"You, 0 Sun, are the eye of the world You are the soul of all embodied beings You are the source of all creatures You are the discipline of all engaged in work" - Translated from Mahabharata 3rd Century BC Today, energy is the lifeline and status symbol of "civilized" societies. All nations have therefore embarked upon Research and Development pro grams of varying magnitudes to explore and effectively utilize renewable sources of energy. Albeit a low-grade energy with large temporal and spatial variations, solar energy is abundant, cheap, clean, and renewable, and thus presents a very attractive alternative source. The direct conver sion of solar energy to electricity (photovoltaic effect) via devices called solar cells has already become an established frontier area of science and technology. Born out of necessity for remote area applications, the first commercially manufactured solar cells - single-crystal silicon and thin film CdS/Cu2S - were available well over 20 years ago. Indeed, all space vehicles today are powered by silicon solar cells. But large-scale terrestrial applications of solar cells still await major breakthroughs in terms of discovering new and radical concepts in solar cell device structures, utilizing relatively more abundant, cheap, and even exotic materials, and inventing simpler and less energy intensive fabrication processes. No doubt, this extraordinary challenge in R/D has led to a virtual explosion of activities in the field of photovoltaics in the last several years."

This book presents a collection of selected lectures discussing current problems in molecular physics and reviews the main cutting-edge advances in condensed and soft matter physics. It offers deep insights and a powerful basis for scientists and engineers to study complicated problems in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. The unification of experimental, theoretical, and computational methods allows milestone results to be achieved in areas such as ionic and ionic-electronic liquids, magnetic liquid systems, liquid systems with nanoparticles, structural phase transitions and critical phenomena, and small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering in liquids and liquid systems. The lectures selected for this book were held at the 7th International Conference "Physics of Liquid Matter: Modern Problems" (PLMMP-2016), 27-31 May in Kiev, Ukraine.

This thesis focuses on the growth of a new type of two-dimensional (2D) material known as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). It also presents several significant breakthroughs in the authors' understanding of the growth mechanism and development of new growth techniques, which are now well known in the field. Of particular importance is the pioneering work showing experimental proof that 2D crystals of h-BN can indeed be hexagonal in shape. This came as a major surprise to many working in the 2D field, as it had been generally assumed that hexagonal-shaped h-BN was impossible due to energy dynamics. Beyond growth, the thesis also reports on synthesis techniques that are geared toward commercial applications. Large-area aligned growth and up to an eightfold reduction in the cost of h-BN production are demonstrated. At present, all other 2D materials generally use h-BN as their dielectric layer and for encapsulation. As such, this thesis lays the cornerstone for using CVD 2D h-BN for this purpose.

The objective of this book is to discuss the current status of research and development of boron-rich solids as sensors, ultra-high temperature ceramics, thermoelectrics, and armor. Novel biological and chemical sensors made of stiff and light-weight boron-rich solids are very exciting and efficient for applications in medical diagnoses, environmental surveillance and the detection of pathogen and biological/chemical terrorism agents. Ultra-high temperature ceramic composites exhibit excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance for hypersonic vehicle applications. Boron-rich solids are also promising candidates for high-temperature thermoelectric conversion. Armor is another very important application of boron-rich solids, since most of them exhibit very high hardness, which makes them perfect candidates with high resistance to ballistic impact. The following topical areas are presented: *Boron-rich solids: science and technology *Synthesis and sintering strategies of boron rich solids *Microcantilever sensors *Screening of the possible boron-based thermoelectric conversion materials; *Ultra-high temperature ZrB2 and HfB2 based composites *Magnetic, transport and high-pressure properties of boron-rich solids *Restrictions of the sensor dimensions for chemical detection *Armor

Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths: Including Actinides, Volume 54, is a continuous series of books covering all aspects of rare earth science, including chemistry, life sciences, materials science and physics. The book's main emphasis is on rare earth elements [Sc, Y, and the lanthanides (La through Lu], but whenever relevant, information is also included on the closely related actinide elements. Individual chapters are comprehensive, broad, up-to-date, critical reviews written by highly experienced, invited experts. The series, which was started in 1978 by Professor Karl A. Gschneidner Jr., combines, and integrates, both the fundamentals and applications of these elements.

Solid State Physics, Volume 69, provides the latest information on the branch of physics that is primarily devoted to the study of matter in its solid phase, especially at the atomic level. This prestigious serial presents timely and state-of-the-art reviews pertaining to all aspects of solid state physics.

This book highlights a systematic introduction to the basic theory of elastic wave propagation in complex media. The theory of elastic waves is widely used in fields such as geophysical exploration, seismic survey, medical ultrasound imaging, nondestructive testing of materials and structures, phononic crystals, metamaterials and structure health monitoring. To help readers develop a systematic grasp of the basic theory, and thus its applications, the book elaborates on the theory of elastic wave propagation in isotropic solid media, covering phenomena in infinite media, interfaces, layered structure with finite thickness, Rayleigh wave and Love wave propagating along the surface of semi-infinite solid and covering layer, and the guided waves and leaky waves in flat plates and in cylindrical rods. The propagation patterns and features of guided waves in cylindrical shells and spherical shells are also introduced. The author wrote the book based on a decade of teaching experience of a graduate course of the same name and two decades of research on the theory and applications. The book is a valuable reference for students, researchers and professionals who expect an understandable and comprehensive discussion of the theory, analytical methods and related research results.

This book is the third of a three-volume series written by the same author. It aims to deliver a comprehensive and self-contained account of the fundamentals of the physics of solids. In the presentation of the properties and experimentally observed phenomena together with the basic concepts and theoretical methods, it goes far beyond most classic texts. The essential features of various experimental techniques are also explained.

This volume is devoted mostly to the discussion of the effects of electron-electron interaction beyond the one-electron approximation. The density-functional theory is introduced to account for correlation effects. The response to external perturbations is discussed in the framework of linear response theory. Landau's Fermi-liquid theory is followed by the theory of Luttinger liquids. The subsequent chapters are devoted to electronic phases with broken symmetry: to itinerant magnetism, to spin- and charge-density waves and their realizations in quasi-one-dimensional materials, as well as to the microscopic theory of superconductivity. An overview is given of the physics of strongly correlated systems. The last chapter covers selected problems in the physics of disordered systems.

Phase transitions are involved in phenomena ranging from the initial stages of the creation of the Universe to the existence of biological objects. It is natural to as whether any phenomena analogous to phase transitions are possible in disordered substances like liquids and glasses. The possibility of such transitions is still very much a matter of debate. Neither the nature nor the features of transformations in liquids and glasses are yet clear, nor is the nature of the order parameters. Investigations in recent years have shown that transformations in liquids and glasses lead to a drastic change of their physical properties and short-range order structure.
The papers collected here contribute to a better understanding of the physics of disordered systems and phase transformations in them. An unambiguous identification of transitions in liquids and glasses requires further high-precision experimental study of the thermodynamic and structural properties in the vicinity of transitions in order to test existing theoretical models and develop new, more accurate ones.

Providing a comprehensive overview of developments to both the academic and industrial communities, Compound Semiconductors 1996 covers all types of compound semiconducting materials and devices. The book includes results on blue and green lasers, heterostructure devices, nanoelectronics, and novel wide band gap semiconductors. With invited review papers and research results in current topics of interest, this volume is part of a well-known series of conferences for the dissemination of research results in the field.

In this definitive text in the field, the author gives a detailed account of the major problem of applied superconductivitiy-the stability of superconductors. His work focuses on the application of superconductiors to the construction of magnets. Students and engineers will discover the underlying principles of applied superconductivity and will learn how to solve mathematical problems with advanced methods of calculation.

Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of Rare Earths: Including Actinides, Volume 53, is a continuous series covering all aspects of rare earth science, including chemistry, life sciences, materials science and physics. The book focuses on rare earth elements [Sc, Y, and the lanthanides (La through Lu], but when relevant, information is included on the related actinide elements. Individual chapters are comprehensive, up-to-date, critical reviews written by highly experienced, invited experts, with this release including chapters on a Comparison of the Electronic Properties of Lanthanides with Formally Isoelectronic Actinides, Redox catalysis with redox-inactive rare-earth ions in artificial photosynthesis, and more. The series, which was started in 1978 by Professor Karl A. Gschneidner Jr., combines, and integrates, both the fundamentals and applications of these elements with two published volumes each year.

Describes the basic theory of carrier transport, develops numerical algorithms in FORTRAN used for transport problems or device simulations, and presents real-world examples.

The relationship between liquids and gases engaged the attention of a number of distinguished scientists in the mid 19th Century. In a definitive paper published in 1869, Thomas Andrews described experiments he performed on carbon dioxide and from which he concluded that a critical temperature exists below which liquids and gases are distinct phases of matter, but above which they merge into a single fluid phase. During the years which followed, other natural phenomena were discovered to which the same critical point description can be applied - such as ferromagnetism and solutions. This book provides an historical account of theoretical explanations of critical phenomena which ultimately led to a major triumph of statistical mechanics in the 20th Century - with the award of the Nobel Prize for Physics

This book provides a comprehensive overview on the recent significant advancements of conductive polymers and their composites in terms of conductive mechanism, fabrication strategies, important properties, and various promising applications. The corresponding knowledge was systematically compiled in the logical order and demonstrated as seven chapters. The special structure, influencing factors of the conductivity, the charge carrier transport model, the wettability and classical categories of the conductive polymers are narrated. Both conventional and novel strategies undertaken to fabricate the conductive polymers are introduced, as provided the overall master of the progress. In comparison with the bulk counterpart, nanostructured conductive polymers with different dimensions such as nanospheres, nano-networks, nanotubes and nanowire arrays are produced through distinct methods, thus presenting unique and distinct performance endowed by the nanometer scale. The combination of conductive polymers with other functional materials results in a number of the composites with improved properties by synergistic effect. The superior performance of conductive polymers and their composites greatly facilitates their development toward various important applications in the advanced and sophisticated fields such as biological utilization, energy storage and sensors. Due to their excellent biocompatibility, conductive polymers and their composites stand out to be useful in the biological field including tissue engineering, drug delivery and artificial muscle. To meet the urgent demand of the energy storage, conductive polymers and their composites play an important role in the devices including supercapacitors, solar cells and fuel cells. Finally, development of conductive polymers and their composites in the modern industry is greatly enhanced by their applications in smart sensors such as conductometric sensors, gravimetric sensors, optical sensors, chemical sensors and biosensors. This book has significant value for researchers, graduate students, and engineers carrying out the fundamental research or industrial production of conductive polymers and their composites.

Over 100 scientists met at the IBM Research Laboratory in San Jose. California for a symposium on the Physics and Chemistry of Liquid Crystal Devices. The two-day meeting was intellectually stimulating with excellent oral presentations and with person-to-person discussions. The applications of liquid crystals have developed dramatically in the past ten years. In these few years, they have moved from being a laboratory curiosity to products in the market place. The first commercial application (1940's) of liquid crystals was the preparation of a light polarizer. The second commercial application was their use as temperature sensors. The third major application of liquid crystals dealt with commercial displays. Other current applications include polymeric and graphitic fibers and light attenuators. The future of liquid crystals looks very promising indeed. One can expect to see new fibers of qualities which will be superior to those presently known. Graphitic fibers or other physical forms of graphitic materials will be used as catalytic surfaces for chemical synthesis. In the display area. one can expect to see television screens using liquid crystals. Larger displays than are now used in wrist watches and pocket calculators will become available. Liquid crystals using color displays will become commercially practical. Watches. calculators and television screens will have color.

This monograph is concerned with the III-V bulk and low-dimensional semiconductors, with the emphasis on the implications of multi-valley bandstructures for the physical mechanisms essential for opto-electronic devices. The optical response of such semiconductor materials is determined by many-body effects such as screening, gap narrowing, Fermi-edge singularity, electron-hole plasma and liquid formation. Consequently, the discussion of these features reflects such interdependencies with the dynamics of excitons and carriers resulting from intervalley coupling.

This Fourth Edition brings the reader up to date on gas technologies and equipment that have evolved since the Third Edition was published in 1990. It is both a comprehensive overview and a source reference for supplementary data on every aspect of handling gases in compressed, liquefied, and cryogenic forms. Properties, safety considerations, equipment, and regulations relevant to compressed gases are all addressed. The Fourth Edition gives information relating to current standards from the various standards developing organizations in the field, as well as the latest shipping requirements, storage and handling procedures and uses. The Fourth Edition of Handbook of Compressed Gases is the only compressed gas reference that combines gas-specific information on 66 compressed gases, including physical constants, handling, storage and transportation, and safety requirements as well as comprehensive, detailed information on valves and pressure relief devices, cylinder maintenance, bulk containers and transportation, and oxygen cleaning. The handbook has been reformatted to present information in a more ordered, logical sequence, using specific labeling and marking information to make the Fourth Edition even more useful than its predecessor. This new edition includes: The latest changes in DOT regulations (HM-206, HM-215A, HM-215B), Exposure limits set by ACGIH and OSHA which have been reviewed and updated, New developments in safety equipment, along with the latest training requirements to mitigate a compressed gas incident. Since this handbook is not product-specific, it contains coverage of gases across the spectrum of the industry - not just those produced by one manufacturer. It is aready source of useful information on natural gases, refrigerants, medical gases, atmospheric gases, and equipment and systems for oxygen service. All professionals whose work includes the manufacture, handling, or use of gas will find the Fourth Edition of Handbook of Compressed Gases extremely valuable. It serves the needs of engineers, technicians, researchers, maintenance personnel, health specialists, transportation directors, purchasing agents, hazardous materials officials, and chemical handlers.

During August 24-27, 1993, approximately 60 scientists from the Americas, Europe and Japan, gathered in the city of Guanajuato, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, at the II Latin American Workshop on Magnetism, Magnetic Materials and their Applications. The group of scientists converging into the beautiful city of Guanajuato had come from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, several places in Mexico, U. S. A. , Japan, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark. The event attested to the success of the previous Workshop on Magnetism, Magnetic Materials and their Applications, held in Havana, Cuba, in 1991, as well as to the interest, level of activity and quality of the work being carried out in Latin America in the area of magnetism and magnetic materials. Equally important to everyone present was the fact that we had come to honor a friend, Professor L. M. Falicov, on his sixtieth birthday. The choice of a Latin American Workshop on magnetism as a Festschrift for Leo Falicov was, in our opinion, quite appropriate not only because of Leo's strong ties to Latin America, but also because of his superb contributions to science, and in particular, to magnetism. Professor Falicov was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he spent a good part of his formative years.

The Surface Wettability Effect on Phase Change collects high level contributions from internationally recognised scientists in the field. It thoroughly explores surface wettability, with topics spanning from the physics of phase change, physics of nucleation, mesoscale modeling, analysis of phenomena such drop evaporation, boiling, local heat flux at triple line, Leidenfrost, dropwise condensation, heat transfer enhancement, freezing, icing. All the topics are treated by discussing experimental results, mathematical modeling and numerical simulations. In particular, the numerical methods look at direct numerical simulations in the framework of VOF simulations, phase-field simulations and molecular dynamics. An introduction to equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics of phase change, wetting phenomena, liquid interfaces, numerical simulation of wetting phenomena and phase change is offered for readers who are less familiar in the field. This book will be of interest to researchers, academics, engineers, and postgraduate students working in the area of thermofluids, thermal management, and surface technology.

Explores a unique topic in physics. Traces the author's search for hypothetical subatomic particles. Both a memoir and a scientific detective story. Employs humor and eliminates jargon wherever possible. Suitable for both general readers and scientists.

This is the first book devoted to a systematic description of the linear theory of piezoelectric shells and plates theory. The book contains two parts. In the first part, the theories for electroelastic thin-walled elements of arbitrary form with different directions of preliminary polarization are presented in an easy form for practical use. The approximate methods for integrating the equations of piezoelectric shells and plates are developed and applied for solving some engineering problems. In the second part, the theory of piezoelectric shells and plates is substantiated by the asymptotic method. The area of applicability for different kinds of electroelastic shell theories is studied. A new problem concerning the electroelastic phenomena at the edge of a thin-walled element is raised and solved.
The Theory of Piezoelectric Shells and Plates will be valuable to researchers working in the field of electroelasticity as well as to electrical and electronic engineers who use thin-walled piezoelements. It is also be helpful for students and post-graduates specializing in mechanics and for scientists concerning asymptotic methods.

This volume contains the papers presented at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Magnetism and Structure in Systems of Reduced Dimension," held at l'Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques de Cargese - U.M.S. - C.N.R.S. - Universite de Corte Universite de Nice Sophia - Antipolis during June 15-19, 1992. The ordering of papers in the volume reflects the sequence of papers presented at the workshop. The aim was not to segregate the papers into rigidly defmed areas but to group the papers into small clusters, each cluster having a common theme. In this way the parallel, rather than serial, development of areas such as preparation of films, magnetic and structural characterization was highlighted. Indeed the success of the field depends on such parallel development and is assisted by workshops of this nature and the international collaborations which they foster. The organizers and participants of the NATO workshop express their thanks to Mme. Marie-France Hanseier and the staff at l'Institut d'Etudes Scientifiques de Cargese U.M.S. - C.N.R.S. - Universite de Corte - Universite de Nice Sophia - Antipolis for making the workshop and local arrangements a memorable success. Warm thanks are also expressed to Varadachari Sadagopan and Pascal Stefanou for their encouragement and help in making the workshop a reality. We are also grateful to Kristl Hathaway, Larry Cooper and Gary Prinz for advice in developing the workshop program."