This book presents recent developments and future scopes of glassy systems, such as their electrical and optical properties, use as electrodes, photonics devices, battery applications and others, which are of great interest for material scientists and professionals. Each chapter is designed to increase coherence, containing examples and question sets as exercises for in-depth understanding of the text. It provides a valuable resource for researchers, professionals and students in the area of material research especially on Li-doped glasses.

This dissertation covers several important aspects of relativistically intense laser-microplasma interactions and some potential applications. A Paul-trap based target system was developed to provide fully isolated, well defined and well positioned micro-sphere-targets for experiments with focused peta-watt laser pulses. The laser interaction turned such targets into microplasmas, emitting proton beams with kinetic energies exceeding 10 MeV. The proton beam kinetic energy spectrum and spatial distribution were tuned by variation of the acceleration mechanism, reaching from broadly distributed spectra in relatively cold plasma expansions to spectra with relative energy spread as small as 20% in spherical multi-species Coulomb explosions and in directed acceleration processes. Numerical simulations and analytical calculations support these experimental findings and show how microplasmas may be used to engineer laser-driven proton sources. In a second effort, tungsten micro-needle-targets were used at a peta-watt laser to produce few-keV x-rays and 10-MeV-level proton beams simultaneously, both measured to have only few-m effective source-size. This source was used to demonstrate single-shot simultaneous radiographic imaging with x-rays and protons of biological and technological samples. Finally, the dissertation discusses future perspectives and directions for laser-microplasma interactions including non-spherical target shapes, as well as thoughts on experimental techniques and advanced quantitative image evaluation for the laser driven radiography.

This book embraces all physiochemical aspects of the structure and molecular dynamics of water, focusing on its role in biological objects, e.g. living cells and tissue, and in the formation of functionally active structures of biological molecules and their ensembles. Water is the single most abundant chemical found in all living things. It offers a detailed look into the latest modern physical methods for studying the molecular structure and dynamics of the water and provides a critical analysis of the existing literature data on the properties of water in biological objects. Water as a chemical reagent and as a medium for the formation of conditions for enzymatic catalysis is a core focus of this book. Although well suited for active researchers, the book as a whole, as well as each chapter on its own, can be used as fundamental reference material for graduate and undergraduate students throughout chemistry, physics, biophysics and biomedicine.

This book highlights a comprehensive introduction of graphene and graphene-based two-dimensional nanomaterials, covering topics from their atomic structures, electronic band structures, and fundamental properties to technological applications. The book provides fundamental physics knowledge covering quantum mechanics, the theory of relativity, solid-state physics, and topology geometry necessary to understand electronic band structure of graphene. Other topics including microscopy techniques and preparation methods of graphene are also presented. Adopting an easy-to-read style, the book is a valuable resource for researchers in physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineers who are interested in the field of graphene-based nanomaterials.

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.

The International Conference on Strongly Coupled Coulomb Systems was held on the campus of Boston College in Newton, Massachusetts, August 3-10, 1997. Although this conference was the first under a new name, it was the continuation of a series of international meetings on strongly coupled plasmas and other Coulomb systems that started with the NATO Summer Institute on Strongly Coupled Plasmas, almost exactly twenty years prior to this conference, in July of 1977 in Orleans la Source, France. Over the intervening period the field of strongly coupled plasmas has developed vigorously. In the 1977 meeting the emphasis was on computer (Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics) simulations which provided, for the first time, insight into the rich and new physics of strongly coupled fully ionizedplasmas. While theorists scrambled to provide a theoretical underpinning for these results, there was also a dearth of real experimental input to reinforce the computer simulations. Over the past few years this situation has changed drastically and a variety of direct experiments on classical, pure, strongly correlated plasma systems (charged particle traps, dusty plasmas, electrons on the surface of liquid helium, etc. ) have become available. Even more importantly, entire new area of experimental interest in condensed matter physics have opened up through developments in nano-technology and the fabrication of low-dimensional systems, where the physical behavior, in many ways, is similar to that in classical plasmas. Strongly coupled plasma physics has always been an interdisciplinaryactivity.

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.

Jonathan Scragg documents his work on a very promising material suitable for use in solar cells. Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) is a low cost, earth-abundant material suitable for large scale deployment in photovoltaics. Jonathan pioneered and optimized a low cost route to this material involving electroplating of the three metals concerned, followed by rapid thermal processing (RTP) in sulfur vapour. His beautifully detailed RTP studies - combined with techniques such as XRD, EDX and Raman - reveal the complex relationships between composition, processing and photovoltaic performance. This exceptional thesis contributes to the development of clean, sustainable and alternative sources of energy

One of the most important issues in the construction of future magnetic confinement fusion machines is that of the materials of which they are constructed, and one of the key points of proper material choice is the recycle of hydrogen isotopes with materials at the plasma face. Tritium machines demand high safety and economy, which in turn requires the lowest possible T inventory and smallest possible permeation through the plasma facing materials. The recycle behaviour of the in-vessel components must also be known if the plasma reaction is to predictable and controllable, and finally, the fuel cycle and plasma operating regimes may be actively controlled by special materials and methods. The book discusses both laboratory experiments exploring the basic properties of non-equilibrium hydrogen-solid systems (diffusion, absorption, boundary processes) and experimental results obtained from existing fusion machines under conditions simulating future situations to some extent. Contributions are from experts in the fields of nuclear fusion, materials science, surface science, vacuum science and technology, and solid state physics.

Contents:
Part I Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics 1. Introduction 2. Governing Equations 3. Classification of Partial Differential Equations 4. Well Posed Problems 5. Numerical Methods 6. The Finite Difference Method
Part II The Finite Analytic Method 7. Basic Principles 8. The One-Dimensional Case 9. The Two-Dimensional Case 10. The Tree-Dimensional Case 11. Stability of Convergence 12. Hyperbolic PDEs 13. Explicit Finite Analytic Method
Part III 14. Introduction to Grid Generation 15. Elliptic Grid Generation 16. Equations in E and n Coordinates 17. Diagonal Cartesian Method 18. FA Method on Diagonal Cartesian Coordinates
Part IV Computational Considerations 19. Velocity , Pressure and Staggered Grids 20. Non-staggered Grid Methods 21. Boundary Conditions
Applications of the FA Method 22. Turbulent Flows 23. Turbulent Heat Transfer 24. Complex Domain Flows 25. Conjugate Heat Transfer
A The One-Dimensional Case
B The Two-Dimensional Case

This book presents an account of the course "Advances in Nonradiative Processes in Solids" held in Erice, Italy, from June 15 to 29, 1989. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. An area of solid state research that continues to attract the attention of experimental and theoretical physicists is that of nonradiative relaxation processes of excited solids. The interest in these processes stems from their technological relevance, and from the difficulty in the quantitative characterization and differentiation of their various pathways. The decay channels leading to the ground state include the conversion of electronic excitation energy into phonon energy, nonradiative transfer of excitation energy, upconversion processes, etc. Considerable advances have been achieved in understanding and modeling the radiative process that follow the electronic excitations of solids; the progress in this field has been instrumental in the development of new solid-state devices and laser materials. On the other hand, these advances have underscored the inadequacy in the understanding of the nonradiative relaxation processes. This course dealt with the advances in physical modeling, mathematical formalisms and experimental techniques relevant to the quantitative characterization of the various pathways of nonradiative relaxation of solids in excited electronic states.

In the last two decades low-dimensional (low-d) physics has matured into a major branch of science. Quite generally we may define a system with restricted dimensionality d as an object that is infinite only in one or two spatial directions (d = 1 and 2). Such a definition comprises isolated single chains or layers, but also fibres and thin layers (films) of varying but finite thickness. Clearly, a multitude of physical phenomena, notably in solid state physics, fall into these categories. As examples, we may mention: * Magnetic chains or layers (thin-film technology). * Metallic films (homogeneous or heterogeneous, crystalline, amorphous or microcristalline, etc.). * I-d or 2-d conductors and superconductors. * Intercalated systems. * 2-d electron gases (electrons on helium, semiconductor interfaces). * Surface layer problems (2-d melting of monolayers of noble gases on a substrate, surface problems in general). * Superfluid films of ~He or 'He. * Polymer physics. * Organic and inorganic chain conductors, superionic conductors. * I-d or 2-d molecular crystals and liquid crystals. * I-d or 2-d ferro- and antiferro electrics.

This thesis investigates the effect of the magnetic field on propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), or surface plasmons for short. Above all, it focuses on using the magnetic field as an external agent to modify the properties of the SPPs, and therefore achieving active devices. Surface plasmons are evanescent waves that arise at metal-dielectric interfaces. They can be strongly confined (beyond the light diffraction limit), and provide a strong enhancement of the electromagnetic field at the interface. These waves have led to the development of plasmonic circuitry, which is a key candidate as an alternative to electronic circuitry and traditional optical telecommunication devices, since it is faster than the former and less bulky than the latter. Adopting both a theoretical and an experimental point of view, the book analyzes the magnetic modulation in SPPs by means of an interferometer engraved in a multilayer combining Au and Co. In this interferometer, which acts like a modulator, the SPP magnetic modulation is studied in detail, as are the parameters that have a relevant impact on it, simple ways to enhance it, its spectral dependence, and the highly promising possibility of using this system for biosensing. The thesis ultimately arrives at the conclusion that this method can provide values of modulations similar to other active methods used in plasmonics.

Most recent publications on spin-related phenomena focus on technological aspects of spin-dependent transport, with emphasis on the specific needs of spintronics. The present publication targets rather fundamental problems related to the physics of spin in solids, such as: (1) manifestation of spin and orbital polarization in spectroscopy, including valence and X-ray photoemission, magneto-optics, low-energy electron scattering on the surface; (2) application of new methods for interpretation and determination of magnetic low-lying excitations in the bulk and on the surface; (3) recent progress in evaluation of different type of magnetic forces including spin-orbit and exchange interaction, with subsequent determination of anisotropy and spin-ordering structure; (4) general problems of spin-dependent transport in semiconductors and metals, such as current-caused torque effect on spins at interfaces and spin injection in quantum dot systems; (5) problems in understanding the spin-dependent trends in unconventional superconductors; (6) many-body problems in solid state physics and recent progress in evaluation of self-energy effects; (7) fabrication of new magnetic materials with pre-programmed properties based on assembly from nano-particles, etc.

Just over 25 years ago the first laser-excited Raman spectrum of any crystal was obtained. In November 1964, Hobden and Russell reported the Raman spectrum of GaP and later, in June 1965, Russell published the Si spectrum. Then, in July 1965, the forerunner of a series of meetings on light scattering in solids was held in Paris. Laser Raman spectroscopy of semiconductors was at the forefront in new developments at this meeting. Similar meetings were held in 1968 (New York), 1971 (Paris) and 1975 (Campinas). Since then, and apart from the multidisciplinary biennial International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy there has been no special forum for experts in light scattering spectroscopy of semiconductors to meet and discuss latest developments. Meanwhile, technological advances in semiconductor growth have given rise to a veritable renaissance in the field of semiconductor physics. Light scattering spectroscopy has played a crucial role in the advancement of this field, providing valuable information about the electronic, vibrational and structural properties both of the host materials, and of heterogeneous composite structures. On entering a new decade, one in which technological advances in lithography promise to open even broader horirons for semiconductor physics, it seemed to us to be an ideal time to reflect on the achievements of the past decade, to be brought up to date on the current state-of-the-art, and to catch some glimpses of where the field might be headed in the 1990s.

Covering colloids, polymers, surfactant phases, emulsions, and granular media, Soft and Fragile Matter: Nonequilibrium Dynamics, Metastability and Flow (PBK) provides self-contained and pedagogical coverage of the rapidly advancing field of systems driven out of equilibrium, with a strong emphasis on unifying conceptual principles rather than material-specific details. Written by internationally recognized experts, the book contains introductions at the level of a graduate course in soft condensed matter and statistical physics to the following areas: experimental techniques, polymers, rheology, colloids, computer simulation, surfactants, phase separation kinetics, driven systems, structural glasses, slow dynamics, and granular materials. These topics lead to a range of exciting applications at the forefront of current research, including microplasticity of emulsions, sequence design of copolymers, branched polymer dynamics, nucleation kinetics in colloids, multiscale modeling, flow-induced surfactant textures, fluid demixing under shear, two-time correlation functions, chaotic sedimentation dynamics, and sound propagation in powders. Balancing theory, simulation, and experiment, this broadly-based, pedagogical account of a rapidly developing field is an excellent compendium for graduate students and researchers in condensed matter physics, materials science, and physical chemistry.

The Plasma Boundary of Magnetic Fusion Devices introduces the physics of the plasma boundary region, including plasma-surface interactions, with an emphasis on those occurring in magnetically confined fusion plasmas. The book covers plasma-surface interaction, Debye sheaths, sputtering, scrape-off layers, plasma impurities, recycling and control, 1D and 2D fluid and kinetic modeling of particle transport, plasma properties at the edge, diverter and limiter physics, and control of the plasma boundary. Divided into three parts, the book begins with Part 1, an introduction to the plasma boundary. The derivations are heuristic and worked problems help crystallize physical intuition, which is emphasized throughout. Part 2 provides an introduction to methods of modeling the plasma edge region and for interpreting computer code results. Part 3 presents a collection of essays on currently active research hot topics. With an extensive bibliography and index, this book is an invaluable first port-of-call for researchers interested in plasma-surface interactions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This volume on the novelties in the electronic properties of solids appears in occasion of Franco Bassani sixtieth birthday, and is dedicated to honour a scientific activity which has contributed so much of the development of this very active area of research. It is re markable that this book can cover so large a part of the current research on electronic properties of solids by contributions from Bassani's former students, collaborators at different stages of his scientific life, and physicists from all over the world who have been in close scientific relationship with him. A personal flavour therefore accompanies a number of the papers of this volume, which are both up-to-date reports on present research and original recollections of the early events of modern solid state physics. The volume begins with a few contributions dealing with theoretical procedures for electronic energy levels, a primary step toward the interpretation of structural and optical properties of extended and confined systems. Other papers concern the interacting state of electrons with light (polaritons) and the effect of the coupling of electrons with lattice vibrations, with emphasis on the thermal behaviour of the electron levels and on such experimental procedures as piezospectroscopy. Electron-lattice interaction in external magnetic field and transport-related properties due to high light excitation are also con sidered. The impact of synchroton radiation on condensed matter spectroscopy is dis cussed in a topical contribution, and optical measurements are presented for extended and impurity levels."