Franco Bassani – Encyclopedia of Condensed Matter Physics

Автор: Franco Bassani
Название книги: Encyclopedia of Condensed Matter Physics
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Физика
Страницы: 2562
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

The work provides solid coverage in the fundamental theoretical aspects of the subject, with carefully planned cross-linking and structuring to give the user the potential to gain a solid grounding in the theoretical aspects of quantum mechanics, mechanics, electrodynamics, relativity, statistical mechanics, and elementary particiles that form the core physics background for the field.

These core areas form the background for coverage of such areas as crystallography, transport phenomena, various theoretical models (electronic, band structure, materials property models, etc), and physical properties of materials (electrical, magnetic, optical, thermal, etc). Coverage of experimental techniques will include, among others, the full range of scattering, microscopy, and spectroscopy techniques.

Other entries do cover a range of materials processing (solidification, crystal growth, molecular beam epitaxy, sputtering, sintering, etc) and include coverage of key materials systems (macromolecules, nanostructures, polymers, ceramics, and alloys). Special materials systems that have had and continue to have a major impact on society such as semiconductors, laser materials, and superconductors are covered.

Physics is the paradigm of all scientific knowledge. Over the centuries it has evolved to a complexity that has
resulted in a separation into various subfields, always connected with one another and very difficult to single
out. Freeman Dyson, in his beautiful book ‘Infinite in All Directions’, distinguishes two aspects of physics and
two types of physicists: the unifiers and the diversifiers. The unifiers look for the most general laws of nature,
like the universal attraction between masses and electric charges, the laws of motion, relativity principles, the
simplest elementary particles, the unification of all forces, symmetry violation and so on. The diversifiers
consider the immense variety of natural phenomena, infinite in their extension, try to explain them on the basis
of known general principles, and generate new phenomena and devices that do not exist in nature. Even at the
beginning of modern science Galileo Galilei, besides studying the laws of motion and laying down the principle
of relativity, was interested in the phenomenon of fluorescence and disproved the theories put forward at his
time. He was both a unifier and a diversifier. The full explanation of fluorescence had to await the advent of
quantum mechanics, as did the explanation of other basic phenomena like electrical conductivity and
spectroscopy.
The past century witnessed an explosive expansion in both aspects of physics. Relativity and quantum
mechanics were discovered and the greatest of the unifiers, Albert Einstein, became convinced that all reality
could be comprehended with a simple set of equations. On the other hand a wide range of complex phenomena
was explained and numerous new phenomena were discovered. One of the great diversifiers, John Bardeen,
explained superconductivity and invented the transistor.
In physics today we encounter complex phenomena in the behavior of both natural and artificial complex
systems, in matter constituted by many particles such as interacting atoms, in crystals, in classical and quantum
fluids as well as in semiconductors and nanostructured materials. Furthermore, the complexity of biological
matter and biological phenomena are now major areas of study as well as climate prediction on a global scale.
All of this has evolved into what we now call ‘‘condensed matter physics’’. This is a more comprehensive term
than ‘‘solid state physics’’ from which, when the electronic properties of crystals began to be understood in the
thirties, it originated in some way. Condensed matter physics also includes aspects of atomic physics,
particularly when the atoms are manipulated, as in Bose–Einstein condensation. It is now the largest part of
physics and it is where the greatest number of physicists work. Furthermore, it is enhanced through its
connections with technology and industry. In condensed matter physics new phenomena, new devices, and new
principles, such as the quantum Hall effect, are constantly emerging. For this reason we think that condensed
matter is now the liveliest subfield of physics, and have decided to address it in the present Encyclopedia. Our
focus is to provide some definitive articles for graduate students who need a guide through this impenetrable
forest, researchers who want a broader view into subjects related to their own, engineers who are interested in
emerging and new technologies together with biologists who require a deeper insight into this fascinating and
complex field that augments theirs.
In this Encyclopedia we have selected key topics in the field of condensed matter physics, provided historical
background to some of the major areas and directed the reader, through detailed references, to further reading
resources. Authors were sought from those who have made major contributions and worked actively in the area of the topic.We are aware that completeness in such an infinite domain is an unattainable dream and have
decided to limit our effort to a six-volume work covering only the main aspects of the field, not all of them in
comparable depth.
A significant part of the Encyclopedia is devoted to the basic methods of quantum mechanics, as applied to
crystals and other condensed matter. Semiconductors in particular are extensively described because of their
importance in the modern information highways. Nanostructured materials are included because the ability to
produce substances which do not exist in nature offers intriguing opportunities, not least because their
properties can be tailored to obtain specific devices like microcavities for light concentration, special lasers, or
photonic band gap materials. For the same reasons optical properties are given special attention. We have not,
however, neglected foundation aspects of the field (such as mechanical properties) that are basic for all material
applications, microscopy which now allows one to see and to manipulate individual atoms, and materials
processing which is necessary to produce new devices and components. Attention is also devoted to the everexpanding
role of organic materials, in particular polymers. Specific effort has been made to include biological
materials, which after the discovery of DNA and its properties are now being understood in physical terms.
Neuroscience is also included, in conjunction with biological phenomena and other areas of the field.
Computational physics and mathematical methods are included owing to their expanding role in all of
condensed matter physics and their potential in numerous areas of study including applications in the study of
proteins and drug design. Many articles deal with the description of specific devices like electron and positron
sources, radiation sources, optoelectronic devices, micro and nanoelectronics. Also, articles covering essential
techniques such as optical and electron microscopy, a variety of spectroscopes, x-ray and electron scattering
and nuclear and electron spin resonance have been included to provide a foundation for the characterization
aspect of condensed matter physics.
We are aware of the wealth of topics that have been incompletely treated or left out, but we hope that by
concentrating on the foundation and emerging aspects of the infinite extension of condensed matter physics
these volumes will be generally useful.
We wish to acknowledge the fruitful collaboration of the members of the scientific editorial board and of the
Elsevier editorial staff.
Special thanks are due to Giuseppe Grosso, Giuseppe La Rocca, Keith Bowman, Jurgen Honig, Roberto
Colella, Michael McElfresh, Jaap Franse, and Louis Jansen for their generous help.