Nematic and Cholesteric Liquid Crystals: Concepts and Physical Properties Illustrated by Experiments (Liquid Crystals Book Series)

Liquid crystals allow us to perform experiments that provide insight into fundamental problems of modern physics, such as phase transitions, frustration, elasticity, hydrodynamics, defects, growth phenomena, and optics (linear and non linear). This excellent volume meets the need for an up-to-date text on liquid crystals. Nematic and Cholesteric Liquid Crystals: Concepts and Physical Properties Illustrated by Experiments is a result of personal research and of the graduate lectures given by the authors at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon and the University of Paris VII, respectively. The first part of the book presents historical background, the modern classification of liquid crystals, and mesogenic anatomy; the second part examines liquid crystals with nematic and cholesteric orientational order. Topics include dielectric and magnetic properties, Frederiks transitions and displays, light scattering, flow and electrohydrodynamic instabilities, surface anchoring transitions, interfaces, equilibrium shapes, and the Mullins-Sekerka instability. Smectic and columnar liquid crystals are covered in more detail by the authors in a separate volume, entitled Smectic and Columnar Liquid Crystals: Concepts and Physical Properties Illustrated by Experiments. The presentation is illustrated throughout by simple experiments, some of which were performed in class. Nematic and Cholesteric Liquid Crystals: Concepts and Physical Properties Illustrated by Experiments provides a useful reference intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and researchers in liquid crystals, condensed matter physics, and materials science. Content: Half-Title; Series; TItle; Copyright; Contents; Foreword; Dedication; Preface to the English edition; Chapter A.I Some history; Chapter A. II Modern classification of liquid crystals; Chapter A. III Mesogenic anatomy; Chapter B.I Structure and dielectric properties of the nematic phase; Chapter B. II Nematoelasticity: Frederiks transition and light scattering; Chapter B. III Nematodynamics and flow instabilities; Chapter B. IV Defects and textures in nematics; Chapter B.V Anchoring and anchoring transitions of nematics on solid surfaces. Abstract: This excellent volume is a much needed up-to-date text on liquid crystals and is a result of personal research and graduate courses taught by the authors. Studying all aspects, it allows students to address the fundamental problems of modern physics Liquid crystals allow us to perform experiments that provide insight into fundamental problems of modern physics, such as phase transitions, frustration, elasticity, hydrodynamics, defects, growth phenomena, and optics (linear and non linear). This excellent volume meets the need for an up-to-date text on liquid crystals. ""Nematic and Cholesteric Liquid Crystals: Concepts and Physical Properties Illustrated by Experiments"" is a result of personal research and of the graduate lectures given by the authors at the cole Normale Suprieure de Lyon and the University of Paris VII, respectively. The Liquid crystals allow us to perform experiments that provide insight into fundamental problems of modern physics, such as phase transitions, frustration, elasticity, hydrodynamics, defects, growth phenomena, and optics (linear and non linear). This excellent volume meets the need for an up-to-date text on liquid crystals.Nematic and Cholesteric Liquid Crystals: Concepts and Physical Properties Illustrated by Experiments is a result of personal research and of the graduate lectures given by the authors at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon and the University of Paris Georges Friedel (Fig. A.I.1), the famous French crystallographer of the early 20th century, was the first to suggest that liquid crystals are states of matter in their own right, intermediates between isotropic liquids and crystals.