Complex Systems and Energy

Complexity emerges in many descriptions of systems. It is a concept that may assume many different forms, depending on the particular and specific characteristics of each system. Nonlinearity, multiplicity of variables, dissipation, stability, and hierarchy are some properties that impact directly on systems complexity. The investigation of a phenomenon is traditionally operated following two paradigms. The study of the theoretical models and the evaluation of their experimental properties are traditionally in accordance with TE (Theory, Experiment) paradigm. With the availability of computers the simulation became an important third component of TES (Theory, Experiment, Simulation) paradigm. Theory and simulation are powerful artificial methodologies and tools that enable to investigate the structure of systems and processes, but the execution of experiments remains the only way to correctly evaluate the behavior of real systems. Is complexity in the descriptions of phenomena? Or is it a property of the phenomena? For a system this dichotomy emerges when it is necessary to understand the role of energy and energy transformations. In particular the involved powers cover a crucial role because they impact directly on the interactions among the systems and processes.