Soft Condensed Matter

By (author) Jones, Richard A.L.
Short description/annotation
Probably one of the most fashionable areas in the physical sciences today, ''Soft Condensed Matter'' provides an excellent introduction to the topic, and includes colloids, polymers, liquid crystals, and amphiphiles. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students of physics, chemistry, materials science and chemical engineering.
Description
The physics of soft condensed matter is probably one of the most ''fashionable'' areas in the physical sciences today. This book offers a coherent and clear introduction to the properties and behaviour of soft matter. It begins with a treatment of the general underlying principles: the relation of the structure and dynamics of solids and liquids to intermolecular forces, the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transitions, and the principles of self-assembly. Then the specific properties of colloids, polymers, liquid crystals and self-assembling amphiphilic systems are treated within this framework. A concluding chapter illustrates how principles of soft matter physics can be used to understand properties of biological systems. The focus on the essentials and the straightforward approach make the book suitable for students with either a theoretical or an experimental bias. The level is appropriate for final year undergraduates and beginning graduate students in physics, chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering.
Table of contents
1. Introduction and overview ; 2. Forces, energies and timescales in condensed matter ; 3. Phase transitions ; 4. Colloidal dispersions ; 5. Polymers ; 6. Gelation ; 7. Molecular order on soft condensed matter - liquid crystallinity ; 8. Molecular order in soft condensed matter - crystallinity in polymers ; 9. Supramolecular self-assembly in soft condensed matter ; 10. Soft matter in nature ; A. Some results from statistical mechanics ; B. The distribution function on an ideal random walk ; Bibliography
Review quote
... it will be an asset to my reference bookshelf.
Review quote
... well structured ... The author is a highly able physicist and this high level of understanding of the basis of the subject matter is reflected in the clear explanations given in turn to each section of this subject area.
Review quote
... an excellent introduction to the topic ... suitable for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students of physics, chemistry, materials science and chemical engineering.
Review quote
I found myself reading it from cover to cover. The equations were explained, the modifications to the theories that brought them into line with real life were outlined, and there wasn''t even all that much maths that I could skip. Maybe the physics has moved on or maybe Richard Jones has simply presented it more clearly and relevantly.
Biographical note
Prof. Richard A.L. Jones, University of Sheffield, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, Tel.: 0114/2224530, Fax: 0114/2728079, Email: r.a.l.jones@sheffield.ac.uk
Publisher''s notice
Prof. Richard A.L. Jones, University of Sheffield, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, Tel.: 0114/2224530, Fax: 0114/2728079, Email: r.a.l.jones@sheffield.ac.uk
Feature
Written for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Emphasis on physical principles. Unified treatment of polymers, colloids, liquid crystals, and amphiphiles. Applications of soft condensed matter physics in biology. Quantitative treatment using straightforward theoretical models. Many illustrative problems. Pointers to more advanced literature.
Version history
Written for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Emphasis on physical principles. Unified treat