Soft Matter Physics

From the reviews: "This book is an attempt to show the unity of soft matter systems. ... It is noteworthy that the authors have emphasized and discussed in detail that the order parameter has two characteristics: an amplitude and a phase (also called a degeneracy parameter). ... This book gives the conceptual means to classify the various types of singularities of an ordered medium. ... This book will be very useful for researchers and postgraduate students." (K. M. Salikhov, Applied Magnetic Resonance, Vol. 27 (3-4), 2004) "This monography on soft condensed matter originates from a series of lectures given by the authors ... . The book is clearly written by two world leading experts of the field, it is an excellent basis for a third cycle course on the physics of liquid crystals. The bibliography is up-to-date and a list of valuable interesting references is added. ... this book presents in a condensed but clear way many facets of a very rich and fascinating field. We recommend it ... ." (Jean-Pierre Gaspard, Physicalia, Vol. 26 (1), 2004)

• Condensed Matter: General Characteristics, the Chemical Bond, and Particle Interactions.- Atomic and Molecular Arrangements.- The Order Parameter: Amplitude and Phase.- Phase Transitions.- Elasticity of Mesomorphic Phases.- Dynamics of Isotropic and Anisotropic Fluids.- Fractals and Growth Phenomena.- Dislocations in Solids. Plastic Relaxation.- Dislocations in Smectic and Columnar Phases.- Curvature Defects in Smectics and Columnar Phases.- Disclinations and Topological Point Defects. Fluid Relaxation..- Topological Theory of Defects.- Surface Phenomena.- Stability of Colloidal Systems.- Polymers: Structural Properties.