Maximum Entropy in Action: A Collection of Expository Essays [Paperback]

Brian Buck (Editor), Vincent A. Macaulay (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0198539630 | ISBN-13: 978-0198539636

This book is a collection of introductory, interdisciplinary articles and lectures covering the fundamentals of the maximum entropy approach, a powerful new technique that provides a much needed extension of the established principles of rational inference in the sciences. Maximum entropy allows the interpretation of incomplete and "noisy" data, providing a description of the underlying physical systems. It has found application in both practical and theoretical studies ranging from image enhancement to nuclear physics, and from statistical mechanics to economics. The work explores these applications with specific problems of data analysis taken from the physical sciences. It will interest all physical scientists who deal with data and its interpretation, including statisticians and statistical physicists.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'the book is quite up-to-date ... generally very positive impression given by this book, which includes research results extending up to 1991 ... This fascinating universal concept opens up many new possibilities for the analysis of spectra, images, and X-ray scattering data. Because of the wide range of aspects covered in this book, it can be thoroughly recommended.' Christian Griesinger, Institut fur Organische Chemie der Universitat Frankfurt/Main, Angewandte Chemie, 31/7, 1992

'a useful and enlightening introduction to the general subject area and a reader interested in learning about possible applications of maximum entropy techniques could do far worse than to start by reading the concrete subject-centered articles in this volume' George H. Weiss, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Journal of Statistical Physics, Vol. 70, Nos 3/4, 1993

`The volume is rather welcome not only because it is almost unique in this field, but also because it spans commendably the gulf between elementary ideas and their technical applications ... a collection of nice expositions that can provide a solid introduction to the use of maximum-entropy techniques in data analysis, and in that sense fills a definite need.' W.T. Grandy, University of Wyoming, Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics, Vol. 57, No. 1, 1995

About the Author

Vincent A. Macaulay is at University of Oxford.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (September 26, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198539630
• ISBN-13: 978-0198539636
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,785,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Physics > Entropy