Nine international experts have contributed to this work to produce thirteen chapters that can be read independently or as a comprehensive whole with a logical line of reasoning.

The book was published in June 2005 by Springer Verlag, New York. Click here to visit the Springer website of the book with ordering information etc. The book contains 397 pages and 78 illustrations.

On this site you will find some excerpts of the book, such as the contents, introduction and the list of references. Furthermore a list of errata will be maintained and updated regularly.