After an introduction by J.G. Bednorz, describing the discovery of high Tc superconductivity and its consequences, the book goes on to describe modern research, dealing with general problems, new materials and structures, phase separation, electronic homogeneities and related problems, and applications. Specific systems dealt with include the La-cuprates. the Bi-cuprates and the Y-cuprates and related compounds.

Structural Phase Transitions II, like its predecessor (Topics in Current Physics, Vol. 23), presents selected methods and recent advances in the experimental investigation of phase transitions in solids. The two chapters in this volume deal with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and with nuclear magnetic and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NMR-NQR). Both techniques are particularly sensitive to local properties. The chapter on EPR concentrates largely on the investigation of static properties, including mean-field behaviour, critical and multicritical phenomena, whilst NMR is shown to be a powerful tool for studying nonlinear dynamics, incommensurate transitions, and disordered systems. This book will serve as an excellent introduction to the methodology and applications of EPR and NMR-NQR for all those wishing to become acquainted with these important tools for studying structural phase transitions.

After an introduction by J.G. Bednorz, describing the discovery of high Tc superconductivity and its consequences, the book goes on to describe modern research, dealing with general problems, new materials and structures, phase separation, electronic homogeneities and related problems, and applications. Specific systems dealt with include the La-cuprates. the Bi-cuprates and the Y-cuprates and related compounds.

The growth and maturity of research in structural phase transitions (SPT) make it an appropriate subject for the Topics in Current Physics series. The maturing pro- cess is, however, by no means complete. New areas such as incommensurable SPT, quasi-low-dimensional systems, systems containing lattice disorder due to impuri- ties or as mixed crystals, multicritical points, and quantum effects have recently come under focus. The understanding of the dynamics, be it microscopic soft-mode theory or critical dynamics, more specifically the central-peak problem, is also still quite incomplete. On the other hand, there are areas which are genuinely conso 1 ida ted. On the theoreti ca 1 s ide~ these concern symmetry properti es, Landau theory, and the application of static renormalization theory to critical phenomena. ,Also, the use of various complementary experimental techniques, with their specific merits, are well in hand. The field of STP's and of the various methods of investigation range so widely that it appeared appropriate to invite a number of scientists to review their respective areas of experti se to which they have made s i gnifi cant contri butions.