The Physics of Liquid Crystals (Monographs on Physics) [Hardcover]

Pierre Gilles de Gennes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1974 | Series: Monographs on Physics

This new edition of the classic text incorporates the many advances in knowledge about liquid crystals that have taken place since its initial publication in 1974. Entirely new chapters describe the types and properties of liquid crystals in terms of both recently discovered phases and current insight into the nature of local order and isotropic-to-nematic transition. There is an extensive discussion of the symmetrical, macroscopic, dynamic, and defective properties of smectics and columnar phases, with emphasis on order-of-magnitude considerations, all 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. This new version's topicality and breadth of coverage will ensure that it remains an indispensable guide for researchers and graduate students in mechanics and engineering, and in chemical, solid state, and statistical physics.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The first modern book to survey and discuss the physical properties of liquid crystals....presented in a clear and systematic way." --Nature

"A remarkable book that ought to be on the shelf of every liquid crystal physicist. It continues to be the best introductory book for a beginning graduate student as well as a very valuable reference source for experts in the field."--Physics Today

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

P. G. de Gennes is at Ecole Superieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 346 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (February 1974)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198512856
• ISBN-13: 978-0198512851
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,445,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bible for liquid crystals!, March 4, 2004

By 

Vivek Sharma "Kavi" (Cambridge / Boston, MA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Physics of Liquid Crystals (International Series of Monographs on Physics) (Paperback)

Like every book by de Gennes, this book is a classic! This latest edition in a "must have" text for everyone even remotely associated with liquid crystals. The text is written in a self contained fashion, but the mathematics and physics is of advanced level, and to fully appreciate the content one must have some grip on statistical mechanics, tensor and vector algebra, electromagnetism and continuum physics. Thus it is ideal for physicists, a rewarding challenge for chemists and starting researchers.

To get a simple understanding of liquid crystals (without chemical and mathematical equations), a text by Peter J. Collins (Liquid Crystals: Nature's delicate phase of matter) is highly recommended. For people interested in synthesis of liquid crystals, this text has almost nothing to offer and maybe another text by Collins is more useful. Another important text on the physics of liquid crystals is by Chandershekar. But bottomline is while you may want to look at other texts for specific needs (synthesis or display devices), The Physics of Liquid Crystals by de Gennes is the book one must have and one must read to make a living in this area. (of course, I will read the whole text too....)