Advances in Chemical Physics, 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 LifeThe 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 Part I: The emergence and breakdown of complexity. Features of complexity / Ronnie Kosloff Exploring quantum-classical boundary / Kenji Ohmori Transition from atoms to clusters to condensed matter / Julius Jellinek Free energies of staging a scenario and perpetual motion machines of the third kind / Peter Salamon [and five others] Finite-time thermodynamics tools to analyze dissipative processes / Karl Heinz Hoffmann, Bjarne Andresen and Peter Salamon New types of complexity in chemical kinetics: intersections, coincidences, and special symmetrical relationships / G.S. Yablonsky, D. Constales, and G.B. Marin Opportunities in the area of noise in biological reaction networks / Aaron R. Dinner Thermodynamic approach to chemical networks / G. Nicolis, C. Nicolis On the emergence of simple structures in complex phenomena: concepts and some numerical examples / Martin Quack The emergence of simplicity from complexity / John D. Weeks, John C. Tully Part II: Dynamics at extremes. On the way to a theory of solid state synthesis: issues and open questions / J. Christion Schon Beyond molecular conduction: optical and thermal effects in molecular junctions / Abraham Nitzan Thermal conductance at the interface between molecules / David M. Leitner Laser energy deposition in nanodroplets and nuclear fusion driven by coulomb explosion / Andreas Heidenreich Understanding ultraintense X-ray interactions with matter / Linda Young Time-dependent computational methods for matter under extreme conditions / Barry I. Schneider [and four others] Elementary excitations in ultracold finit sytems / John Weiner Part III: Grand questions. On biomolecular homochirality as a quasi-fossil of the evolution of life / Martin Quack Origins of life / Sydney Leach. 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