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.

PART A: OVERVIEW
Some History
Modern Classification of Liquid Crystals
Mesogenic Anatomy
PART B: MESOPHASES WITH AN ORIENTATIONAL ORDER
Structure and Dielectric Properties of the Nematic Phase
Nematoelasticity: Frederiks Transition and Light Scattering
Nematodynamics and Flow Instabilities
Defects and Textures in Nematics
Anchoring and Anchoring Transitions of Nematics on Solid Surfaces
The Nematic-Isotropic Liquid Interface: Static Properties and Directional Growth Instabilities
Cholesterics: the First Example of a Frustrated Mesophase
Blue Phases: a Second Example of a Frustrated Mesophase
Overview of Growth Phenomena and the Mullins-Sekerka Instability
Subject index
Author index

Patrick Oswald, Pawel Pieranski, John W. Goodby and George W. Gray