Nematic and Cholesteric Liquid Crystals : Concepts and Physical Properties Illustrated by Experiments

This book is a result of personal research and of the graduate lectures given by the authors at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon and the Paris VII University, respectively. The first part of the book presents historical background, the modern classification of liquid crystals, and mesogenic anatomy; the second part examines liquid crystals with nematic and cholesteric orientational order. Topics include dielectric and magnetic properties, Frederiks transitions and displays, light scattering, flow and electrohydrodynamic instabilities, defects, and surface anchoring transitions, as well as interfaces, equilibrium shapes, and the Mullins-Sekerka instability. Smectic and columnar liquid crystals are covered in more detail by the authors in a separate volume.