This book is an introduction to level set methods and dynamic implicit surfaces. These are powerful techniques for analyzing and computing moving fronts in a variety of different settings. While the book gives many examples of the usefulness of the methods for a diverse set of applications, it also gives complete numerical analysis and recipes, which will enable users to quickly apply the techniques to real problems.

The book begins with the description of implicit surfaces and their basic properties, and then devises the level set geometry and calculus toolbox, including the construction of signed distance functions. Part II adds dynamics to this static calculus. Topics include the level set equation itself, Hamilton-Jacobi equations, motion of a surface normal to itself, reinitialization to a signed distance function, extrapolation in the normal direction, the particle level set method, and the motion of codimension two (and higher) objects. Part III is concerned with topics taken from the field of image processing and computer vision. These include the restoration of images degraded by noise and blur, image segmentation with active contours (snakes), and reconstruction of surfaces from unorganized data points. Part IV is dedicated to computational physics. It begins with one-phase compressible fluid dynamics, then two-phase compressible flow involving possibly different equations of state, detonation and deflagration waves, and solid/fluid structure interaction. Next it discusses incompressible fluid dynamics, including a computer graphics simulation of smoke; free surface flows, including a computer graphics simulation of water; and fully two-phase incompressible flow. Additional related topics include incompressible flames with applications to computer graphics and coupling a compressible and incompressible fluid. Finally, heat flow and Stefan problems are discussed.

A student or researcher working in mathematics, computer graphics, science,or engineering interested in any dynamic moving front, which might change it's topology or develop singularities, will find this book interesting and useful.

Very hot area with a wide range of applications; Gives complete numerical analysis and recipes, which will enable readers to quickly apply the techniques to real problems; Includes two new techniques pioneered by Osher and Fedkiw; Osher and Fedkiw are internationally well-known researchers in this area

Preface * Part I Implicit Surfaces * Implicit Functions * Signed Distance Functions * Part II Level Set Methods * Motion in an Externally Generated Velocity Field * Motion Involving Mean Curvature * Hamilton-Jacobi Equations * Motion in the Normal Direction * Constructing Signed Distance Functions * Extrapolation in the Normal Direction * Particle Level Set Method * Codimension Two Objects * Part III Image Processing and Computer Vision * Image Restoration * Snakes, Active Contours and Segmentation * Reconstruction of Surfaces from Unorganized Data Points * Part IV Computational Physics * Hyperbolic Conservation Laws and Compressible Flow * Two Phase Compressible Flow * Shocks, Detonations and Deflagrations * Solid Fluid Coupling * Incompressible Flow * Free Surfaces * Liquid Gas Interactions * Two Phase Incompressible Flow * Low Speed Flames * Heat Flow