Series on Directions in Condensed Matter Physics – serie

The occurrence of fractional statistics has been discovered in more and more quantum field theory models, including some of the most geometrical and canonical ones. In a remarkable case, the fractional quantum statistics of quasiparticles in the fractional quantized Hall effect (FQHE) contributes to the understanding of states found there. Very recent work has indicated that similar possibilities arise for two-dimensional films in certain states of liquid 3He. Perhaps most exciting, although quite speculative at this moment, are recent attempts to apply fractional statistics to spin systems, and specifically to the behaviour of the 2-dimensional copper oxide layers that seem to be critical to the phenomenon of high-temperature superconductivity. It has recently been shown that fractional statistics automatically implies superconductivity of a qualitatively new kind. This collection of reprints with comprehensive commentary will serve as a valuable reference for those interested in the subject but have found it difficult to acquire basic knowledge, or a coherent view of the whole, due to the scattered literature available at present.

The occurrence of fractional statistics has been discovered in more and more quantum field theory models, including some of the most geometrical and canonical ones. In a remarkable case, the fractional quantum statistics of quasiparticles in the fractional quantized Hall effect (FQHE) contributes to the understanding of states found there. Very recent work has indicated that similar possibilities arise for two-dimensional films in certain states of liquid 3He. Perhaps most exciting, although quite speculative at this moment, are recent attempts to apply fractional statistics to spin systems, and specifically to the behaviour of the 2-dimensional copper oxide layers that seem to be critical to the phenomenon of high-temperature superconductivity. It has recently been shown that fractional statistics automatically implies superconductivity of a qualitatively new kind. This collection of reprints with comprehensive commentary will serve as a valuable reference for those interested in the subject but have found it difficult to acquire basic knowledge, or a coherent view of the whole, due to the scattered literature available at present.

This review volume provides the most up-to-date and authoritative description of research on icosahedral solids, which has advanced rapidly since the discovery of these unique materials in 1984. The present book, intended as a companion volume to the reprint volume on The Physics of Quasicrystals edited by P Steinhardt and S Ostlund, will be invaluable to graduate students and workers in the field as a comprehensive reference. Scientists in related fields can use it as a readable introduction to the important current problems in quasicrystals. The chapters have been written by many of the most prominent theorists and experimentalists on quasicrystals, both physicists and materials scientists, from around the world. Especially exciting are the details of the recent discovery of “perfect quasi-crystals”, new materials which promise to be an ideal form of quasiperiodic matter with little or no disorder. Other topics include: electron, X-ray and neutron quasi-crystallography, scanning tunneling microscopy studies, electronic transport experiments, quasicrystal faceting and statistical mechanics, growth rules and matching rules for quasicrystals, group theory and elasticity theory.

This review volume provides the most up-to-date and authoritative description of research on icosahedral solids, which has advanced rapidly since the discovery of these unique materials in 1984. The present book, intended as a companion volume to the reprint volume on The Physics of Quasicrystals edited by P Steinhardt and S Ostlund, will be invaluable to graduate students and workers in the field as a comprehensive reference. Scientists in related fields can use it as a readable introduction to the important current problems in quasicrystals. The chapters have been written by many of the most prominent theorists and experimentalists on quasicrystals, both physicists and materials scientists, from around the world. Especially exciting are the details of the recent discovery of “perfect quasi-crystals”, new materials which promise to be an ideal form of quasiperiodic matter with little or no disorder. Other topics include: electron, X-ray and neutron quasi-crystallography, scanning tunneling microscopy studies, electronic transport experiments, quasicrystal faceting and statistical mechanics, growth rules and matching rules for quasicrystals, group theory and elasticity theory.

The Luttinger Model is the only model of many-fermion physics with legitimate claims to be both exactly and completely solvable. In several respects it plays the same role in many-body theory as does the 2D Ising model in statistical physics.Interest in the Luttinger model has increased steadily ever since its introduction half a century ago. The present volume starts with reprints of the seminal papers in which it was originally introduced and solved, and continues with several contributions setting out the landscape of the principal advances of the last fifty years and of prominent new directions.

Given the Debye temperature of an elemental superconductor (SC) and its Tc, BCS theory enables one to predict the value of its gap Δ0 at T = 0, or vice versa. This monograph shows that non-elemental SCs can be similarly dealt with via the generalized BCS equations (GBCSEs) which, given any two parameters of the set {Tc, Δ10, Δ20 > Δ10}, enable one to predict the third. Also given herein are new equations for the critical magnetic field and critical current density of an elemental and a non-elemental SC — equations that are derived directly from those that govern pairing in them.The monograph includes topics that are usually not covered in any one text on superconductivity, e.g., BCS-BEC crossover physics, the long-standing puzzle posed by SrTiO3, and heavy-fermion superconductors — all of which are still imperfectly understood and therefore continue to avidly engage theoreticians. It suggests that addressing the Tcs, Δs and other properties (e.g., number densities of charge carriers) of high-Tc SCs via GBCSEs incorporating chemical potential may lead to tangible clues about raising their Tcs. The final chapter in this monograph deals with solar emission lines and quarkonium spectra because of a feature common between them and superconductivity: existence of a bound state in a medium at finite temperature. This is a problem on which the author has worked for more than 25 years. The treatment in the text is elementary — even those who have only a cursory familiarity with Feynman diagrams should be able to follow it without much difficulty.

This volume collects several in-depth articles giving lucid discussions on new developments in statistical and condensed matter physics. Many, though not all, contributors had been in touch with the late S-K Ma. Written by some of the world's experts and originators of new ideas in the field, this book is a must for all researchers in theoretical physics. Most of the articles should be accessible to diligent graduate students and experienced readers will gain from the wealth of materials contained herein.

This volume collects several in-depth articles giving lucid discussions on new developments in statistical and condensed matter physics. Many, though not all, contributors had been in touch with the late S-K Ma. Written by some of the world's experts and originators of new ideas in the field, this book is a must for all researchers in theoretical physics. Most of the articles should be accessible to diligent graduate students and experienced readers will gain from the wealth of materials contained herein.

This book covers a wide range of topics on the interaction of alternating magnetic field with condensed matter, including superradiant process, proton echo, gamma resonance, scattering of light by condensed matter near critical points, electromagnetically induced phase transitions and some mathematical problems describing the phenomena mentioned.

This book covers a wide range of topics on the interaction of alternating magnetic field with condensed matter, including superradiant process, proton echo, gamma resonance, scattering of light by condensed matter near critical points, electromagnetically induced phase transitions and some mathematical problems describing the phenomena mentioned.

The subject of geometry has become an important ingredient in condensed matter physics. It appears not only to describe, but also to explain structures and their properties. There are two aspects to using geometry: the visual and intuitive understanding, which fosters an immediate grasp of the objects one studies, and the abstract tendency so well developed in the Riemannian manifold theory. Both aspects contribute to the same understanding when they are applied to the main problems occurring in condensed matter sciences. Sophisticated structures found in nature appear naturally as the result of simple constraints which are presented in geometrical terms. Blue phases, amorphous and glassy materials, Frank and Kasper Metals, quasi-crystals are approached in their complexity, using the simple principles of geometry. The relation between biology and liquid crystal sciences, the physics of membranes is a fundamental aspect presented in this book.

The last few years have seen many developments in the study of “frustrated” systems, such as spin glasses and random fields. In addition, the application of the idea of spin glasses to other branches of physics, such as vortex lines in high temperature superconductors, protein folding, structural glasses, and the vulcanization of rubber, has been flourishing. The earlier reviews are several years old, so now is an appropriate time to summarize the recent developments. The articles in this book have been written by leading researchers and include theoretical and experimental studies, and large-scale numerical work (using state-of-the-art algorithms designed specifically for spin-glass-type problems), as well as analytical studies.

The last few years have seen many developments in the study of “frustrated” systems, such as spin glasses and random fields. In addition, the application of the idea of spin glasses to other branches of physics, such as vortex lines in high temperature superconductors, protein folding, structural glasses, and the vulcanization of rubber, has been flourishing. The earlier reviews are several years old, so now is an appropriate time to summarize the recent developments. The articles in this book have been written by leading researchers and include theoretical and experimental studies, and large-scale numerical work (using state-of-the-art algorithms designed specifically for spin-glass-type problems), as well as analytical studies.

This volume is an exciting collection of short review articles written by leading international experts on the superconducting state in magnetic fields, a rapidly developing area. The philosophy of the book is to emphasize the importance of having experimental and theoretical works side by side. Every effort has been made to match each experimental article with a corresponding theoretical article. The selection of materials includes special topics, new effects and new trends concerning superconductors in low and high magnetic fields. The special topics and new trends include quantum and classical melting of the vortex lattice, new vortex lattice symmetries, vortex core states, nonlinear Meissner effect, symmetry of the order parameter in high-temperature superconductors, and superconductors in high magnetic fields. The book is targeted at a broad audience, including graduate students, postdocs and other researchers active or interested in this field.

Heteroepitaxial films are commonplace among today's electronic and photonic devices. The realization of new and better devices relies on the refinement of epitaxial techniques and improved understanding of the physics underlying epitaxial growth. This book provides an up-to-date report on a wide range of materials systems. The first half reviews metallic and dielectric thin films, including chapters on metals, rare earths, metal-oxide layers, fluorides, and high-Tc superconductors. The second half covers semiconductor systems, reviewing developments in group-IV, arsenide, phosphide, antimonide, nitride, II-VI and IV-VI heteroepitaxy. Topics important to several systems are covered in chapters on atomic processes, ordering and growth dynamics.

This book provides a critical assessment of the current status and the likely future directions of thin-film growth, an area of exceptional technological importance. Its emphasis is on descriptions of the atomic-scale mechanisms controlling the dynamics and thermodynamics of the morphological evolution of the growth front of thin films in diverse systems of fundamental and technological significance. The book covers most of the original and important conceptual developments made in the 1990s. The articles, written by leading experts, are arranged in five major categories — the theoretical basis, semiconductor-on-semiconductor growth, metal-on-metal growth, metal-on-semiconductor growth, and removal as the inverse process of growth. This book, the only one of its kind in this decade, will prove to be an indispensable reference source for active researchers, those having peripheral interest, and graduate students starting out in the field.

This volume is an exciting collection of short review articles written by leading international experts on the superconducting state in magnetic fields, a rapidly developing area. The philosophy of the book is to emphasize the importance of having experimental and theoretical works side by side. Every effort has been made to match each experimental article with a corresponding theoretical article. The selection of materials includes special topics, new effects and new trends concerning superconductors in low and high magnetic fields. The special topics and new trends include quantum and classical melting of the vortex lattice, new vortex lattice symmetries, vortex core states, nonlinear Meissner effect, symmetry of the order parameter in high-temperature superconductors, and superconductors in high magnetic fields. The book is targeted at a broad audience, including graduate students, postdocs and other researchers active or interested in this field.

This book reviews principal topical issues on the basic science of glasses and amorphous thin-films. It also includes select applications of these materials in current and evolving technologies, including optical recording, imaging, solar cells, battery technology and field-emission displays.The glass systems of interest include oxides, chalcogenides and chalcohalides of the group III, IV and V elements, as well as amorphous thin-films of the group IV elements. Glass formation in covalent melts can be understood in terms of new ideas based on constraint counting algorithms which have led to the fragile-strong classification and to the concept of rigidity transition. Vibrational excitations and characterization of the atomic scale structure at various length scales are addressed by an array of experimental probes, including X-ray and neutron scattering, Brillouin scattering, Raman scattering and infrared reflectance, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, nuclear quadrupole resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Chapters are also devoted to the physics of electronic transport in amorphous materials, to the physics of tunneling states in crystalline and amorphous solids, and the physics of light-induced effects in glasses. In addition, a chapter is devoted to the rapidly evolving field of numerical simulations of disordered systems by computer modeling. Each of these topics is discussed by experts who have made significant contributions to the field.The book can serve as a text for a graduate course in glass science. For an established researcher, it provides, in a concise form, a large body of experimental data on the basic materials research aspect of these fascinating materials.

Quasicrystals: The State of the Art has proven to be a useful introduction to quasicrystals for mathematicians, physicists, materials scientists, and students. The original intent was for the book to be a progress report on recent developments in the field. However, the authors took care to adopt a broad, pedagogical approach focusing on points of lasting value. Many subtle and beautiful aspects of quasicrystals are explained in this book (and nowhere else) in a way that is useful for both the expert and the student.In this second edition, some authors have appended short notes updating their essays. Two new chapters have been added. Chapter 16, by Goldman and Thiel, reviews the experimental progress since the first edition (1991) in making quasicrystals, determining their structure, and finding applications. In Chapter 17, Steinhardt discusses the quasi-unit cell picture, a promising, new approach for describing the structure and growth of quasicrystals in terms of a single, repeating, overlapping cluster of atoms.

Quasicrystals: The State of the Art has proven to be a useful introduction to quasicrystals for mathematicians, physicists, materials scientists, and students. The original intent was for the book to be a progress report on recent developments in the field. However, the authors took care to adopt a broad, pedagogical approach focusing on points of lasting value. Many subtle and beautiful aspects of quasicrystals are explained in this book (and nowhere else) in a way that is useful for both the expert and the student.In this second edition, some authors have appended short notes updating their essays. Two new chapters have been added. Chapter 16, by Goldman and Thiel, reviews the experimental progress since the first edition (1991) in making quasicrystals, determining their structure, and finding applications. In Chapter 17, Steinhardt discusses the quasi-unit cell picture, a promising, new approach for describing the structure and growth of quasicrystals in terms of a single, repeating, overlapping cluster of atoms.

This publication, in two volumes, is devoted to the scientific impact of the work of Nobel Laureate, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. It covers the important fields for which de Gennes was renowned: solid state (magnetism and superconductivity), macroscopic random media and percolation, supersolids, liquid crystals, polymers, adhesion and friction, and biophysics.The book brings together internationally renowned experts to contribute their perspectives on the significance of de Gennes' works. They have each selected a definitive paper, which gives the state of the field at the time the paper was published, highlights the paper's importance and provides an analysis of the development of the field right up to the modern day. The insightful perspectives of these scientists make the book both unique and intriguing.This is the second volume devoted to soft matter and biophysics.

This publication, in two volumes, is devoted to the scientific impact of the work of Nobel Laureate, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. It covers the important fields for which de Gennes was renowned: solid state (magnetism and superconductivity), macroscopic random media and percolation, supersolids, liquid crystals, polymers, adhesion and friction, and biophysics.The book brings together internationally renowned experts to contribute their perspectives on the significance of de Gennes' works. They have each selected a definitive paper, which gives the state of the field at the time the paper was published, highlights the paper's importance and provides an analysis of the development of the field right up to the modern day. The insightful perspectives of these scientists make the book both unique and intriguing.This is the second volume devoted to soft matter and biophysics.