Abstract
Abstract This new edition of this classic text on condensed matter physics includes the great advances that have taken place since its first publication in 1974. New chapters describe the main types and properties of liquid crystals in terms of the new phases discovered since the middle of the 1970's, and advances in the understanding of local order and the nature of the isotropic to nematic transition. There is an extensive discussion of the symmetry, and macroscopic and dynamic properties of smectics and columnar phases, and their defects, illustrated with numerous descriptions of experimental arrangements. The final chapter is devoted to phase transitions in smectics, including the celebrated analogy between Smectic A and superconductors. Throughout the book there is an emphasis on order-of-magnitude considerations. Its topicality and breadth of coverage will ensure that The Physics of Liquid Crystals remains an indispensable guide for students and researchers alike.
Keywords
Liquid crystalIsotropyOrder (exchange)Theoretical physicsPhase transitionAnalogySymmetry (geometry)PhysicsPhase (matter)Condensed matter physicsEngineering physicsEpistemologyOpticsMathematicsQuantum mechanicsGeometryPhilosophy
Related Publications
<i>The Physics of Liquid Crystals</i>
Part 1 Liquid crystals - main types and properties: introduction - what is a liquid crystal? the building blocks nematics and cholesterics smectics columnar phases more on long-...
A study of solid and liquid carbon tetrafluoride using the constant pressure molecular dynamics technique
The constant pressure molecular dynamics technique originally proposed by Andersen to study fluids and subsequently generalized by Parrinello and Rahman to deal with crystals of...
Transition pathway of<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">C</mml:mi><mml:msub><mml:mi mathvariant="normal">O</mml:mi><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>crystals under high pressures
The pressure-induced transitions from molecular to nonmolecular CO2 crystals are systematically investigated by using first-principles lattice dynamics calculations. Geometrical...
Towards phase transferable potential functions: Methodology and application to nitrogen
We describe a generalizable approach to the development of phase transferable effective intermolecular potentials and apply the method to the study of N2. The method is based on...
Phonon softening in paramagnetic bcc Fe and its relationship to the pressure-induced phase transition
Structural stability of paramagnetic (PM) body-centered cubic (bcc) Fe under\npressure is investigated based on first-principles phonon calculations. Spin\nconfigurations of the...
Publication Info
- Year
- 1993
- Type
- book
- Citations
- 8072
- Access
- Closed
External Links
Social Impact
Altmetric
PlumX Metrics
Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions
Citation Metrics
8072
OpenAlex
Cite This
P. G. de Gennes,
Jacques Prost
(1993).
The Physics of Liquid Crystals.
.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198520245.001.0001
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1093/oso/9780198520245.001.0001