Soft Condensed Matter: Configurations, Dynamics and Functionality: 552 (Nato Science Series C:, 552) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792364023 ISBN 13: 9780792364023

Publisher: Springer, 2000

Synopsis

This volume comprises the proceedings of a NATO Advanced Study In­ stitute held at Geilo, Norway, April 6 -16 1999. The ASI was the fifteenth in a series held biannually on topics related to cooperative phenomena and phase transitions, in this case applied to soft condensed matter and its configurations, dynamics and functionality. It addressed the current experimental and theoretical knowledge of the physical properties of soft condensed matter such as polymers, gels, complex fluids, colloids, granular materials and biomaterials. The main purpose of the lectures was to obtain basic understanding of important aspects in relating molecular configurations and dynamics to macroscopic properties and biological functionality. To our knowledge, the term Soft Condensed Matter was actually coined and used for the first time in 1989 at Geilo and some selected topics of soft matter were also given at Geilo in 1991, 1993 and 1995. A return to this subject 10 years after its instigation thus allowed a fresh look and a possibility for defining new directions for research.

About this title

Synopsis

The term "soft condensed matter" encompasses a wide range of substances which are neither ordinary solids nor ordinary liquids. They do have vestigial liquid and solid properties, but their character is much more complex and subtle. Systems range from foams and complex fluids to granular materials and biomaterials (proteins, DNA, membranes). The structural states they adopt are driven by subtle competition between intermolecular interaction energies and entropic forces, both of which are often close to thermal energies at room temperature. Configurations and their dynamic evolution are significant determinants of a wide variety of mesoscopic and microscopic properties. The book reviews both the language needed to discuss such systems, as well as basic questions about such phenomena as competing ground states, nonlinear feedback, and slow dynamics. The approach is pedagogical and tutorial. The level is appropriate to graduate researchers, either moving into the field or already active in it.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792364023
• ISBN 13: 9780792364023
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 310
• Editor: Skjeltorp A.T., Edwards Sam F.