Introduction to the theory of soft matter: from ideal gases to liquid crystals

Includes index

This book presents the theory of soft matter to students at the advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level. It provides a basic introduction to theoretical physics as applied to soft matter, explaining the concepts of symmetry, broken symmetry, and order parameters; phases and phase transitions; mean-field theory; and the mathematics of variational calculus and tensors. It is written in an informal, conversational style, which is accessible to students from a diverse range of backgrounds. The book begins with a simple ℓ́ℓtoy modelℓ́ℓ to demonstrate the physical significance of free energy. It then introduces two standard theories of phase transitionsℓ́ℓthe Ising model for ferromagnetism and van der Waals theory of gases and liquidsℓ́ℓand uses them to illustrate principles of statistical mechanics. From those examples, it moves on to discuss order, disorder, and broken symmetry in many states of matter, and to explain the theoretical methods that are used to model the phenomena. It concludes with a chapter on liquid crystals, which brings together all of these physical and mathematical concepts. The book is accompanied by a set of ℓ́ℓinteractive figures, ℓ́ℓ which allow℗ℓonline readers℗ℓto change parameters and see what happens to a graph, some allow users to rotate a plot or other graphics in 3D, and some do both. These interactive figures help students to develop their intuition for the physical meaning of equations. This book will prepare advanced undergraduate or early graduate students℗ℓto go℗ℓinto more advanced theoretical studies. It will also equip students going into experimental soft matter science to be fully conversant℗ℓwith the theoretical aspects and h