Phase Theory

This book provides a detailed and up to date review of the framework of phases (Chomsky 2000 and subsequent work). It explores the interaction between the narrow syntactic computation and the external systems from a minimalist perspective. As has sometimes been noted, "Phase Theory" is the current way to study the cyclic nature of the system, and 'phases' are therefore the natural locality hallmark, being directly relevant for phenomena such as binding, agreement, movement, islands, reconstruction, or stress assignment. This work discusses the different approaches to phases that have been proposed in the recent literature, arguing in favor of the thesis that the points of cyclic transfer are to be related to uninterpretable morphology (the ?-features on the heads C and v*). This take on phases is adopted in order to investigate raising structures, binding, subjunctive dependents, and object shift (word order) in Romance languages, as well as the nature of islands.

"This research survey combines an introduction to Phase Theory with an assessment of the state of the art in Phase Theory. The term Phase Theory refers to a set of theoretical innovations in post-2000 minimalism (Chomsky 2000RFA-087, 2001RFA-088, 2004RFA-089, 2005RFA-090, 2008RFA-092). One of the core ideas in minimalism is the idea that the language faculty is an optimal solution to the constraints imposed on it by the two cognitive systems with which it interacts:"--

An introduction to the role of Berry phases in our modern understanding of the physics of electrons in solids.

The overarching goal of this volume is to explore a number of recent developments in Phase Theory (both theoretical and empirical), thus contributing to our overall understanding of the concept of phases. The volume is divided into three parts, of which the first focuses on the traditional role played by phases in defining successive cyclicity, while at the same time examining the interaction between that traditional role and Chomsky (2013)’s proposal about labeling. The second part focuses on the question of whether only the highest projection of the clausal and nominal domain, CP and DP, are phases or whether those domains also contain an internal phase: vP and NP/NumP/QP, while the third part contains two chapters that focus on the extent to which ellipsis can be used as a reliable diagnostic for phasehood. As a whole, the volume provides a detailed and in-depth view on a number of recent developments in Phase Theory, which will likely continue to dominate the debate for several years to come.

Theory of Phase Transitions: Rigorous Results is inspired by lectures on mathematical problems of statistical physics presented in the Mathematical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest. The aim of the book is to expound a series of rigorous results about the theory of phase transitions. The book consists of four chapters, wherein the first chapter discusses the Hamiltonian, its symmetry group, and the limit Gibbs distributions corresponding to a given Hamiltonian. The second chapter studies the phase diagrams of lattice models that are considered at low temperatures. The notions of a ground state of a Hamiltonian and the stability of the set of the ground states of a Hamiltonian are also introduced. Chapter 3 presents the basic theorems about lattice models with continuous symmetry, and Chapter 4 focuses on the second-order phase transitions and on the theory of scaling probability distributions, connected to these phase transitions. Specialists in statistical physics and other related fields will greatly benefit from this publication.

Studies in Modern Thermodynamics, 3: Phase Theory: The Thermodynamics of Heterogeneous Equilibria focuses on the processes, methodologies, principles, and approaches employed in the determination of the thermodynamics of heterogeneous equilibria. The publication first elaborates on thermodynamic background, phase rule, and general relations for binary equilibria. Discussions focus on linear contributions, G-curves and phase diagram, function changes, Clapeyron's equation, derivation of phase rule, pressure and temperature, heat capacity, enthalpy, and Gibbs energy. The manuscript then examines demixing, isothermal liquid-vapor equilibria, isobaric equilibria between two mixed states, and isobaric equilibria between unmixed solid and mixed liquid state. Topics include phase diagrams, pure solid component with liquid mixture, equilibrium between two ideal states, calculation of phase diagrams, and types of phase diagram. The text ponders on the interpretation of TX phase diagrams and retrograde equilibrium curves, including retrograde solubility, regions of demixing, excess parameters, and eutectic systems. The publication is a valuable reference for researchers wanting to dig deeper into the thermodynamics of heterogeneous equilibria.

The Boundary Theory of Phase Diagrams and Its Application -- Rules for Phase Diagram Construction with Phase Regions and Their Boundaries presents a novel theory of phase diagrams. Thoroughly revised on the basis of the Chinese edition and rigorously reviewed, this book inspects the general feature and structure of phase diagrams, and reveals that there exist actually two categories of boundaries. This innovative boundary theory has solved many difficulties in understanding phase diagrams, and also finds its application in constructing multi-component phase diagrams or in calculating high-pressure phase diagrams. Researchers and engineers as well as graduate students in the areas of chemistry, metallurgy and materials science will benefit from this book. Prof. Muyu Zhao was the recipient of the 1998 Prize for Progress in Science and Technology (for his work on the boundary theory of phase diagrams) awarded by the National Commission of Education, China, and many other prizes.

This book will track advances in the application of phase response (PR) analysis to the study of electrically excitable cells, focusing on applications of PR analysis in the computational neurosciences. This proposal was motivated by discussions with colleagues at the 2007 meeting of the Organization for Computational Neuroscience (OCNS) and further motivated by the success of a workshop at the 2008 OCNS meeting this past July. At that meeting the editors hosted a workshop entitled A dialogue for theoreticians and experimentalists: What is phase response analysis, and what can it tell us about neurons and networks? Invited speakers used mathematical, modeling, and experimental results to illustrate how phase response analysis has been used to reveal or describe neuronal and neuronal population dynamics. This was the most well-attended workshop of the meeting and was standing room only.

A resource like no other-the first comprehensive guide to phase unwrapping Phase unwrapping is a mathematical problem-solving technique increasingly used in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry, optical interferometry, adaptive optics, and medical imaging. In Two-Dimensional Phase Unwrapping, two internationally recognized experts sort through the multitude of ideas and algorithms cluttering current research, explain clearly how to solve phase unwrapping problems, and provide practicable algorithms that can be applied to problems encountered in diverse disciplines. Complete with case studies and examples as well as hundreds of images and figures illustrating the concepts, this book features: A thorough introduction to the theory of phase unwrapping Eight algorithms that constitute the state of the art in phase unwrapping Detailed description and analysis of each algorithm and its performance in a number of phase unwrapping problems C language software that provides a complete implementation of each algorithm Comparative analysis of the algorithms and techniques for evaluating results A discussion of future trends in phase unwrapping research Foreword by former NASA scientist Dr. John C. Curlander Two-Dimensional Phase Unwrapping skillfully integrates concepts, algorithms, software, and examples into a powerful benchmark against which new ideas and algorithms for phase unwrapping can be tested. This unique introduction to a dynamic, rapidly evolving field is essential for professionals and graduate students in SAR interferometry, optical interferometry, adaptive optics, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Phase Locked Loops (PLLs) are electronic circuits used for frequency control. Anything using radio waves, from simple radios and cell phones to sophisticated military communications gear uses PLLs.The communications industry’s big move into wireless in the past two years has made this mature topic red hot again. The fifth edition of this classic circuit reference comes complete with extremely valuable PLL design software written by Dr. Best. The software alone is worth many times the price of the book. The new edition also includes new chapters on frequency synthesis, CAD for PLLs, mixed-signal PLLs, and a completely new collection of sample communications applications.