The course will cover (i) a general overview of soft matter and its physical properties, and (ii) introductions to physics of colloidal dispersions, polymers, liquid crystals and amphiphiles, which constitute important soft matter systems. The aim of the course is to provide basic knowledge on soft matter, through understanding of particular models as well as general viewpoints on soft matter. This will also serve as a basis for learning modern subjects in physics of glassy and complex materials, non-equilibrium physics, and biophysics.
By completing this course, students are expected to be able to:
1) explain general features and properties of soft matter
2) describe some characteristic properties of colloidal dispersions, polymers, liquid crystals and amphiphiles, on the basis of an elementary model for each system.
soft matter, viscoelasticity, rheology, liquid solution, colloidal dispersion, polymer, liquid crystal, amphiphile
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Classic blackboard lecture
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introduction | Describe examples of soft matter and its general features |
Class 2 | Viscoelasticity and rheology | Describe relationship between strain and stress |
Class 3 | Liquid solution and colloidal dispersion | Describe conditions for phase separation |
Class 4 | Polymer (part 1) | Describe relationship between length and size of polymers |
Class 5 | Polymer (part 2) | Describe the Flory-Huggins theory on polymer solutions |
Class 6 | Liquid crystal (part 1) | Describe various liquid-crystal phases in terms of symmetry |
Class 7 | Liquid crystal (part 2) | Describe elastic energy of liquid crystal |
Class 8 | Amphiphile | Describe why micelles are formed in terms of thermodynamics |
Masao Doi, Introduction to soft matter physics (Japanese), Iwanami (2010)
Ian W. Hamley, Introduction to Soft Matter, Wiley (2000)
Learning achievement is evaluated by a report.
No prerequisites.