asses if the students have acquired a sufficient knowledge of the complex systems physics discussed during the semester — some aspect of the remaining topics will be discussed at a slightly more qualitative level, without the need of dwelling too deeply in the technical aspects. To successfully pass the exam students should demonstrate knowledge at the required level of all the topics presented in the course. The deeper the knowledge the better the evaluation. Full mark with laude is assigned only to students that accomplish completely the learning outcomes discussed above, showing a solid qualitative and quantitative comprehension of the course topics and the ability to re-elaborate them.
Contents
The course will mainly cover the following topics: Stochastic Processes Non-equilibrium Phenomena Pattern Formation Complex Networks Ideally, we will also illustrate each of this topics with a physical or biological application.
Course Language
English
More information
This course is active in 2023/24 and runs every two years, alternating with Statistical Physics II. Therefore Physics of Complex Systems will not be available in 2024/25. For questions/discussion/comments, students are invited to contact the teacher via email at the following address: francesco.ginelli@uninsubria.it
