Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Liquid Crystals S. Chandrasekhar (Cambridge University Press, 1993, 450 pages). ISBN: 0-521-417-473 (hardback); 0-521-427-41X (paperback) Since the first edition of Chandrasekhar's book was published in 1977, liquid crystal devices have become ubiquitous and their use has increased to today's multibillion-dollar world market. Applications range from simple watch and calculator displays to large-area public display boards, and from pocket televisions to video recorders. Besides these technological advances, research on the physics and chemistry of liquid crystal materials has burgeoned, and the diversity of chemically stable materials has greatly increased the knowledge of the liquid crystal phase. Variations in the phases have been elucidated; for example, the discotic phases have been characterized, and new types of smectic phases have been discovered. Understanding of these materials has progressed but continues to be the subject of research in many laboratories worldwide. Therefore, this revised and updated edition of an already popular book is very welcome.