Introduction to Soft Condensed Matter Physics
Fall 2007, Tu-Th 9:00-10:20

This is an introductory course on Soft Matter Systems (PHZ 5937). The objective is to give an overview of a selected but very common set of soft matter systems, e.g., liquid crystals, polymers, granular materials etc.. An approximate course outline for a one semester course is as follows:

• Introduction to polymers
  1. Static conformation of polymer: a single chain
  2. Notion of an ideal chain: simple random walk
  3. A real chain in a good solvent: a self-avoiding random walk
  4. Flory exponent
  5. Polymer solution in good solvent: Flory-Huggins theory
  6. Polymer gels: sol-gel transition
  7. Dynamics of a single polymer chain:
  8. Polymer melt and reptation dynamics.


• Self-Assembly of Amphiphiles
  1. Thermodynamics of self-assembly
  2. Exactly solvable simple models
  3. Mean-field approaches
  4. Di- and tri- block copolymers


• Ordering in Liquid crystals
  1. Statistical mechanical models
  2. Phase transitions: isotropic-nematic-smectic
  3. Liquid crystals under external field


• Introduction to granular materials
  Concept of temperature in granular materials; force distribution in granular materials: the q-model


• Introduction to Computer Simulation of Soft Matter
  More realistic models will be introduced. Group or individual projects will be assigned to study properties of soft matter systems using computer simulation methods.

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Prerequisites:  The prerequisite for this course is PHY 3503, or its equivalent, or by the consent of the instructor. Soft Matter Physics is a new emerging area of research. The course inherently has some interdisciplinary character. It is expected that enrollment will cover a wide spectrum of students. Therefore, the technical level will be kept at a minimum level or be taught as necessary. Emphasis will be given to a wide variety of soft matter systems.

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Homework:  Homeworks will be an indispensable part of going on with and doing well in the course. Almost every week homeworks will be assigned and be graded.

Group Assignments: There will be several group assignments; the idea is to collectively carry out relatively longer projects, which otherwise may be very time consuming. This will also facilitate students to exchange different ideas, concepts, etc..

Tests:  There will be two midterms and a comprehensive Final. It is likely that students may have to work on a project and write a report.

Grade:  The final grade will be determined by the overall performance weighted in the following approximate manner:
Homeworks and projects-50%,Midterm-I 15%, Midterm II - 15%, Final-20%
The final evaluation will be done by assigning a grade, e.g., A-, A, B-, B, B+,C-, C, C+ etc..

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Textbooks:

1. R. A. L. Jones, Soft Condensed Matter, (Oxford 2002).
2. M. Doi, Introduction to Polymer Physics (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1986).

Additional References:

• P. G. de Gennes, Scaling Concepts in Polymer Physics (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1979).
• M. Doi and S.F. Edwards, The Theory of Polymer Dynamics (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1986).
• P. G. de Gennes Physics of Liquid Crystals, (Oxford).
• J. N. Israelachvili, Intermolecular and surface forces (Academic, New York, 1985).
• S. A. Safran, Statistical Thermodynamics of Surfaces, Interfaces, and Membranes (Addison Wesley, New York, 1994).
• Soft and Fragile Matter, edited by M. E. Cates & M. R. Evans, (Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol and Philadelphia).

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