Book Description

A comprehensive introduction, examining both macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the subject, the book applies the theory of thermodynamics to a broad range of materials; from metals, ceramics and other inorganic materials to geological materials.

Focusing on materials rather than the underlying mathematical concepts of the subject, this book will be ideal for the non-specialist requiring an introduction to the energetics and stability of materials. Macroscopic thermodynamic properties are linked to the underlying miscroscopic nature of the materials and trends in important properties are discussed.

• A unique approach covering both macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the subject
• Authors have worldwide reputations in this area
• Fills a gap in the market by featuring a wide range of real up-to-date examples and covering a large amount of materials

Reviews (2)

OK for a review of the material
The focus of this book is on the mathematics of transport phenomena with little regard to applications or accessibility to students.A broad range of topics are condensed into a single book that reads like the hastilyprepared lecture notes of the professors.The poor quality of thetypesetting, figures and illustrations is frustrating - making the readingprocess painfully arduous. This is probably the last book I would turn tofor information on the subjects listed in the title (most of which isbetter covered in the 1960's classic Transport Phenomena by Bird, et. al.).

It was boring as paint drying
This book was extremely dry. The subjects brought up in the book had no real applications and was only pleasing to those whose fun time is filled with boundry layer equations and diffusion of dilute gases in my butt. ... Read more

Book Description

This graduate-level book presents a self-contained exposition of fundamental topics in modern equilibrium and nonequilibrium statistical thermodynamics. The text follows a balanced approach between the macroscopic (thermodynamic) and microscopic (statistical) points of view. One notable feature is the large number of problems. Simple applications are given in 71 exercises, while more elaborate challenges are contained in 47 problems, some of which are useful for student projects. ... Read more

Book Description

This text presents a comprehensive approach to entropy, recognizing that it is a concept often misunderstood. Beginning with an historical classical viewpoint, a statistical view then follows to give a more physical picture. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent, brief survey of thermal physics--macro & micro.
Teachers and college students: here is a clear, friendly intro. to thermodynamics and statistical mechaniocs. (Don't be deceived by the title--it is not a specialist tract on entropy, that is only a convenient hook for author to hang a title.) Prof. Dugdale has a fine instinct for picking out the important highlights at the college-level. A quick and easy read (compared to standard textbooks).

Should be ideal as refresher for the teacher and as textbook supplement for the student. (Probably it is too brief for a textbook for a one-quarter course, unless teacher supplements with extra material and adds a few more problems at chapter ends.)

I was grateful that there were only a few problems at chapter ends -- and not too hard, either; this made it less guilt-inducing for me just to read the book w/o doing the problems, since time did not permit the latter. My understanding did not suffer noticably from this "casual" approach.

There are original touches throughout, including a most fresh discussion of the second law enlivened with extracts from Carnot's own discussion of his ideal engine. Historical asides such as these are a rare item in a Physics book and reading this I began to see what a treat I've been missing all these years!

The book has 3 sections: Part I on macro thermo, Part 2 on stat. mech, and a short Part 3 on low temperatures. A well-balanced presentation, and at an affordable price. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Warmth Disperses and Time Passes deals with, among other things, "Maxwell's Demon," a metaphorical device invented by James Clerk Maxwell a century and a half ago in an attempt to expose flaws in the second law of thermodynamics. This imaginary demon would sit between two flasks of air and allow only warm air molecules to enter the warmer flask. This would cause heat to flow uphill--a death knell for the second law if it were possible. Only it wasn't; it was the death knell for the demon instead. Successive "improved" demons were invented by later physicists, but all have subsequently been killed. The realization that a live demon is impossible has served to further strengthen the second law.

Hans von Baeyer is almost as much historian as scientist. As he walks us through the evolution of scientific understanding of thermodynamics, he stops to dwell on the intellectual and societal framework that allowed the physicists of the time to make their respective scientific leaps. This blend of science and history, combined with von Baeyer's journalistic approach, creates a book that is both exceedingly accessible and surprisingly illuminating. --Eric Warner ... Read more

Reviews (7)

On the Trail of a Demonic Idea
This is an enjoyable history of thermodynamics. Maxwell's Demon does not actually come into it until about half-way through, and then becomes, gradually, the focus. Von Baeyer's approach is to advance his topic short chapter by short chapter. Each chapter treats the work of a man (alas, in science women have not, until recently, played much of a part) as it relates to the growing knowledge of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The ideas, the experiments, the intellectual milieu, and the subject's life are all fair game in these little essays, and all are treated in a clear, serious, but still light-hearted way. The writing is very pleasing, the author's humane, humorous and cultured personality shines through.

The point of the book, of course, is to explore the Second Law of Thermodynamics, using the Demon invented by the physicist Maxwell. It has proved a remarkably troublesome sprite in spite of all the attempts to exorcise it over the years. Here you will learn some thermodynamics and some history, and when you are done you will have a general idea of the issues swirling around the notion of entropy. After reading this book, you very well might want to get your feet wet in an introductory text on thermodynamics, now that you know some of the issues in play. Or, if you already know some, this will fill in the human background, and may alert you to some current thinking.

One of the current issues is the relationship between the entropy from Information Theory and the entropy from Thermodynamics. As various folks keep trying to conflate them, our author reports on it. The discussion is detailed enough to actually convey some of the ideas that trouble modern researchers, and tantalizing enough to make the reader want to know even more. What else could one want from a popular book on the subject?

Excellent
A beautiful book that explains thermodynamics clearly for the layman. I also purchased the author's other book "Taming the atom" which was yet another masterpiece.

Where scientific knowledge starts to collapse
Ok, so science is more fun when you leave school than it is when you are there. That's because there are books like this (previously published under the more appropriate title of Maxwells Demon). This is a book on the history of heat - I could never imagine anyone writing a book like that - which one would actually finish and not condemn to the bonfire (more heat!). But this is an interesting and informative account where you will meet all the names from your physics lessons, Carnot, Kelvin. Maxwell, Faraday, Ampere. It is important to read this book if you want to understand the world of quantum mechanics. This is the starting point - the point where it all started to go wrong for physics - in the form of Maxwells demon, black body radiation and the double slit experiment. Up to this point Science made sense - now we all know it was a sham and science no longer makes sense - if you want to know why start here!

Physical chemistry is not the nightmare it once was.
A good book to read as you struggle with the monster of Physical Chemistry!!! I found it was a good way to inspire me to get excited about doing my thermodynamics homework...and hay my grade actually went up on the next exam! :) It tells you who the heck Carnot, Clausius, and Joule are. Lord Kelvin (of the kelvin scale) was also known as Willian Thomson..the Thomson of the dreaded Joule-Thomson coefficient...but I give the story away.

Have fun with this book !
This is the best book about thermodynamics I have ever read ! In my opinion, it makes more to the understanding of this difficult and so misundertood discipline than any other "theoretical" book. Reading this is a funny and pleasant experience! It's like an adventure book, as it relives the history of the men who built the discipline of thermodynamics, and the curious and interesting circustances that brought them to their discoveries. some of that men and their histories I have never heard about!! Congratulations to Von Baeyer, who has done an outstanding and incredible job!! ... Read more

Book Description

Nonextensive statistical mechanics is now a rapidly growing field and a new stream in the research of the foundations of statistical mechanics. This generalization of the well-known Boltzmann--Gibbs theory enables the study of systems with long-range interactions, long-term memories or multi-fractal structures. This book consists of a set of self-contained lectures and includes additional contributions where some of the latest developments -- ranging from astro- to biophysics -- are covered. Addressing primarily graduate students and lecturers, this book will also be a useful reference for all researchers working in the field. ... Read more

Book Description

Modern look at the thermodynamics of hydrocarbon reservoirs

This brilliant, original work offers novel formulations of thermodynamic principles for hydrocarbon reservoirs. The book is packed with valuable step-by-step derivations for retrograde phenomena in capillaries, diffusion and convection, stability and criticality in mixtures, precipitation from complex mixtures, and numerous examples that show in detail how to calculate and apply concepts using the most contemporary techniques.

The book is not only a valuable reference for petroleum and chemical engineers, but can be used by engineers and scientists in different disciplines. ... Read more

Book Description

Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) plays an important role in today's microelectronics industry. With its ability to achieve global planarization, its universality (material insensitivity), its applicability to multimaterial surfaces, and its relative cost-effectiveness, CMP is the ideal planarizing medium for the interlayered dielectrics and metal films used in silicon integrated circuit fabrication. But although the past decade has seen unprecedented research and development into CMP, there has been no single-source reference to this rapidly emerging technology-until now.

Chemical Mechanical Planarization of Microelectronic Materials provides engineers and scientists working in the microelectronics industry with unified coverage of both the fundamental mechanisms and engineering applications of CMP. Authors Steigerwald, Murarka, and Gutmann-all leading CMP pioneers-provide a historical overview of CMP, explain the various chemical and mechanical concepts involved, describe CMP materials and processes, review the latest scientific data on CMP worldwide, and offer examples of its uses in the microelectronics industry. They provide detailed coverage of the CMP of various materials used in the making of microcircuitry: tungsten, aluminum, copper, polysilicon, and various dielectric materials, including polymers. The concluding chapter describes post-CMP cleaning techniques, and most chapters feature problem sets to assist readers in developing a more practical understanding of CMP.

The only comprehensive reference to one of the fastest growing integrated circuit manufacturing technologies, Chemical Mechanical Planarization of Microelectronic Materials is an important resource for research scientists and engineers working in the microelectronics industry.

An indispensable resource for scientists and engineers working in the microelectronics industry

Chemical Mechanical Planarization of Microelectronic Materials is the only comprehensive single-source reference to one of the fastest growing integrated circuit manufacturing technologies. It provides engineers and scientists who work in the microelectronics industry with unified coverage of both the fundamental mechanisms and engineering applications of CMP, including:
* The history of CMP
* Chemical and mechanical underpinnings of CMP
* CMP materials and processes
* Applications of CMP in the microelectronics industry
* The CMP of tungsten, aluminum, copper, polysilicon, and various dielectrics, including polymers used in integrated circuit fabrication
* Post-CMP cleaning techniques
* Chapter-end problem sets are also included to assist readers in developing a practical understanding of CMP. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Surprisingly bad
There are so many errors in this book that I cannot imagine how can anybody rely on any information contained here. The book is probably simply showing the current understanding of CMP, which is poor, but this still cannot justify bluntly bad science. The authors describe all important concepts of CMP like Preston equation, Pourbaix diagrams, but fail to clearly show the limited scope of their usefulness. They do not understand thermodynamics vs. kinetics of chemical processes either. At least half of the chemical equations are wrong, another quarter should not be there in the form presented. Who reviewed this book before publishing?

Not a very good one
This area is short of research even though lots of work has been done. This book gives an overview of CMP process, including Cu, W and SiO2. ... Read more

Book Description

Thermal Stresses, 2nd Edition is the first book comprehensive volume on thermal stresses. It provides a sound grounding in the fundamental theory of thermal stresses as well as including a multitude of applications. Many solved examples are included in the text, with numerous problems at the end of each chapter.
The book starts with an introduction to the elementary theory, at the undergraduate level, and then progresses with the exposition of more advanced methods. The authors introduce the topics in a clear fashion, easy to grasp by students, engineers and scientists.
While primarily textbook, Thermal Stresses, 2nd Edition will also satisfy the needs of practicing scientists and engineers. The development of the material guides the user gradually from elementary methods and simple problems to sophisticated methods and difficult problems. This volume is suitable for senior undergraduates and first year graduate students. ... Read more

Book Description

High-temperature superconductors are one of the most active and exciting areas of condensed matter physics research. The authors here discuss the development of the science that has produced superconductors. Beginning with the first liquefaction of helium, the book presents the discovery of the Meissner effect and then moves to the key work of Nobel prize-winners Bednorz and Muller. After reviewing the legacy of the last decade, the authors introduce the general structure and properties of superconductors and the organic metals in particular. The final third of the book outlines some major technological advances and suggests future directions, and it examines the impact of theoretical physics on superconductors. Rise of the Superconductors concludes with a brief look at the struggle for technical superiority between the U.S. and Japan, and the influence Europe has had on the development of superconductors. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not a bad choice for an undergrad text
This was the book used when I took heat transfer. I found it to be a good supplement to the lectures and do still refer to it. I wish Mills spent more time on using numerical analysis.

Like Any text book it has to be opened and read to be useful

HEAT TRANSFER
Este libro trata los tres fenomenos de transferencia de calor: Conveccion, Conduccion y Radiacion

Great for those in physics
This is a problem solver book with few diagrams and a lot of newspaper-type pages. The text is blochy heavy seriffed and is difficult to read. I have opened it once, maybe twice. Like your typical problem solvers, you can now find a lot of solutions (even to your specific problem) on the web...for free. There are a lot of equations and theories, but not enough useful stuff for applying these equations to conditions in the real world. The equations are not numbered well and it is impossilbe to tell between interemediate derivations and the final useful equations. Unless your deep into this stuff, it is not for the typical engineer. ... Read more

Book Description

Heat transfer analysis is a problem of major significance in a vast range of industrial applications. These extend over the fields of mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering and numerous applications in civil and electrical engineering. If one considers the heat conduction equation alone the number of practical problems amenable to solution is extensive. Expansion of the work to include features such as phase change, coupled heat and mass transfer, and thermal stress analysis provides the engineer with the capability to address a further series of key engineering problems. The complexity of practical problems is such that closed form solutions are not generally possible. The use of numerical techniques to solve such problems is therefore considered essential, and this book presents the use of the powerful finite element method in heat transfer analysis. Starting with the fundamental general heat conduction equation, the book moves on to consider the solution of linear steady state heat conduction problems, transient analyses and non-linear examples. Problems of melting and solidification are then considered at length followed by a chapter on convection. The application of heat and mass transfer to drying problems and the calculation of both thermal and shrinkage stresses conclude the book. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the basic concepts introduced. This book is the outcome of the teaching and research experience of the authors over a period of more than 20 years. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It is small book nicely written.
It is a small book nicely written. But with the price, it scares everybody away. One of the sections in this book is particularly useful for illustrating the technique of implementing non-linear calculation of heat transfer. I learned a great deal from there. ... Read more

Book Description

Compressor Performance is a handy reference book for compressor design engineers and compressor maintenance engineers as well as engineering students.As its title suggests, this book covers the full spectrum of information needed for an individual to select, operate, test and maintain axial or centrifugal compressors.It includes some basic aerodynamic theory to provide the user with the "how's" and "why's" of compressor design.Maintenance engineers will especially appreciate the troubleshooting guidelines offered.The many example problems and the reference data such as gas properties and flow meter calculations will enable easy analysis of compressor performance in practice. A companion CD with computer programs is also included.

M. Theodore Gresh has been with the Elliot Company in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, since 1975, initially working on the mechanical and aerodynamic design and application of centrifugal compressors.

A comprehensive treatment of the theory and practical use of all kinds of compressors in industrial use
Depth of coverage from an industry-leading company source
Complete subject reference and learning resource in one stop, suitable for both newly graduated engineers and experienced professional reference use. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Review of "Thermal Physics" by Kittel and Kroemer
This is an excellent introductory text for students of thermodynamics and/or statistical physics. The approach of the book differs from the more traditional thermo texts, so it is very important that the instructor understand and convey the critical points of each chapter clearly. The summary at the end of each chapter is very helpful in this regard. The problems are exemplary of the material, and most are challenging. Students often complain that the book is too terse, but when I used it as a student I found the terseness to be of great value. A careful reading (and yes, re-reading!) of the text makes the concepts very clear.

cheap Tiwan copies
This is a great book for the field but some companies get cheap foreign copies that WILL NOT LAST. I happened to buy one for the statistical mechanics class that I am in and the spine has broken and the pages are coming loose. MAKE SHURE YOU CHECK WITH THE SELLER TO SEE THAT IT IS TRUELY A US OR EUROPEAN COPY.

Overrated
I used to think this was a great book, and it certainly sparked my interest in statistical mechanics. But then I read genuinely good books on statistical mechanics, such as Landau and Lifschitz or Mayer, and realized how much I was missing. It's now hard for me to take seriously a book on statistical mechanics that never tells you what the Ergodic Theorem is, or says anything at all about classical methods of statistical mechanics -- which are still very relevant because of the difficulties of the pure quantum mechanical approach. It's also frustrating to try to look up anything here. As other reviewers have noted, the book is quite badly organized and topics that ought to be treated in one place, such as the ideal gas, are scattered over several chapters. The discussion of phase transitions is particularly bad. Such important topics as the connection between the microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles is never elucidated, and you won't see any discussion of such traditionally important topics as the cluster or virial expansions. I have to speculate that this is because the authors are solid state physicists who can't be bothered with an adequate treatment of real gases, liquids, or plasmas. The upshot is that I've come around from thinking this was a really great book to realizing that it's really pretty awful.

Unclear, unmotivated gibberish
I prefer my physics books to be motivated, precise, and mathematically rigorous. K+K is none of these. The organization is poor, with important material scattered throughout multiple chapters. The problems at the end of the chapter are too easy and numerical. Even after doing all of the problems, I still don't feel like I understand stat mech. The "derivations" are a joke, assumptions are left unstated, and difficulties are hand-waved away without even a mention.

Comprehensive, but a BAD book
I'm using this book for an undergraduate thermo class. It is one of the worst textbooks I have used. It may be large and comprehensive, but the organization is horrible. The book is extremely unclear, and when you start to do the problems at the end of the chapter, you really see how little got through to you. The problems are often vague and hard to understand, which adds to the problem. You can read it over and over and still get neither the math of thermodynamics, nor the physics behind it. ... Read more

Book Description

Betts presents a concise introduction to the experimental technicalities of low and ultralow temperature physics research.He has made extensive use of diagrams as aids to understanding, and refers the reader to the professional literature as soon as the level of the text is high enough.Topics covered include all aspects of low temperature technology, beginning with an introduction to the thermodynamic principles of refrigeration and thermometry.The text also covers the properties of fluid 3He/4He mixtures, and all the means of achieving low temperatures, including dilution and Pomeranchuk refrigeration and adiabatic nuclear demagnetization. ... Read more

Book Description

For some people, driving is an art; for others, it's a science. At the Isaac Newton School of Driving, though, every car is a laboratory on wheels and every drive an exciting journey into the world of physics. As explained by renowned science writer and physics professor Barry Parker—whose father was a car mechanic and garage owner—almost every aspect of driving involves physics. A car's performance and handling relies on fundamental concepts such as force, momentum, and energy. Its ignition system depends on the principles of electricity and magnetism. Braking relies on friction—yet another basic scientific concept—and if the brakes fail, the resulting damage, too, can be predicted using physics.

Parker's first lesson describes the basic physics of driving: speed and acceleration; why you get thrown forward while braking or outward while turning; and why car advertisements boast about horsepower and torque. He goes on to discuss the thermodynamics of engines, and how they can be more fuel efficient; and what friction and traction are and how they keep a car's tires on the road, whether it's dry, wet, or icy. He also describes how simple laws of physics enable scientists to design aerodynamic cars and high-tech steering systems. Parker then explores the high-performance physics of auto racing, outlines how traffic accidents are reconstructed by police, uses chaos theory to explain why traffic jams happen, and describes what cars of the future might look like. Whether you drive a Pacer or a Porsche, The Isaac Newton School of Driving offers better—and better-informed—driving through physics. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Too Much Math For Me, But Still a Good Informative Book
Barry Parker has written a book that gets down to the nitty gritty of how a car actually works. All the way down to the physics of it. There is actually alot to be learned from his book even if you're not a physics buff. For example, I now understand the difference between a 2 and a 4 stroke engine. I still can't explain the physics behind any of this stuff, but then again, I don't really want to. If you have an interest in understanding cars, or an interest in physics, this book will keep you interested with Barry's down-to-earth writing style. But if you don't like physics or math, it's not a total loss. Those parts are easily skimmed or even skipped entirely.

Good but could be better
In short, the idea of writing this book was an excellent one. The book's potential is tremendous. However, rating it fairly is a more difficult matter. On the positive side, the writing style is very friendly, engaging and clear; a few of the author's personal experiences are peppered throughout - a big plus. The topics include: driving, most if not all of the various systems in cars, as well as the road-tire interface. It even covers car racing and theories of traffic congestion. A lot of interesting, indeed fascinating, information is presented. On the negative side, however, although some items are discussed clearly and as thoroughly as one might expect in such a book, other items are briefly glossed over while some seem to come to an abrupt end. The physics in each case is discussed to correspondingly varying degrees. Some equations are incorrect due to errors in subscripts and some graphs' axes are mislabeled, i.e., editorial mistakes requiring more careful editing. Some equations are magically presented out of thin air, while the derivations of others are are briefly discussed before presenting them. I would hope that, in the future, a second edition of this book would appear in which the various shortcomings would be corrected and additional material added to even out the physics, the various explanations and include a few formula derivations (or recommend references if the derivations are too involved). In other words, perhaps 50 to 100 additional pages may be appropriate. Should such a second edition of this book appear, I would be among the first to get a copy. As it stands, it is valuable reading for any driver; however, a revised edition, as discussed above, could satisfy the needs of the more scientifically curious as well. I am giving the book as much as four stars mainly because of its concept, its tremendous potential, its excellent writing style and the interesting information that it contains. An appropriate second edition would earn an easy five stars.

A Century's great Inventions
Barry Parker's book The Isaac Newton School of Driving is one of the few whose underlying message transcends the scope of the subject matter. Like the tale of the sorcerer's apprentice who remembers the charm for hauling water from a nearby river into his master's bathtub, but has forgotten the magic words to timely stem the flood, so could Parker's writings be taken as the reminder of not to make the road of technological achievements into a one way street.
In the fairy tale, only the timely interfering of his master saves the apprentice from drowning in the waters he himself has conjured, and us from missing out on his story altogether. Likewise, Parker shows us the way to upgrade our consumer knowledge into solid know how.
Sorcerers haven't made it into our times, but we, their apprentices, are blooming. We know all the charms that transmute our former hand-tools into vacuum cleaners, television sets, and self-propelled vehicles, to name only a few. But did we follow up in learning the "undo" commands?
The abundance and sophistication of technological contraptions within reach of our pocket books calls for an understanding of not alone what they do, but principally how they do it, and reading instruction sheets alone will not help.
The Isaac Newton School of Driving opens up with a crash course on the physical principles of maneuvering animated objects, vulgo automobiles. We recall the basics of the four-stroke engine, the machine some of us remember as the light-weight primary mover which made aviation possible.
While the Carnot Cycle is introduced as the thermodynamic principle behind it all, a glimpse at the Wankel rotary engine and the Volkswagen W engine conclude the introductory chapters. What follows are easily understandable presentations of a car's electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic elements. Of special interest are the author's applications of probability calculus, Mandelbrot's theory of chaos, and the Complexity Theory, on the flow of traffic and the preconditions on traffic congestion.
We cannot thank authors like Barry Parker enough for their efforts to open peoples' eyes to the underlying principles of those engineering wonders we take for granted, and in particular the ones we operate on our daily trips to the office. ... Read more

Book Description

Relevant text examines basic concepts and the First Law, the Second Law, equilibria, Nerst’s Heat Theorem, and the kinetic theory of gases. As does each book in this series, Vol. 3 includes an index and a wealth of helpful figures. It can also be read independently by those who wish to focus on a particular topic. Alone or as part of the complete set, the work is a peerless resource that will be invaluable to individuals as well as to libraries and other institutions.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lectures by a great master.
Max Born, who knew both, rated Pauli as good as Einstein. I don't agree, but, OK, it's a nice compliment! Anyway, Pauli was really great, and a great writer, in this case far surpassing Einstein. These are his lectures (mostly) on Thermodynamics at the ETH, Zurich, which, by the way, was Einstein's alma mater.
Pauli lectured on all of theoretical phyisics there, for several years. He was revered, and the students carefully took notes of whatever he said and write. These notes were then carefully edited by senior colleagues, like Charles Enz. The result was a slim, compact, wonderful text of Carnot-cycle thermodynamics which has even some originality: the master deemed it necessary to reformulate the treatment of chemical equilibrium (using van't Hoof boxes)to reach his standards of excellence.
This is not a text-book on thermodynamics for beginners: it is a
exquisite booklet to polish your understanding and reveal the great elegance and depth of the thermodynamical formalism and, most importantly, ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

Liquid crystals, widely used in displays for electronic equipment and other applications, have highly unusual properties arising from the anisotropy of their molecules. It appears that some aspects of the fluid dynamics of liquid crystals, such as their viscosity, can be understood only by considering the role played by thermal fluctuations. In order to provide a theoretical framework for understanding the experimental results, the authors devote a large part of the book to a derivation of the nonlinear dynamic equations and to a discussion of linearized equations for the various types of liquid crystals. The diagrammatic and other techniques they use are of general use in condensed matter physics, and this exposition should thus be of interest to all condensed-matter theorists. ... Read more

Book Description

This useful reference text offers a thorough treatment of applied surface dynamics in relation to contact angles and surface tensions;providing a rigorous foundation for the subject and detailed presentations of the latest techniques. ... Read more