Unit INVESTIGATIONS INTO COMPLEX SYSTEMS
- Course
- Chemical sciences
- Study-unit Code
- A003059
- Curriculum
- Chimica fisica
- Teacher
- Pier Luigi Gentili
- Teachers
-
- Pier Luigi Gentili
- Hours
- 59 ore - Pier Luigi Gentili
- CFU
- 7
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2026
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Inorganico-chimico fisico
- Sector
- CHEM-02/A
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian, English
- Contents
- Features of Complex Systems and Epistemological Complexity. Foundations of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics and Non-Linear Dynamics. Oscillating chemical reactions. Chaos and Fractals. The students will carry out four laboratory experiments to experience the principles of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics and Non-Linear Dynamics.
- Reference texts
- P. L. Gentili, “Untangling Complex Systems: A Grand Challenge for Science”, CRC Press, 2018, ISBN 9781466509429.
- Educational objectives
- The graduate students in Chemical Science learn the principles of Out-of-Equilibrium Thermodynamics and Non-Linear Dynamics only in “Investigation into Complex Systems”. This course's primary purpose is to give the students the conceptual and methodological bases to face the interdisciplinary analysis of Complex Systems. The central notions that must be learned by students are:
•evolutionary criteria of the physical and chemical systems in out-of-equilibrium conditions;
•self-organization;
•deterministic chaos and fractal structures;
•Natural and Epistemological Complexity.
All these notions will allow students to:
•predict the evolution of out-of-equilibrium systems;
•experimental investigation of the self-organizing chemical and physical systems;
•appreciate the limits of science in predicting the behavior of deterministic chaotic systems;
•characterize Fractal structures. - Prerequisites
- Knowledge of the Equilibrium Thermodynamics.
- Teaching methods
- The course is organised in two stages. The first stage consists of the frontal lessons proposed in the classroom and regarding all the subjects of the course. It is assisted by short movies available on the web. The second stage consists of four experiments requiring six hours each. The experiments will be carried out in the Photophysics and Photochemistry Laboratory of the Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology Department. Students are split into groups (having no more than three students) and perform the experiments in parallel by using distinct facilities available in the Laboratory.
- Other information
- For any question, please get in touch with the teacher.
- Learning verification modality
- The learning of the course topics is tested in two ways. First, a written test that consists of laboratory reports. Second, an oral test with questions related to the topics covered in the frontal part of the course. The reports must be delivered before facing the oral exam. The laboratory reports will allow the teacher to verify the ability to process and present the experimental data. The oral test will include questions on the principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and non-linear dynamics. Students will have to demonstrate that they have learned the fundamental methodologies and principles to deal with the investigation into complex systems. The oral exam will last between 30 and 40 minutes.
Students with disabilities and/or with DSA are invited to visit the page dedicated to the tools and measures envisaged and to agree in advance on what is necessary with the teacher (https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e -dsa). - Extended program
- The subjects proposed are: 1) Introduction to the Natural Complexity and the Science of Complexity. 2) Detailed analysis of the II Law of Thermodynamics. 3) Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics. Flows and Forces. Linear and Non-Linear regimes. Entropy Production and evolutionary criteria for the out-of-equilibrium systems. 4) Linear stability analysis of the stationary states: stable, unstable, and oscillatory stationary states. 5) Oscillatory ecological relationships, chemical and biochemical reactions; chemical waves; Turing structures. Periodic Precipitations. 6) More insight on the Non-Linear regime: Bifurcations and deterministic Chaos. The case of convection. 7) Fractals. 8) Natural and Epistemological Complexities. Strategies to face global challenges. Four experiments involving out-of-equilibrium systems are carried out in the laboratory.
- Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- The 2030 Agenda includes global challenges. To face these global challenges, it is necessary to know Complex Systems. This course provides essential principles and methodologies for understanding and managing Complex Systems and, therefore, favors the achievement of the objectives of the 2030 Agenda.