This volume focuses on the thermodynamics and mechanics of dynamic phase transitions and the consequent issues of rapid solidification, liquification, and vaporization. The articles investigate fundamental questions associated with phase stability, metastability, and the reaction kinetics which determine the phase or phases that are attainable. Principle researchers in physics, mathematics, metallurgy, engineering, and molecular dynamics present key experimental observations, realistic modeling criteria, insights gained from large scale computations in molecular dynamics, and mathematical analyses of the resulting models. This book will be useful to physicists, mechanicians and applied mathematicians alike.