Critical phenomena arise in a wide variety of physical systems. Classi cal examples are the liquid-vapour critical point or the paramagnetic ferromagnetic transition. Further examples include multicomponent fluids and alloys, superfluids, superconductors, polymers and fully developed tur bulence and may even extend to the quark-gluon plasma and the early uni verse as a whole. Early theoretical investigators tried to reduce the problem to a very small number of degrees of freedom, such as the van der Waals equation and mean field approximations, culminating in Landau's general theory of critical phenomena. Nowadays, it is understood that the common ground for all these phenomena lies in the presence of strong fluctuations of infinitely many coupled variables. This was made explicit first through the exact solution of the two-dimensional Ising model by Onsager. Systematic subsequent developments have been leading to the scaling theories of critical phenomena and the renormalization group which allow a precise description of the close neighborhood of the critical point, often in good agreement with experiments. In contrast to the general understanding a century ago, the presence of fluctuations on all length scales at a critical point is emphasized today. This can be briefly summarized by saying that at a critical point a system is scale invariant. In addition, conformal invaTiance permits also a non-uniform, local rescal ing, provided only that angles remain unchanged."

The main part of the book describes the behaviour of a charged particle in an electromagnetic field, and the electrodynamics of plasmas, liquid crystals and superconductors. These very different subjects have an important common feature, namely the fundamental role played by the magnetic field. Plasmas, liquid crystals and superconductors can be considered as magnetoactive media, because their electromagnetic characteristics are strongly affected by an external magnetic field.

The application to Biology of the methodologies developed in Physics is attracting an increasing interest from the scientific community. It has led to the emergence of a new interdisciplinary field, called Physical Biology, with the aim of reaching a better understanding of the biological mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels. Statistical Mechanics in particular plays an important role in the development of this new field.

For this reason, the XXth session of the famous Sitges Conference on Statistical Physics was dedicated to "Physical Biology: from Molecular Interactions to Cellular Behavior." As is by now tradition, a number of lectures were subsequently selected, expanded and updated for publication as lecture notes, so as to provide both a state-of-the-art introduction and overview to a number of subjects of broader interest and to favor the interchange and cross-fertilization of ideas between biologists and physicists.

The present volume focuses on three main subtopics (biological water, protein solutions as well as transport and replication), presenting for each of them the on-going debates on recent results. The role of water in biological processes, the mechanisms of protein folding, the phases and cooperative effects in biological solutions, the thermodynamic description of replication, transport and neural activity, all are subjects that are revised in this volume, based on new experiments and new theoretical interpretations.

Timely information on scientific and engineering developments occurring in laboratories around the world provides critical input to maintaining the economic and technological strength of the United States. Moreover, sharing this information quickly with other countries can greatly enhance the productivity of scientists and engineers. These are some of the reasons why the National Science Foundation (NSF) has been involved in funding science and technology assessments comparing the United States and foreign countries since the early 1980s. A substantial number of these studies have been conducted by the World Technology Evaluation Center (WTEC) managed by Loyola College through a cooperative agreement with NSF. The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), Committee on Technology's Interagency Working Group on NanoScience, Engineering and Technology (CT/IWGN) worked with WTEC to develop the scope of this Nanostucture Science and Technology report in an effort to develop a baseline of understanding for how to strategically make Federal nanoscale R&D investments in the coming years. The purpose of the NSTC/WTEC activity is to assess R&D efforts in other countries in specific areas of technology, to compare these efforts and their results to U. S. research in the same areas, and to identify opportunities for international collaboration in precompetitive research. Many U. S. organizations support substantial data gathering and analysis efforts focusing on nations such as Japan. But often the results of these studies are not widely available. At the same time, government and privately sponsored studies that are in the public domain tend to be "input" studies.

As in other scientific fields, the importance of boundary areas in wood research, such as that between lignin chemistry and hemicellulose chemis- try, continues to increase. Although the utilization of individual wood components has advanced to an appreciable extent, research into oligo- merie or polymerie compounds of two or more different components has made little progress. By contrast, in other fields, glycoproteins and pro te- oglycans have been found to form biochemical active centers in enzymes and microbes. The association between lignin and carbohydrates in lignified plants was first recognized in 1866. However, research has advanced slowly because of difficulty in the isolation and determination of wood glycocon- jugates, whieh likely have an important influence on the formation of wood, pulping behavior, pulp quality and digestibility by ruminants. Most plants contain both hydrophilie polysaccharides and hydrophobie lignins in their tissues. Lignins have been recognized to not only give mechanieal strength or rigidity to a tree or wood, but also to prevent invasion by fungi, and provide cell wall material, especially in the tracheids and vessels that deliver water extracted from the soil to the top of woody plants. How- ever, in trees, lignins have been found to interact with the polysaccharides, partieularly hemicelluloses, with whieh they coexist, leading to the forma- tion of another chemical component, a kind of glycoconjugate. Therefore, it is necessary to inc1ude lignin or p-hydroxycinnamie acids in any discus- sion on wood hemieelluloses.

This is an approachable introduction to the important topics and recent developments in the field of condensed matter physics. First, the general language of quantum field theory is developed in a way appropriate for dealing with systems having a large number of degrees of freedom. This paves the way for a description of the basic processes in such systems. Applications include various aspects of superfluidity and superconductivity, as well as a detailed description of the fractional quantum Hall liquid.

Given the enormous interest in surface phenomena in areas ranging from materials science to applications in life science, this volume is a very timely addition to the literature. Emphasis is on surfactants mediating interfacial and molecular aggregation phenomena, and the following topics are reviewed in particular: dissolution rates, equilibrium adsorption, mixing rules, and spreading on a solid surface of surfactants, as well as the role of surfactants in mediating a range of processes, such as the fabrication of various nanomaterials. Written and edited by leading experts, this volume is dedicated to Professor Dinesh O. Shah, one of the pioneers in this field.

This is the first book that explains how to structure glass for micro- and nanophotonic applications. It deals with various glass compositions and their properties, and the interactions between glass and the electromagnetic waves used to modify it. The book also explores methods for influencing the geometrical microstructure of glass as well as methods to produce actual microdevices. It also details methods for influencing the geometrical microstructure of glasses.

Presenting some of the most recent results of Russian research into shock compression, as well as historical overviews of the Russian research programs into shock compression, this volume will provide Western researchers with many novel ideas and points of view. The chapters in this volume are written by leading Russian specialists various fields of high-pressure physics and form accounts of the main researches on the behavior of matter under shock-wave interaction. The experimental portions contain results of studies of shock compression of metals to high and ultra-high pressure, shock initiation of polymorphic transformations, strength, fracture and fragmentation under shock compression, and detonation of condensed explosives. There are also chapters on theoretical investigations of shock-wave compression and plasma states in regimes of high-pressure and high- temperature. The topics of the book are of interest to scientists and engineers concerned with questions of material behavior under impulsive loading and to the equation of state of matter. Application is to questions of high-speed impact, inner composition of planets, verification of model representations of material behavior under extreme 1oading conditions, syntheses of new materials, development of new technologies for material processing, etc. Russian research differs from much of the Western work in that it has traditionally been wider-ranging and more directed to extremes of response than to precise characterization of specific materials and effects. Western scientists could expect to benefit from the perspective gained from close knowledge of the Russian work.

Zeolites occur in nature and have been known for almost 250 years as alumino silicate minerals. Examples are clinoptilolite, mordenite, offretite, ferrierite, erionite and chabazite. Today, most of these and many other zeolites are of great interest in heterogeneous catalysis, yet their naturally occurring forms are of limited value as catalysts because nature has not optimized their properties for catalytic applications and the naturally occurring zeolites almost always contain undesired impurity phases. It was only with the advent of synthetic zeolites in the period from about 1948 to 1959 (thanks to the pioneering work of R. M. Barrer and R. M. Milton) that this class of porous materials began to playa role in catalysis. A landmark event was the introduction of synthetic faujasites (zeolite X at first, zeolite Y slightly later) as catalysts in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) of heavy petroleum distillates in 1962, one of the most important chemical processes with a worldwide capacity of the order of 500 million t/a. Compared to the previously used amorphous silica-alumina catalysts, the zeolites were not only orders of magnitude more active, which enabled drastic process engineering improvements to be made, but they also brought about a significant increase in the yield of the target product, viz. motor gasoline. With the huge FCC capacity worldwide, the added value of this yield enhancement is of the order of 10 billion US $ per year."

"Nonequilibrium Carrier Dynamics in Semiconductors" is a well-established, specialist conference, held every 2 years, covering a range of topics of current interest to R&D in semiconductor physics/materials, optoelectronics, nanotechnology, quantum information processing. Papers accepted for publication are selected and peer-reviewed by members of the Program Committee during the conference to ensure both rapid and high-quality processing.

The proceedings of this series of conferences constitute a comprehensive source of reference of the acknowledged state of the art in the field.

It has been almost thirty years since the publication of a book that is entirely dedicated to the theory, description, characterization and measurement of the thermal conductivity of solids. The recent discovery of new materials which possess more complex crystal structures and thus more complicated phonon scattering mechanisms have brought innovative challenges to the theory and experimental understanding of these new materials. With the development of new and novel solid materials and new measurement techniques, this book will serve as a current and extensive resource to the next generation researchers in the field of thermal conductivity. This book is a valuable resource for research groups and special topics courses (8-10 students), for 1st or 2nd year graduate level courses in Thermal Properties of Solids, special topics courses in Thermal Conductivity, Superconductors and Magnetic Materials, and to researchers in Thermoelectrics, Thermal Barrier Materials and Solid State Physics.

Praise for Ed M.Schmidt's, Polyelectrolytes with Defined Molecular Architecture I

POLYMERNEWS

"All articles are well prepared and structured. Although not written as textbooks, general introductions of the chapters provide basic knowledge of the separate fields, methods and theoretical background. Therefore, the volumes can be recommended not only for specialists in the field. The books make an important contribution to polyelectrolyte research and application. I recommend the volumes to all scientists and engineers actively dealing with polyelectrolytes."

Dynamical processes in which many timescales coexist are called dispersive. The rate coefficients for dispersive processes depend on time. In the case of a chemical reaction, the time dependence of the rate coefficient, k(t), termed the specific reaction rate, is rationalized in the following way. Reactions by their very nature have to disturb reactivity distributions of the reactants in condensed media, as the more reactive species are the first ones to disappear from the system. The extent of this disturbance depends on the ratio of the rates of reactions to the rate of internal rearrangements (mixing) in the system restoring the initial distribution in reactivity of reactants. If the rates of chemical reactions exceed the rates of internal rearrangements, then the initial distributions in reactant reactivity are not preserved during the course of reactions and the specific reaction rates depend on time. Otherwise the extent of disturbance is negligible and classical kinetics, with a constant specific reaction rate, k, termed the reaction rate constant, may be valid as an approximation. In condensed media dispersive dynamical processes are endemic and this is the first monograph devoted to these processes.

The fundamental physics of metallic magnetism is not yet satisfactorily understood and continues to be interesting. For instance, although the detail is yet to be clarified, magnetism is anticipated to be playing a principal role in producing the high Tc superconductivity of the oxides. This book has two major objectives. First, it intends to provide an introduction to magnetism of metals in a broad sense. Besides pursuing the mechanism of metallic magnetism itself, it attempts to fmd and actively analyze magnetic causes hidden hitherto unnoticed behind various physical phenomena. My foremost goal is to expose the fundamental role played by phonons in the mechanism of metallic magnetism. I demonstrate how such a view also helps to elucidate a broad spectrum of other observations. The second objective is to concisely introduce the standard many-body points of view and techniques necessary in studying solid physics in general. The book is intended to be self-contained and starts with Chapter I containing a brief summary on the rudiments of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics including the method of second quantization. In the same spirit, the foundation of magnetism in general is summarized in Chapter 2 and that for metals in particular, the Stoner theory, in Chapter 3. In Chapter 4, various linear responses of metallic electrons are systematically discussed with emphasis on the role of magnetism in them.

This book, featuring the most comprehensive treatment of Josephson junctions ever published, describes superconductor/two-dimensional-electron-gas (2DEG) structures, providing a better understanding of their transport properties. It also discusses the control of junctions using gate electrodes or injection currents, and the physical effects observed in these junctions.

This second edition has been brought up to date by the inclusion of an extensive new chapter on aspects relevant to high-temperature superconductors. The new edition provides researchers, engineers and other scientists with an introduction to the field and makes useful supplementary reading for graduate students in low-temperature physics.

The history of scientific research and technological development is replete with examples of breakthroughs that have advanced the frontiers of knowledge, but seldom does it record events that constitute paradigm shifts in broad areas of intellectual pursuit. One notable exception, however, is that of spin electronics (also called spintronics, magnetoelectronics or magnetronics), wherein information is carried by electron spin in addition to, or in place of, electron charge. It is now well established in scientific and engineering communities that Moore's Law, having been an excellent predictor of integrated circuit density and computer performance since the 1970s, now faces great challenges as the scale of electronic devices has been reduced to the level where quantum effects become significant factors in device operation. Electron spin is one such effect that offers the opportunity to continue the gains predicted by Moore's Law, by taking advantage of the confluence of magnetics and semiconductor electronics in the newly emerging discipline of spin electronics. From a fundamental viewpoine, spin-polarization transport in a material occurs when there is an imbalance of spin populations at the Fermi energy. In ferromagnetic metals this imbalance results from a shift in the energy states available to spin-up and spin-down electrons. In practical applications, a ferromagnetic metal may be used as a source of spin-polarized electronics to be injected into a semiconductor, a superconductor or a normal metal, or to tunnel through an insulating barrier.

Providing in a single volume all essential information on the physical properties of alkali halides, this book will be a valuable reference for solid-state physicists and materials scientists.

The two volumes 165 and 166 Polyelectrolytes with Defined Molecular Architecture summarize recent progress in the field. The subjects comprise novel polyelectrolyte architectures including planar, cylindrical and spherical polyelectrolyte brushes as well as micelle, complex and membrane formation. Some solution properties such as conformation of flexible polyions, osmotic coefficients and electrophoretic properties are addressed along with recent progress in analytical theory and simulation.

- Contents. - Thermodynamics and Phase Separation in IPNs. - Heterogeneous Structure and Morphology of IPNs. - Relaxation Transitions and Viscoelasticity of IPNs. - Chemical Kinetics of IPNs Formation and Phase Separation. - Compatibilization in Phase-Separated IPNs.

Diffusion is a vital topic in solid-state physics and chemistry, physical metallurgy and materials science. Diffusion processes are ubiquitous in solids at elevated temperatures. A thorough understanding of diffusion in materials is crucial for materials development and engineering. This book first gives an account of the central aspects of diffusion in solids, for which the necessary background is a course in solid state physics. It then provides easy access to important information about diffusion in metals, alloys, semiconductors, ion-conducting materials, glasses and nanomaterials. Several diffusion-controlled phenomena, including ionic conduction, grain-boundary and dislocation pipe diffusion, are considered as well.

Graduate students in solid-state physics, physical metallurgy, materials science, physical and inorganic chemistry or geophysics will benefit from this book as will physicists, chemists, metallurgists, materials engineers in academic and industrial research laboratories.

This volume is devoted to the topic of "Monolayer and Sub monolayer Helium Films," which was the subject of a symposium held at Stevens Institute of Technology, June 7th and 8th, 1973. All the papers in this volume were presented at this symposium. The symposium was sponsored by Stevens Institute of Technology with support from the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research, and had as Organizing Committee: Professor D. F. Brewer (University of Sussex), Professor J. G. Dash (University of Washington), Professor J. G. 'Daunt (Stevens Institute of Technology), Doctor V. J. Emery (Brookhaven National Laboratory), Professor E. Lerner (Stevens Institute of Technology), Doctor F. J. Milford (Battelle Memorial Institute), Doctor A. D. Novaco (Brookhaven National Laboratory), Professor F. Pollock (Stevens Institute of Technology), and Professor W. A. Steele (Pennsylvania State University). The symposium was largely devoted to papers on the topic of thin (unsaturated) helium films at low temperatures, many of which were of a review character. In addition some papers of a more general character were included in order to review some powerful techniques used for investigating surfaces at higher temperatures. The Editors wish to thank all the authors of these papers for their enthusiastic cooperation in the preparation of this volume."

Most of the specialists working in this interdisciplinary field of physics, biology, biophysics and medicine are associated with "The International Institute of Biophysics" (IIB), in Neuss, Germany, where basic research and possibilities for applications are coordinated. The growth in this field is indicated by the increase in financial support, interest from the scientific community and frequency of publications.

Audience: The scientists of IIB have presented the most essential background and applications of biophotonics in these lecture notes in biophysics, based on the summer school lectures by this group. This book is devoted to questions of elementary biophysics, as well as current developments and applications. It will be of interest to graduate and postgraduate students, life scientists, and the responsible officials of industries and governments looking for non-invasive methods of investigating biological tissues.

Deals with the influence of stoiciometry and order/disorder on materials properties. It summarizes the knowledge available in a comprehensive way.