Molecular And Colloidal Electro Optics

Molecular and Colloidal Electro-Optics presents cohesive coverage from internationally recognized experts on new approaches and developments in both theoretical and experimental areas of electro-optic science. It comprises a well-integrated yet multi-disciplinary treatment of fundamental principles, strategies, and applications of electro-op

The Advanced Study Institute on Molecular Electro-Optics was held on the campus of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA, from July 14 through July 24, 1980. This Advanced Study Institute was attended by sixteen invited lecturers and by forty-eight other participants. The present volume contains the texts of all of the invited lectures presented at the Institute. Although these lectures were supplemented by many animated discussions and by numerous short contributed papers, it was not possible to include these in the present volume. Molecular electro-optics is a difficult subject for research because it incorporates areas of theoretical physics such as elec tromagnetic theory and hydrodynamics of rotational diffusion, ex perimental physics such as lasers, optics, electric pulsers, and data collection via analog to digital converters and signal aver agers, and physical chemistry of macromolecules and colloids in solution (colloid science, biophysical chemistry, double layer polarization). This volume includes chapters on all of these subjects as well as introductions to magnets-optics and to elec trophoretic light scattering. The Advanced Study Institute was sponsored mainly by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization whose financial support made this meeting possible. Additional financial aid was supplied by the National Institutes of Health of the USA through their Fogarty International Center and the National Institute for Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases. Industrial contri buters consisted of the General Electric Company, Cober Electronics, and Malvern Scientific Corporation.

Molecular and Colloidal Electro-Optics presents cohesive coverage from internationally recognized experts on new approaches and developments in both theoretical and experimental areas of electro-optic science. It comprises a well-integrated yet multi-disciplinary treatment of fundamental principles, strategies, and applications of electro-op

Some seven years before Kerr's death, Larmor proposed that electric birefringence had its origin in the orientation of anisotropic molecules or elements within the apparently isotropic medium. The theory for this concept was formulated by Langevin. During the next half century, occasional measurements were made both to characterise the phenomenon and to evaluate the relevant physico-chemical parameters of pure liquids and molecular fluids. During the 1930-40 era, Staudinger and others demonstrated the existence in nature of giant molecules and colloidal particles. Since that time it has slowly but increasingly been realised that these big molecules or particles often have relatively large dipole moments, are generally anisotropic in structure and hence, in solution or suspension, give rise to significant electric birefringence signals. Furthermore, there have been three electronic innovations which have greatly eased the experimental measurement of the effect for such materials. These were the development of photomultiplier tubes for detection, of oscillo scope~ for display and of high voltage generators developing bursts or pulses of potential difference. The last mentioned enable the experi menter to study the Kerr effect not only for its amplitude but also in the time domain. The rates of molecular response to the switching of the electric field lead directly to information on the size and geo metry of the constituent molecules and particles in a dilute solution or suspension.

The use of the time-dependent electro-optical effect, and a variety of light scattering and spectroscopic techniques, have provided increasingly sophisticated information on on the behaviour and properties of molecules and particles in solution. These techniques can give information on high-field effects, macromolecules, gels, liquid crystals, membranes, colloidal particles, and similar materials. Latest results presented at this established series of conferences make this volume an important reference source for researchers in physics, chemistry and biology.

Presenting a comprehensive theoretical description of phenomena and properties in a broad range of colloidal systems, this book is concerned with theory, experimental methodology, and applications of colloid electro-optics. It lays down the fundamentals of electro-optics theory for colloidal particles and provides an extensive description of the powerful methods used for characterizing these systems. Chapters on experimental methods and on extensive critical evaluation of current data for colloids, polymers, and biological systems make this a stimulating volume for colloid materials and biological scientists. Key Features * Discusses the theory of electro-optics in colloidal systems, interfacial phenomena, surface charge distribution, and zeta potential * Describes methods for characterizing geometrical, optical, and electrical properties of disperse colloidal systems * Presents experimental methods and techniques * Discusses applications in materials science (oxides, clays, minerals, dyes) and biological systems (viruses, cells, organelles, membranes, nucleic acids, and protein)

Definitive guide to modern organic electro-optic and photonic technologies, from basic theoretical concepts to practical applications in devices and systems.