Science for Everyone – Physics and Geometry of Disorder – Percolation Theory

We now come to another gem in the Science For Everyone series, Physics and Geometry of Disorder – Percolation Theory by A. L. Efros.

From the back cover:

This book is  about percolation theory and its various applications, which occur mostly in physics and chemistry. The book is self-sufficient in that it contains chapters on elementary probability theory and Monte Carlo simulation. Most attention is paid to the relationship between the geometrical and physical properties of systems in the vicinity of their percolation thresholds. The theory is applied to examples of impurity semiconductors and doped ferromagnetics, which demonstrate its universality. Although written for students at high schools, the book is very good reading for college students and will satisfy the curiosity of a physicist for whom this will be a first encounter with percolation theory.

The book was translated from the Russian by V. I. Kisin and was first published by Mir in 1986.

The Internet Archive Link and here

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Updated: 15 January 2019

Contents

Part  I. Site Percolation Problem 14

Chapter 1. Percolation Threshold 14
Two Pundits Shred a Wire Mesh (14).
What Is a Random Variable? (17).
Mean Value and Variance (18).
Why a Large Wire Mesh? (23).
Exercises (27).

Chapter 2. Basic Rules for Calculating Probabilities Continuous Random Variables 28
Events and Their probabilities (28).
Addition of Probabilities (30).
Multiplication of Probabilities (33).
Exercises (37).
Percolation Threshold in a 2 x 2 Network (37).
Exercise (40).
Continuous Random Variables (40).
Exercises (44).
Percolation Threshold as a Continuous Random Variable (44).
Exercise (48).

Chapter 3. Infinite Cluster 48
Permanent Magnet (48).
Doped Ferromagnetics (53).
Formation of an Infinite Cluster (56).
Exercise (59).
Site Percolation Problem Revisited (59).
Clusters at a Low Concentration of Magnetic Atoms(63).
Exercises (67).

Chapter 4 Solution of the Site Percolation Problem by Monte Carlo Computer Techniques 68
Why Monte Carlo? (68).
What Is the Monte Carlo Method? (70).
How to Think Up a Random Number (74).
The Mid—Square Method (76).
Exercises (78).
Linear Congruent Method (78).
Exercises (79).
Determination of Percolation Threshold. by Monte Carlo Simulation on a Computer. Distribution of Blocked and Non-blocked Sites (81).
Exercise (84).
Search for Percolation Path (85).
Determination of the Threshold (86).
Exercise (89).

Part II. Various Problems of Percolation Theory and Their Applications

Chapter 5. Problems on Two-Dimensional Lattices 90
We Are Planting an Orchard (the Bond Problem) (90).
Exercise (95).
Inequality relating x_b to x_s (95).
Exercise (98).
Covering and Containing; Lattices (98).
“White” Percolation and “Black” Percolation (105).
Dual Lattices (110).
Exercise (115).
Results for Plane Lattices (116).
Exercise (117).
Directed Percolation (117).

Chapter 6. Three—Dimensional Lattices and Approximate Evaluation of Percolation Thresholds 120
Three-Dimensional Lattices (121).
Percolation Thresholds for 3D Lattices (126).
Factors Determining Percolation Threshold in the Bond Problem (127).
How to Evaluate Percolation Threshold in the Site Problem (129).
Exercise (134).

Chapter 7. Ferromagnetics with Long-Range Interaction. The Sphere Problem 135
Ferromagnetics with Long-Range Interaction (136).
Exercise (140).
The Sphere (Circle) Problem (140).
The Circle (Sphere) Problem Is the Limiting Case Of the Site Problem (144).

Chapter 8. Electric Conduction of Impurity Semiconductors. The Sphere Problem 147
Intrinsic Semiconductors (147).
Impurity Semiconductors (150).
Transition to Metallic Electric Conduction at Increased Impurity Concentrations (158).
The Mott Transition and Sphere Problem (161).
Exercise (166).

Chapter 9. Various Generalizations of the Sphere Problem 166
Inclusive Figures of Arbitrary Shape (166).
The Ellipsoid Problem (169).
Other Surfaces (173).
Another Experiment at the House Kitchen. The Hard-Sphere Problem (174).

Chapter 10. Percolation Level 179
“The Flood” (179).
How to Construct a Random Function (182).
Analogy to the Site Problem (185).
Percolation Levels in Plane and Three Dimensional Problems (186).
Impurity Compensation in Semiconductors (189).
Motion of a Particle with Nonzero Potential Energy (190).
Motion of an Electron in the Field of Impurities (192).

Part III. Critical Behavior of Various Quantities Near Percolation Threshold. Infinite Cluster Geometry 195

Chapter 11 The Bethe Lattice
Rumors (196).
Solution of the Site Problem on the Bethe Lattice (200).
Discussion (204).
Exercise (206).

Chapter 12. Structure of Infinite Clusters 206
The Shklovskii—de Gennes Model (206).
Role of the System’s Size (210).
Electric Conduction Near Percolation Threshold (215).
Exercise. (219).
Function P (X) Near Percolation Threshold. Role Played by Dead—Ends (219).
Universality of Critical Exponents (222).

Chapter 13. Hopping Electric Conduction 226
Mechanism of Hopping Conduction (227).
Resistor Network (229).
Properties of Resistor NetworK (231).
The Sphere` Problem Revisited (232).
Calculation of Resistivity (233). Discussion of the Result (235).

Chapter 14. Final Remarks 237
Some Applications (237).
What Is Percolation Theory, After All? (240)

Answers and Solutions 242
Chapter 1 (242). Chapter 2 (244). Chapter 3 (246).
Chapter 4 (249). Chapter 5 (250). Chapter 6 (256).
Chapter 7 (257). Chapter 8 (257). Chapter 11 (257).
Chapter 12 (258).

#chemistry #disorder #efros #mathematics #mirPublishers #monteCarloMethod #percolationTheory #physics #popularScience #probability #scienceForEveryone

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Science for Everyone – Taking Stock

The last post In the World of Binary Stars, completed the titles of Science for Everyone series that were accessible. When the original post was made with the listings we had listed 37 titles, out of which many are posted already. In this post I will make a stock of what has been accomplished and what remains to be done. Any inputs of how and where to get to the remaining books in this series would be greatly appreciated. This effort would not have been possible without all the people who have given their help, advise and support, mental, physical or otherwise. All credits to the respective, original uploaders! Thanks to all!!

The listing below is done year wise. The books that are with us are presented with links and the books that are not and are in red text and we need to get them.

Only 4 to go!

Update: Science for Everyone all files in one place here.

Password: https://www.mirtitles.org

Thanks to Desperaomar for these links.

Update Jan 2020: We have added four more titles. Only one Earth, Sweet Earth remains now.

 

Aptitude Test Problems in Physics S. S. Krotov [Ed.] 1990

Differential Equations in Applications V. V. Amel’kinn 1990

Discussions on Refraction of Light L. V. Tarasov, A. N. Tarasova 1984

Earth, Sweet Earth Ekaterina Radkevich 1990

Electrons and Crystals Th. Wolkenstein 1985

Elementary Kinematics of Elementary Particles G. I. Kopylov 1983

Encounters with Physicists and Physics I.K. Kikoin. 1989

Ethology What animals do and Why Igor Akimushkin 1988 (Link added 08-10-2013)

Flying Trains G. Zelkin 1986

How We See What We See V. Demidov 1986

In The World of Binary Stars V. N. Lipunov 1989

Learning About Chemistry G. B. Shul’pin. 1989 (Link added 20-10-2013)

Luminescence in Public Health N. N Barashkov 1988

Me or Not Me R. V. Petrov 1987

Modern Geology N.A. Yasamanov 1990

Mystery of Minerology B.I. Srebrodolsky 1989

Origin and Chemical Evolution of the Earth G.V. Voitkevich 1988

(Got the hard copy to be scanned)

Origin and Development of Life on Earth G.V. Voitkevich 1988

Our Planet – The Earth A.V. Byalko. 1987

Physics and Geometry of Disorder: Percolation Theory A. L. Efros 1986

Physics In Your Kitchen Lab I. K. Kikoin (Ed.) 1985

Problems in Plane Geometry I. F. Sharygin 1986

Problems in Solid Geometry I. F. Sharygin 1986

Puppets Without Strings V.I. Varshavsky, D.A. Pospelov 1988

(Got the hard copy to be scanned)

Physical Paradoxes and Sophisms V. N. Lange 1987

Satellite and Typhoon : Eye to Eye S.N. Baibakov and A.I. Martynov 1987

Semiconductors Made Simple A. M. Polyakov 1985

Silhouettes of Chemistry D. N. Trifonov, L. G. Vlasov 1987

Storming The Fortress of Fusion G. S. Voronov 1988

Traces of Bygone Biospheres A. V. Lapo 1987

Temperature Ya. A. Smorodisnky 1984

The Grand Biological Clock V.M. Dilman 1989

The Greatest Speed S.R. Filonovich 1986

The Nature of Magnetism M.I. Kaganov, V.M. Tsukernik 1985

This Fascinating Astronomy V. N. Komarov 1985

The Progeny of Volcanoes P.N. Erofeev 1986

Yes, No or Maybe Ya. I Khurgin 1985

#books #mirPublilshers #scienceForEveryone

Science for everyone - Pastebin.com

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Looking for the last of Science For Everyone – Earth, Sweet Earth by Ekaterina Radkevich

For many years we are looking for this book in the Science for Everyone series. If anyone has access to this book please do let us know, this will complete the series!

 

 

#geology #scienceForEveryone

How Did I End Up Hosting Science Talks on a Tropical Island??

So… I somehow ended up helping host a science festival on a remote tropical island… and yeah, it was as wild as it sounds. 🌴

Welcome to Lord Howe Island Dark Skies Festival — where I ran nightscape photography courses, helped host the pub science talks (yes, actual science… in a pub), led the kids’ "Blast Off!" space class, explored the glowing light walk, visited the Lord Howe Island Distillery (because science needs gin), and spent every night imaging under some of the darkest skies on Earth.

Between the stargazing, science chaos, and way too many camera batteries, this was one of the most unexpectedly amazing trips I’ve been on.

Seriously… how did I end up here?

🔭✨🧪🍸

https://youtu.be/p784nyhK-hc

#ScienceFestival #DarkSkies #Astrophotography #LordHoweIsland #NightscapePhotography #SpaceLovers #AstronomyLife #StargazingNights #TelescopeTime #AstroAdventure #ExploreAustralia #ScienceForEveryone #PhotographyTrip #TravelWithPurpose #BackyardAstronomy #AstroVibes #EducationalFun #IslandLife #SpaceEducation #OutreachMatters

Citizen science in 2025 empowers individuals to contribute to research through projects in biodiversity, astronomy, and climate monitoring, using accessible technology and community-driven data collection.
#CitizenScience #ScienceForEveryone #DIYScience #NatureTracking #ClimateAction #AstronomyAtHome #WildlifeMonitoring #ScienceVolunteers
https://www.scientificworldinfo.com/2025/03/easy-citizen-science-projects-to-try.html
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