Comments on the Foundations of Fluctuations in Reactive Systems

Two basic approaches for dealing with reactive fluctuating physical systems are reviewed: the axiomatic approach of classical and/or quantum theory and the phenomenological stochastic approach. In practice the stochastic approach tends to be more flexible and amenable to combustion applications. Kinetic equations are developed for microscopic and macroscopic scales, and experiments are suggested to obtain data which would provide fundamental tests for the theories. (DDA)