Dynamical Heterogeneities in Glasses, Colloids, and Granular Media

by Ludovic Berthier, Giulio Biroli, Jean-Philippe Bouchaud

Most of the solid materials we use in everyday life, from plastics to cosmetic gels exist under a non-crystalline, amorphous they are glasses. Yet, we are still seeking a fundamental explanation as to what glasses really are and to why they form. In this book, we survey the most recent theoretical and experimental research dealing with glassy physics, from molecular to colloidal glasses and granular media. Leading experts in this field present broad andoriginal perspectives on one of the deepest mysteries of condensed matter physics, with an emphasis on the key role played by heterogeneities in the dynamics of glassiness.

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2011