Excluded Volume Effects in Polymer Solutions [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Lothar Schäfer (Author), Lothar Sch¿fer (Author)

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Product Description
Schäfer gives a concise overview of the static equilibrium properties of polymer solutions. In the first part diagrammatic perturbation theory is derived from scratch. The second part illustrates the basic ideas of the renormalization group (RG). The crucial role of dilation invariance is stressed. The more efficient method of dimensional regularization and minimal subtractions is worked out in part three. The fourth part contains a unified evaluation of the theory to the one loop level. All the important experimental quantities are discussed in detail, and the results are compared extensively to experiment. Empirical methods of data analysis are critically discussed. The final (fifth) part is devoted to extensions of theory. The first three parts of this book may serve as the basis of a course. Parts four and five are hoped to be useful for detailed quantitative evaluations of experiments.

From the Publisher
Schfer gives a concise overview of the static equilibrium properties of polymer solutions. In the first part diagrammatic perturbation theory is derived from scratch. The second part illustrates the basic ideas of the renormalization group (RG). The crucial role of dilation invariance is stressed. The more efficient method of dimensional regularization and minimal subtractions is worked out in part three. The fourth part contains a unified evaluation of the theory to the one loop level. All the important experimental quantities are discussed in detail, and the results are compared extensively to experiment. Empirical methods of data analysis are critically discussed. The final (fifth) part is devoted to extensions of theory. The first three parts of this book may serve as the basis of a course. Parts four and five are hoped to be useful for detailed quantitative evaluations of experiments.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 554 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (July 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3540655131
• ISBN-13: 978-3540655138
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,691,893 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a treasure!!, June 30, 2005

By	Dr. Rohit V. Pappu - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Polymer physics is a difficult topic and Flory's pioneering work set the standard for much of the current thinking. However, one of the more challenging tasks Flory faced was grappling with the issue of configurational distributions in the excluded volume limit. Few people understood the importance of excluded volume and Flory dealt with these challenges by taking many simplified routes. Unfortunately, Flory's work was so influential, that few people noticed a quiet revolution that began in Europe and has firmly been established in Germany. Several brilliant folks recognized the connection between problems in phase transitions and the behavior of spin systems near critical points and the behavior of polymers in solution. This led to a revolution that unforunately has never been coherently articulated. The concepts are difficult but they are important because it changes the way we think about polymers. They are quite unlike a collection of small molecules in a box. Thanks to Schaefer, we now have the ability to properly educate ourselves in polymer physics. This is one of the best books I have read in this field. It is full of rich and deep insights and has impacted our thinking of protein folding in more ways than I can count. I wish this book were cheaper and better advertised. Every student of polymer physics should have a copy on his / her desk and read it daily.