An extensive body of research is involved in pushing miniaturisation to its physical limit, encompassing the miniaturisation of electronic devices, the manipulation of single atoms by scanning tunnelling microscopy, bio-engineering, the chemical synthesis of complex molecules, microsensor technology, and information storage and retrieval. In parallel to these practical aspects of miniaturisation there is also the necessity to understand the physics of small structures. Ultimate Limits of Fabrication and Measurement brings together a number of leading articles from a variety of fields with the common aim of ultimate miniaturisation and measurement.

This volume contains the proceedin,r. of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Forces in Scanning Probe Methods which was CG-sponsered and organized by the "Forum fUr N anowissenschaften". The conference was held in Schluchsee in the south- em Black Forest (Germany) from March 7-18, 1994. 30 invited lecturers giving tuto- rial talks of historical and recent research activities and about 100 contributed, oral and poster presentations from 130 people participating, created a very active and lestimulating, lively atmosphere. The inventions of scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy and near field optical microsocopy opened a new field of research, called scanning probe meth- ods (SPM). During the last decade, the quality of image acquisition made tremendous progress due to advanced data acquisition systems, low noise electronics and suitable mechan- ical and micromechanical constructions. However, a lot of fundamental, unsolved questions about the interaction between probing tip and sample remain. This vol- ume contains 60 contributions dedicated to these problems. Most of the articles are review articles presenting. condensed and relevant information in a way suitable for both students and specialists. Topics that are covered are instrumental aspects, de- signs of force microscopes in various environments, such as ambient pressure, low temperature, ultrahip vacuum and liquids. An important part of the workshop was dedicated to theory, Including all initio calculations and molecular dynamics simula- tions. Mechanical properties, such as adhesion, friction and wear, on the micrometer and nanometer scale were also treated intensively.

The classical theories of Linear Elasticity and Newtonian Fluids, though trium phantly elegant as mathematical structures, do not adequately describe the defor mation and flow of most real materials. Attempts to characterize the behaviour of real materials under the action of external forces gave rise to the science of Rheology. Early rheological studies isolated the phenomena now labelled as viscoelastic. Weber (1835, 1841), researching the behaviour of silk threats under load, noted an instantaneous extension, followed by a further extension over a long period of time. On removal of the load, the original length was eventually recovered. He also deduced that the phenomena of stress relaxation and damping of vibrations should occur. Later investigators showed that similar effects may be observed in other materials. The German school referred to these as "Elastische Nachwirkung" or "the elastic aftereffect" while the British school, including Lord Kelvin, spoke ofthe "viscosityofsolids." The universal adoption of the term "Viscoelasticity," intended to convey behaviour combining proper ties both of a viscous liquid and an elastic solid, is of recent origin, not being used for example by Love (1934), though Alfrey (1948) uses it in the context of polymers. The earliest attempts at mathematically modelling viscoelastic behaviour were those of Maxwell (1867) (actually in the context of his work on gases; he used this model for calculating the viscosity of a gas) and Meyer (1874)."

RF Probeheads 1. J. Link, Faellanden, Switzerland The Design of Resonator Probes with Homogeneous Radiofrequency Fields 2. M. Schnall, Philadelphia, PA/USA Probes Tuned to Multiple Frequencies for In-Vivo NMR RF Pulses 3. P.C.M. van Zijl, Rockville, MD/USA; C.T.W. Moonen, Bethesda, MD/USA Solvent Suppression Strategies for In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy 4. M. Garwood, K. Ugurbil, Minneapolis, MN/USA B1 Insensitive Adiabatic RF Pulses 5. P.G. Morris, Nottingham, UK Frequency Selective Excitation Using Phase-Compensated RF Pulses in One andTwo Dimensions 6. S. Mueller, Basel, Switzerland RF Pulses for MultipleFrequency Excitation: Theory and Application Spectrum Analysis 7. R. de Beer, D. van Ormondt, Delft, The Nethelands Analysis of NMR Data Using Time Domain Fitting Procedures 8. E.B. Cady, London, UK Determination of Absolute Concentrations of Metabolites from NMR Spectra

As the role of computer simulations began to increase in importance, we sensed a need for a "meeting place" for both experienced simulators and neophytes to discuss new techniques and results in an evironment which promotes extended discussion. As a consequence of these concerns, The Center for Simulational Physics established an annual workshop on Recent Developments in Computer Simulation Studies in Condensed-Matter Physics. This year's workshop was the fifth in this series and the interest which the scientific community has shown demonstrates quite clearly the useful purpose which the series has served. The workshop was held at the University of Georgia, February 17-21, 1992, and these proceedings form a record of the workshop which is published with the goal of timely dissemination of the papers to a wider audience. The proceedings are divided into four parts. The first part contains invited papers which deal with simulational studies of classical systems and includes an introduction to some new simulation techniques and special purpose computers as well. A separate section of the proceedings is devoted to invited papers on quantum systems including new results for strongly correlated electron and quan tum spin models. The third section is comprised of a single, invited description of a newly developed software shell designed for running parallel programs. The contributed presentations comprise the final chapter."

Spin exchange between paramagnetic particles is one of the few elementary bimolecular processes in solutions that is readily accessible to detailed experimental studies and to strict theoretical description. Due to this fact spin exchange is now widely used in solving various problems of chemistry, physics, and molecular biology. Spin exchange allows one to study in detail elementary acts of collisions of molecules. By use of spin exchange one can obtain quantitative information on collision rates of molecules in solutions, steric hinderance in collisions, electrostatic interactions in collisions of charged particles, and overlap of electron orbitals in collisions. Par ticularly valuable is the possibility of using spin exchange to study col lisions in such complex systems as polymer solutions, multicomponent mix tures, heterogeneous mixtures, and especially biological systems. This monograph contains a comprehensive description of spin exchange in solutions. It consists of four chapters. The introductory chapter contains a brief summary of the physical principles of spin exchange and outlines the range of its main applications. In this chapter a historic background of research in this field is also given. The second chapter contains a com prehensive presentation of the theory of spin exchange including that of its spectroscopic manifestations. The third chapter is devoted to a detailed description of the technique of experimental studies of spin exchange. The last - the fourth - chapter summarizes the results of experimental studies of spin exchange and considers various applications of spin exchange in che mistry, molecular physics, and biology."

The contribution of computer simulation studies to our understanding of proper ties of a wide range of condensed-matter systems is now well established. The Center for Simulational Physics has been hosting annual workshops with the in tent of bringing together some of the experienced practitioners in the field, as well as relative newcomers in the field, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and recent results. This year's workshop, the fourth in the series, was held at the University of Georgia, February 18-22, 1991. These proceedings are a record of the workshop and are published with the goal of timely dissemination of the papers to a wider audience. The proceedings are divided into three parts. The first part contains invited papers which deal with simulational studies of classical systems and includes an introduction to some new simulation techniques and special purpose comput ers as well. A separate section of the proceedings is devoted to invited papers on quantum systems including new results for strongly correlated electron and quantum spin models believed to be important for the description of high-T c superconductors. The contributed presentations comprise the final chapter."

This textbook sets out to enable readers to understand fundamental aspects underlying quantum macroscopic phenomena in solids, primarily through the modern experimental techniques and results. The classic independent-electrons approach for describing the electronic structure in terms of energy bands helps explain the occurrence of metals, insulators and semiconductors.It is underlined thatsuperconductivity and magnetism can only be understood by taking into account the interactions between electrons. The text recounts the experimental observations that have revealed the main properties of the superconductors and were essential to track its physical origin. While fundamental concepts are underlined, those which are required to describe the high technology applications, present or future, are emphasized as well. Problem sets involve experimental approaches and tools which support a practical understanding of the materials and their behaviour.

Observation, Prediction and Simulation of Phase Transitions in Complex Fluids presents an overview of the phase transitions that occur in a variety of soft-matter systems: colloidal suspensions of spherical or rod-like particles and their mixtures, directed polymers and polymer blends, colloid--polymer mixtures, and liquid-forming mesogens. This modern and fascinating branch of condensed matter physics is presented from three complementary viewpoints. The first section, written by experimentalists, emphasises the observation of basic phenomena (by light scattering, for example). The second section, written by theoreticians, focuses on the necessary theoretical tools (density functional theory, path integrals, free energy expansions). The third section is devoted to the results of modern simulation techniques (Gibbs ensemble, free energy calculations, configurational bias Monte Carlo). The interplay between the disciplines is clearly illustrated. For all those interested in modern research in equilibrium statistical mechanics.

This sixth Volume of the International Workshop on Instabilities and Nonequilibrium Structures is dedicated to the memory of my friend Walter Zeller, Professor of the Universidad C'at6lica df' Valparaiso and Vice-Director of the Workshop. Walter Zeller was much more than an organizer of this meeting: his enthusiasm, dedication and critical views were many times the essential ingredients to continue with a task which in occasions faced difficulties and incomprehensiolls. It is in great part due to him that the workshop has adquired to-day tradition. maturity and international recognition. This Volume should have been coedited by Walter and it is with df'ep emotion that I learned that his disciples Javier Martinez and Rolando Tiemann wanted as a last hommage to their Professor and friend to coedit tfus book. No me seria posible terminal' estas lineas sin pensar en la senora Adriana Gamonal de Zelln. qUf' ella encuentre en este libro la admiraci6n y reconocimiento hacia su marido de quiPIlf's [l\Prall sus discipulos, colegas y amigos.

Ram accelerators are among the most advanced tools for generating fluid dynamcis data in supersonic reacting systems. They require the combined action of combustion, wave systems and turbulence and are still a serious challenge for physicists and engineers. This book will serve as an introductionary textbook on ram accelerators and gives a thorough overview on research activities, performance modeling and high-pressure detonation dynamics.

This book is designed to give a short introduction to the field of materials pro cesses for students in the different engineering and physical sciences. It gives an overall treatment of processing and outlines principles and techniques related to the different categories of materials currently employed in technology. It should be used as a first year text and a selection made of the contents to provide a one or two term course. It is not intended to be fully comprehensive but treats major processing topics. In this way, the book has been kept within proportions suitable as an introductory course. The text has been directed to fundamental aspects of processes applied to metals, ceramics, polymers, glassy materials and composites. An effort has been made to cover as broad a range of processes as possible while keeping the treatment differentiated into clearly defined types. For broader treatments, a comprehensive bibliography directs the student to more specialised texts. In presenting this overall view of the field of processes, the text has been brought into line with current teaching in the field of materials. The student of engineering, in this way, may see the challenge and the advances made in applying scientific principles to modem processing techniques. This type of presentation may also be the more exciting one."

Microcontinuum field theories extend classical field theories to microscopic spaces and short time scales. This volume is concerned with the kinematics of microcontinua. It begins with a discussion of strain, stress tensors, balance laws, and constitutive equations, and then discusses applications of the fundamental ideas to the theory of elasticity. The ideas developed here are important in modeling the fluid or elastic properties of porous media, polymers, liquid crystals, slurries, and composite materials.

Advances in the Theory of Atomic and Molecular Systems, is a collection of contributions presenting recent theoretical and computational developments that provide new insights into the structure, properties, and behavior of a variety of atomic and molecular systems. This volume (subtitled Dynamics, Spectroscopy, Clusters, and Nanostructures ) deals with the topics of Quantum Dynamics and Spectroscopy, Complexes and Clusters, and Nanostructures and Complex Systems .

This volume is an invaluable resource for faculty, graduate students, and researchers interested in theoretical and computational chemistry and physics, physical chemistry and chemical physics, molecular spectroscopy, and related areas of science and engineering."

This publication presents the proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on Computer Modelling of Electronic and Atomic Processes in Solids. This ARW was held at Szklarska Poreba, Wroclaw, Poland from May 20 -23, 1996, and brought together scientists from Canada, England, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, United States, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The NATO Advanced Research Workshops program is designed to increase collaboration and exchange of knowledge between the Eastern and Western scientific communities. This particular NATO ARW has already succeeded in that effort, and has spawned collaboration agreements and programs. One joint project in space materials has led to the launch of an experiment to the Russian MIR space station. This NATO ARW was also fortunate to be held concurrently with a workshop of the Wroclaw Technical University, in the same location, which focused on glass materials, thus providing for a larger scientific audience for a number of presentations of both groups. The primary emphasis of this ARW was on computer models, ranging from fundamental atomic, molecular and electronic structures and processes, through to macroscopic descriptions of materials in terms of their structure and properties. Various elements discussed in these proceedings include environmental effects, predictions of properties, correlations with experiments and material performance parameters. Applications to space and electronics were emphasized.

Optoelectronic devices operating in the mid-infrared wavelength range offer applications in a variety of areas from environmental gas monitoring around oil rigs to the detection of narcotics. They could also be used for free-space optical communications, thermal imaging applications and the development of "homeland security" measures.

Mid-infrared Semiconductor Optoelectronics is an overview of the current status and technological development in this rapidly emerging area; the basic physics, some of the problems facing the design engineer and a comparison of possible solutions are laid out; the different lasers used as sources for mid-infrared technology are considered; recent work in detectors is reviewed; the last part of the book is concerned with applications.

With a world-wide authorship of experts working in many mid-infrared-related fields this book will be an invaluable reference for researchers and graduate students drawn from physics, electronic and electrical engineering and materials science.

The second half of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty ?rst have been characterized by the most impressive industrial revolution ever seen. In - proximately 40years, the complexity of integrated circuits (ICs) has increased by a 9 factor of 10 , with a corresponding reduction of the cost per bit by eight orders of magnitude. Not only has this evolution allowed dramatic progress in allscienti?c ?elds (large computers, space probes, etc.), but also has fueled the economic development with the raise of new markets (personal computers, cellular phones, etc.) and even social revolutions (world wide web, global village, etc.). In last years, however, the situation has signi?cantly changed: the continuous scaling down of device size has eventually brought the IC major technique, p- tolithography, to its limits. Overcoming its original limits has been proved to be possible, but the price to pay for that has changed the playing rules - while at the beginning of the IC history the evolution was driven by technology, now it is driven by economy, the cost of a medium size production plant being in the range of a few billion dollars.

ItisagreatpleasureforustopresentacollectionofpapersreadattheToyoichiTanaka MemorialSymposiumonGelsheldon10-12September2008inTokyo. ProfessorToyoichi TanakaofMIThasdevelopedgelscienceafterthediscoveryofvolumephasetransition,but unfortunately he passed away so early in 2000. His friends and co-workers decided to organizeasymposiumcommemoratingthe30thanniversaryforthediscoveryofthevolume phasetransitionin1978. ThesymposiumwasheldinastyleofFaradayDiscussions. FullpaperswritteninJapanese weresentbeforehandtoalltheparticipants,anddiscussionswereactiveafterashort(5min) presentationofeachpaper. SinceJapaneselanguageisverydifferentfromEuropeanl- guages,weJapanesecouldspeakfreelywithoutanyhesitation. Althoughalltheparticipants are good at English as proved by their publication of many papers in English, yet the discussionofdelicatenuancescouldbedonebetterinJapanesethaninEnglish. Afterthesuccessfulsymposium,paperswritteninEnglishtakingintoaccountthedisc- sionsduringthesymposiumwerereviewedbyexpertscientists,andthepaperswererevised accordingly. We hope that this collection of papers is interesting and useful for all the scientistsandengineersworkingintheareaofgelsbothinacademiaandindustry. Finally, wethankallthecontributorsandreviewersfortheirenthusiasticefforts. Summer2009 MasayukiTokita KatsuyoshiNishinari v Contents StructureandFunctionalPropertiesofGels CompetitiveHydrogenBondsandCononsolvencyofPoly(N-isopropylacrylamide)s inMixedSolventsofWater/Methanol...1 FumihikoTanaka,TsuyoshiKoga,andFranc,ItisagreatpleasureforustopresentacollectionofpapersreadattheToyoichiTanaka MemorialSymposiumonGelsheldon10-12September2008inTokyo. ProfessorToyoichi TanakaofMIThasdevelopedgelscienceafterthediscoveryofvolumephasetransition,but unfortunately he passed away so early in 2000. His friends and co-workers decided to organizeasymposiumcommemoratingthe30thanniversaryforthediscoveryofthevolume phasetransitionin1978. ThesymposiumwasheldinastyleofFaradayDiscussions. FullpaperswritteninJapanese weresentbeforehandtoalltheparticipants,anddiscussionswereactiveafterashort(5min) presentationofeachpaper. SinceJapaneselanguageisverydifferentfromEuropeanl- guages,weJapanesecouldspeakfreelywithoutanyhesitation. Althoughalltheparticipants are good at English as proved by their publication of many papers in English, yet the discussionofdelicatenuancescouldbedonebetterinJapanesethaninEnglish. Afterthesuccessfulsymposium,paperswritteninEnglishtakingintoaccountthedisc- sionsduringthesymposiumwerereviewedbyexpertscientists,andthepaperswererevised accordingly. We hope that this collection of papers is interesting and useful for all the scientistsandengineersworkingintheareaofgelsbothinacademiaandindustry. Finally, wethankallthecontributorsandreviewersfortheirenthusiasticefforts. Summer2009 MasayukiTokita KatsuyoshiNishinari v Contents StructureandFunctionalPropertiesofGels CompetitiveHydrogenBondsandCononsolvencyofPoly(N-isopropylacrylamide)s inMixedSolventsofWater/Methanol...1 FumihikoTanaka,TsuyoshiKoga,andFranccoiseM. Winnik RheologicalPropertiesofSolutionsofaPolyampholyticBlockCopolymer...9 TomomitsuSekitani,KenjiUrayama,ManabuTsuruta,Masahiko Mitsuzuka,andToshikazuTakigawa Helix-CoilTransitionandAssociationBehaviorofWater-SolublePolypeptides HavingHydrophobicAlkylSideChains...15 KatsuhiroInomata,TomokazuTakai,NoriyoshiOhno,YoshiakiYamaji, ErinaYamada,HidekiSugimoto,andEijiNakanishi EffectsofSurfactantsontheLinearRheologyofTelechelic AssociatingPolymers...23 TsutomuIndei Time-DependentFlowPropertiesofTransientHydrogelswith TemporalNetworkJunctions...3 1 IsamuKaneda,TsuyoshiKoga,andFumihikoTanaka StressGrowthinTransientPolymerNetworksunderStartup ShearFlow...39 TsuyoshiKoga,FumihikoTanaka,andIsamuKaneda Self-assemblingStructuresandSol-GelTransitionofOptically ActiveandRacemic12-HydroxystearicAcidsinOrganicSolvents...47 HiroyukiTakeno,TomomitsuMochizuki,KazutoYoshiba,ShingoKondo, andToshiakiDobashi TheGelPointandNetworkFormationinthePolymerisation ofanEpoxy-AmineSystemIncludingRingFormation...55 YutakaTanaka,JohnL. Stanford,andRobert. F. T. Stepto TheEffectiveSurfaceRoughnessScalingoftheGelationSurface PatternFormation...63 T. Mizoue,M. Tokita,H. Honjo,H. J. Barraza,andH. Katsuragi DiscontinuousGrowthofOnionStructureUnderShear...69 ShujiFujii vii viii Contents StudyonSelf-AssemblyofTelechelicHydrophobicallyModi?ed Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)inWater...77 TaisukeFujimoto,EmiYoshimoto,andMasahikoAnnaka SomeThoughtsontheDe?nitionofaGel...87 KatsuyoshiNishinari SwellingofGels StructuralTransitionofNon-ionicPoly(acrylamide)Gel...95 Sada-atsuMukai,HirohisaMiki,VasylGaramus,Regine Willmeit,andMasayukiTokita SwellingEquilibriumofaGelinBinaryMixedSolvents...1 01 HirohisaMiki,ShinYagihara,Sada-atsuMukai,andMasyukiTokita RevisittoSwellingKineticsofGels...107 KenjiUrayama,NaokiMurata,ShojiNosaka,MasahiroKojima, andToshikazuTakigawa EffectofResidualSwellingSolventonNanoporeFormationinReplication ofSwollenHydrogelNetwork...113 Ken-ichiKurumada,AtsushiSuzuki,EmikoOtsuka,SusumuBaba,Youhei Seto,KeisukeMorita,andTakanoriNakamura SwellingPropertiesofPhysicallyCross-linkedPVAGelsPrepared byaCast-dryingMethod...121 EmikoOtsukaandAtsushiSuzuki In?uenceofHeatingTemperatureonCookingCurveofRice...127 KunioNakamura,AtsukoAkutsu,AyumiOtake,andHatsueMoritaka IndustrialandbiomedicalApplication EffectsofThicknessandCurvatureontheAdhesionProperties ofCylindricalSoftMaterialsbyaPointContactMethod...135 D. Sakasegawa,M. Goto,andA. Suzuki ElectrophoresisofDyesandProteinsinPoly(Acrylamide)GelContaining ImmobilizedBilayerMembranes...143 HirokiIshihara,GohMatsuo,TakanoriSasaki,YukoSaito,MakotoDemura, andKaoruTsujii AnApplicationofMicrocapsulesHavingEnzyme-degradableGel MembraneToCellCulture...149 ToshiakiDobashi,MichiruKoike,KentaroKobayashi,YasuyukiMaki, TakaoYamamoto,andSusumuTanaka DevelopmentofaNovelHydrogeltoPreventBacterial InfectiousDiseases...1 55 NorihiroKato,AzumiKobayashi,HiroshiMotohashi,YuOzonoe,Tomohiro Morohoshi,andTsukasaIkeda EffectofParticlesAlignmentonGiantReductioninDynamic ModulusofHydrogelsContainingNeedle-ShapedMagneticParticles...163 TetsuMitsumata,YuheiKosugi,andShunsukeOuchi Contents ix MolecularDiffusioninPolysaccharideGelSystemsasObservedbyNMR...171 ShingoMatsukawa,DaisukeSagae,andAkikoMogi ChainReleaseBehaviorofGellanGels...177 KhandkerS. HossainandKatsuyoshiNishinari GelFormationofRecombinantFibrinogenLackingaCTermini...187 KenjiKuboa,YukaMasuda,YoshiharuToyama,NobukazuNameki, NobuoOkumura,andMasanoriOchiai DynamicLightScatteringStudyofPigVitreousBody...195 ToyoakiMatsuura,NaokazuIdota,YoshiakiHara,andMasahikoAnnaka TheRelationshipBetweentheChangesinLocalStiffnessofChicken Myo?brilandtheTendernessofMuscleDuringPostmortemAging...205 T. Iwasaki,Y. Hasegawa,K. Yamamoto,andK. Nakamura Index...211 ProgrColloidPolymSci(2009)136:1-8 DOI:10. 1007/2882_2009_1 CompetitiveHydrogenBondsandCononsolvency ofPoly(N-isopropylacrylamide)sinMixedSolvents ofWater/Methanol 1 1 2 FumihikoTanaka ,TsuyoshiKoga ,andFranc,oiseM.

Nanophase Materials is the first and, as yet, the only comprehensive book published in this new and exciting area of materials science. It gives a broad overview of the revolutionary new field of nanophase materials; a view which spans the materials, physics, and chemistry research communities at a tutorial level that is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and experts or would-be experts in the science of nanostructured materials. The articles are authored by many of the world's most prominent scientists in this field. The book covers the diverse methods for synthesizing nanophase materials, a variety of subsequent processing methodologies, what is known about the structures of these materials on various length scales from atomic to macroscopic, and the properties of these unique and novel materials. The materials properties covered are mechanical, electronic, optical, and magnetic and hence span a wide range of important new opportunities for technological applications.

This book aims at providing graduate students and researchers with funda mental knowledge indispensable for entering the new field of "microclus 3 ters." Microclusters consisting of 10 to 10 atoms exhibit neither the pro perties of the corresponding bulk nor those of the corresponding molecule of a few atoms. The microclusters may be considered to form a new phase of materials lying between macroscopic solids and microscopic particles such as atoms and molecules, showing both macroscopic and microscopic features. However, research into such"a riew phase has been left untouched until recent years by the development of the quantum theory of matter. The microscopic features of microclusters were first revealed by ob serving anomalies of the mass spectrum of a Na cluster beam at specific sizes, called magic numbers. Then it was experimentally confirmed that the magic numbers come from the shell structure of valence electrons. Being stimulated by these epoch-making findings in metal microclusters and aided by progress of the experimental techniques producing relatively dense, non interacting micro clusters of various sizes in the form of micro cluster beams, the research field of microclusters has developed rapidly in these 5 to 7 years. The progress is also due to the improvement of computers and com putational techniques, which have made it possible to perform ab initio cal culations of the atomic and electronic structure of smaller microclusters, as well as to carry out computer simulations of their dynamics."

The state-of-the-art in the theoretical statistical physics treatment of the Janus fluid is reported with a bridge between new research results published in journal articles and a contextual literature review. Recent Monte Carlo simulations on the Kern and Frenkel model of the Janus fluid have revealed that in the vapor phase, below the critical point, there is the formation of preferred inert clusters made up of a well-defined number of particles: the micelles and the vesicles. This is responsible for a re-entrant gas branch of the gas-liquid binodal. Detailed account of this findings are given in the first chapter where the Janus fluid is introduced as a product of new sophisticated synthesis laboratory techniques. In the second chapter a cluster theory is developed to approximate the exact clustering properties stemming from the simulations. It is shown that the theory is able to reproduce semi-quantitatively the micellization phenomenon.

An exciton is an electronic excitation wave consisting of an electron-hole pair which propagates in a nonmetallic solid. Since the pioneering research of Fren kel, Wannier and the Pohl group in the 1930s, a large number of experimental and theoretical studies have been made. Due to these investigations the exciton is now a well-established concept and the electronic structure has been clarified in great detail. The next subjects for investigation are, naturally, dynamical processes of excitons such as excitation, relaxation, annihilation and molecule formation and, in fact, many interesting phenomena have been disclosed by recent works. These excitonic processes have been recognized to be quite important in solid-state physics because they involve a number of basic interactions between excitons and other elementary excitations. It is the aim of this quasi monograph to describe these excitonic processes from both theoretical and experimental points of view. we take a few To discuss and illustrate the excitonic processes in solids, important and well-investigated insulating crystals as playgrounds for excitons on which they play in a manner characteristic of each material. The selection of the materials is made in such a way that they possess some unique properties of excitonic processes and are adequate to cover important interactions in which excitons are involved. In each material, excitonic processes are described in detail from the experimental side in order to show the whole story of excitons in a particular material."

Trends in Computational Nanomechanics reviews recent advances in analytical and computational modeling frameworks to describe the mechanics of materials on scales ranging from the atomistic, through the microstructure or transitional, and up to the continuum. The book presents new approaches in the theory of nanosystems, recent developments in theoretical and computational methods for studying problems in which multiple length and/or time scales must be simultaneously resolved, as well as example applications in nanomechanics.

This title will be a useful tool of reference for professionals, graduates and undergraduates interested in Computational Chemistry and Physics, Materials Science, Nanotechnology.

Computer Simulation Studies in Condensed-Matter Physics VIII covers recent developments in this field presented at the 1995 workshop, such as new algorithms, methods of analysis, and conceptual developments. This volume is composed of three parts. The first part contains invited papers that deal with simulational studies of classical systems. The second part is devoted to invited papers on quantum systems, including new results for strongly correlated electron and quantum spin models. The final part comprises contributed presentations.

We are pleased to present the ?fth volume of Progress in Ultrafast Intense LaserScience.Asthefrontiersofultrafastintenselasersciencerapidlyexpand ever outward, there continues to be a growing demand for an introduction to this interdisciplinary research ?eld that is at once widely accessible and ca- ble of delivering cutting-edge developments. Our series aims to respond to this call by providing a compilation of concise review-style articles written by researchers at the forefront of this research ?eld, so that researchers with d- ferent backgrounds as well as graduate students can easily grasp the essential aspects. As in the previous volumes of PUILS, each chapter of this book begins with an introductory part, in which a clear and concise overview of the topic and its signi?cance is given, and moves onto a description of the authors' most recent research results. All the chapters are peer-reviewed. The articles ofthis?fth volumecovera diverserangeofthe interdisciplinaryresearch?eld, and the topics may be grouped into three categories: coherent responses of gaseousand condensed matter to ultrashortintense laser pulses (Chaps. 1-4), propagationof intense laser pulses (Chaps. 5, 6), and laser-plasma interaction and its applications (Chaps. 7-10). From the third volume, the PUILS series has been edited in liaison with the activities of Center for Ultrafast Intense Laser Science in The University of Tokyo, and JILS (Japan Intense Light Field Science Society), the latter of which has also been responsible for sponsoring the series and making the regularpublicationofitsvolumespossible.Fromthe presentvolume,the C- sortiumonEducationandResearchonAdvancedLaserScience,theUniversity of Tokyo, joins this publication activity as one of the sponsoring programs.