Dynamics of Self-Organized and Self-Assembled Structures

Rashmi C. Desai is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Toronto. Raymond Kapral is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Toronto.

• Preface; 1. Self-organized and self-assembled structures; 2. Order parameter, free energy and phase transitions; 3. Free energy functional; 4. Phase separation kinetics; 5. Langevin model for nonconserved order parameter systems; 6. Langevin model for conserved order parameter systems; 7. Interface dynamics at late times; 8. Domain growth and structure factor for model B; 9. Order parameter correlation function; 10. Vector order parameter and topological defects; 11. Liquid crystals; 12. Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner theory; 13. Systems with long-range repulsive interactions; 14. Kinetics of systems with competing interactions; 15. Competing interactions and defect dynamics; 16. Diffusively-rough interfaces; 17. Morphological instability in solid films; 18. Propagating chemical fronts; 19. Transverse front instabilities; 20. Cubic autocatalytic fronts; 21. Competing interactions and front repulsion; 22. Labyrinthine patterns in chemical systems; 23. Turing patterns; 24. Excitable media; 25. Oscillatory media and complex Ginzburg-Landau equation; 26. Spiral waves and defect turbulence; 27. Complex-oscillatory media; 28. Resonantly-forced oscillatory media; 29. Nonequilibrium patterns in laser-induced melting; 30. Reaction dynamics and phase segregation; 31. Active materials; References; Index.

'I recommend this book. It is a practical no-nonsense cookbook which should be on the bookshelves of graduate students in this area.' Martin Grant, Physics in Canada