Introductory Remarks

Abstract

Let us briefly recall what the aims of synergetics are. The word “synergetics” is composed of Greek words meaning “working together”. Practically all systems can be thought of being composed of individual parts such as atoms, molecules, cells, organs, animals,etc. In most cases the individual parts form an entity which may produce patterns, structures, or functions on macroscopic scales. Quite often the total system exhibits new qualities which are not present at the level of the individual parts, and at least in some disciplines the cooperation of the individual parts appears to be meaningful or purposeful. In synergetics we ask the question whether there are general principles which govern the selforganized behavior of such systems. Both in the inanimate and animate world we find numerous kinds of structures such as snowflakes, or patterns like rolls, hexagons, or square patterns in fluids which are heated from below. In chemistry we observe chemical waves, spirals, or chemical turbulence. The formation of patterns like stripes or dots on furs or of rings on butterfly wings has become accessible to modelling by means of certain reaction diffusion equations.