Soft Matter Physics

Syllabus

• Introduction
• Simple fluids: structure of simple fluids; review of hydrodynamics, hydrodynamic interactions; diffusion in simple fluids, Langevin equation;
• Polymer statistics: single chain statistics; chain under external action; Flory theory;
• Polymer solutions: dilute, semi-dilute and melts; osmotic pressure; scaling laws; mSegregation in polymer mixtures;
• Polymers near the interfaces: adsorption; depletion layer; steric repulsion;
• Dynamics of a polymer chain: Rouse model; normal modes; motion of monomers; hydrodynamic interactions.
• Interactions of rigid interfaces: Van der Waals interaction; non-retarded interaction; interactions of many molecules; Electrostatic interaction; screening; Debye-Hückel approximation;
• forces between surfaces: Colloidal dispersions; DLVO theory;
• Fluctuations of interfaces: Interfacial tension; Laplace pressure; Surface-active agents; interface free energy; thermal fluctuations of interfaces; capillary wave dynamics; capillary instabilities;
• Flexible interfaces: curvature elasticity; microscopic model; height and normal fluctuations of fluid membranes; persistence length; steric repulsion;
• Self-assembling interfaces: micelles; critical micelles concentration; spherical micelles; cylindrical micelles; vesicles; microemulsions; sponge-like and bicontinuous phases.

Sources:

1. Samuel A. Safran, “Statistical thermodynamics of Surfaces, Interfaces, and Membranes”.
2.  Pierre-Gilles de Gennes “Scaling Concepts in Polymer Physics”.
3. W.J. Briels, “Theory of Polymer Dynamics”
4. B.Veytsman, M.Kotelyanskii. Penn State Polymer Physics Group