Physical and Optical Properties of Liquid Crystals

An excellent professional reference and a superior upper--level student text, this landmark book offers readers the first comprehensive treatment of all the basic principles underlying the unique physical and optical properties of liquid crystals. Written by a noted pioneer in the nonlinear optics of liquid crystals, it also provides an authoritative, in--depth discussion of the mechanisms and theoretical principles behind all major nonlinear optical phenomena occurring in liquid crystals. * Includes an exhaustive treatment of the physical properties and molecular and chemical structures of the thermotropic liquid crystals* Examines the theoretical aspects of their isotropic and liquid crystalline phases, including order parameters, elastic constant, Free energy, viscosity and flows, refractive indices, and birefringence* Covers new materials such as polymeric liquid crystals, polymer dispersed liquid crystals, dyedoped liquid crystals, and ferroelectric liquid crystals* Delineates all known mechanisms for optical nonlinearities in the principal mesophases of liquid crystals* Provides a comprehensive summary of all major nonlinear optical phenomena observed in liquid crystals to date