Physics Of Metal Nonmetal Transitions

Material undergoes the transformation from metal to non-metal or from non-metal to metal when environmental conditions, such as temperature and pressure, or the percentages of constituent components are changed. Such a transition is known as the metal-nonmetal (M-NM) transition. This book, 'The Physics of Metal – Nonmetal Transitions', explores the mechanisms so far discovered which cause the M-NM transition and presents a systematic discussion of them. All the mechanisms are discussed in terms of energy bands, and the band theory is introduced and explained in chapter 2. Once chapters 1 and 2 have been assimilated, the remaining chapters can be read independently of each other if required. The mechanisms discussed therein include the Peierls transition, the Bloch-Wilson transitions – types I and II respectively – the second of which was discovered by the author and her students. Subsequent chapters cover the Anderson transition and the Mott transition, and each chapter includes not only traditional theories, but also updated information about more recent research. The book can be used either as a textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students of science and technology or as an introductory treatise for researchers in a wide variety of fields.

This book is devoted to nonmetal-to-metal transitions. The original ideas of Mott for such a transition in solids have been adapted to describe a broad variety of phenomena in condensed matter physics (solids, liquids, and fluids), in plasma and cluster physics, as well as in nuclear physics (nuclear matter and quark-gluon systems). The book gives a comprehensive overview of theoretical methods and experimental results of the current research on the Mott effect for this wide spectrum of topics. The fundamental problem is the transition from localized to delocalized states which describes the nonmetal-to-metal transition in these diverse systems. Based on the ideas of Mott, Hubbard, Anderson as well as Landau and Zeldovich, internationally respected scientists present the scientific challenges and highlight the enormous progress which has been achieved over the last years. The level of description is aimed to specialists in these fields as well as to young scientists who will get an overview for their own work. A common feature of all contribution is the extensive discussion of "bound states", i.e. their formation and dissolution due to medium effects. This applies to atoms and molecules in plasmas, fluids, and small clusters, excitons in semiconductors, or nucleons, deuterons, and alpha-particles in nuclear matter. In this way, the transition from delocalized to localized states and vice versa can be described on a common level.

Metal-to-Nonmetal Transitions presents the current research in the field from both physical and chemical perspectives. Discussions of the macroscopic, microscopic and quantum aspects of these transitions make this a useful reference for researchers and students.

This text surveys the various aspects of the fundamental problem related to the metallic and non-metallic states of matter, a question physicists have been studying for almost 100 years. The book poses questions and challenges in this area, as well as highlighting present understandings of the topic. Topics covered by the book include physics of dense ionized metal plasmas; metallic hydrogen; pressure-induced metallization; the M-I transition in doped semiconductors; transport studies in doped semiconductors near the metal-insulator transition; new results in old oxides; metal-insulator transition in 3d transition metal perovskite oxides investigated by high-energy spectroscopies; alkali metal-alkali halide melts; hopping conductivity in granular metals revisited; superconductor-insulator transition in cuprates; molecular metals and superconductors; shear induced chemical reactivity; shear, co-ordination and metallization; quantum diffusion and decoherence; the Mott transition; recent results, more and surprises; Mott-Hubbard-Anderson models.

This is volume 1 of two-volume book that presents an excellent, comprehensive exposition of the multi-faceted subjects of modern condensed matter physics, unified within an original and coherent conceptual framework. Traditional subjects such as band theory and lattice dynamics are tightly organized in this framework, while many new developments emerge spontaneously from it. In this volume,? Basic concepts are emphasized; usually they are intuitively introduced, then more precisely formulated, and compared with correlated concepts.? A plethora of new topics, such as quasicrystals, photonic crystals, GMR, TMR, CMR, high Tc superconductors, Bose-Einstein condensation, etc., are presented with sharp physical insights.? Bond and band approaches are discussed in parallel, breaking the barrier between physics and chemistry.? A highly accessible chapter is included on correlated electronic states ? rarely found in an introductory text.? Introductory chapters on tunneling, mesoscopic phenomena, and quantum-confined nanostructures constitute a sound foundation for nanoscience and nanotechnology.? The text is profusely illustrated with about 500 figures.

This volume and its two companion volumes, entitled Tetrahedrally-Bonded Amorphous Semiconductors and Physics of Disordered Materials, are our way of paying special tribute to Sir Nevill Mott and to express our heartfelt wishes to him on the occasion of his eightieth birthday. Sir Nevill has set the highest standards as a physicist, teacher, and scientific leader. Our feelings for him include not only the respect and admiration due a great scientist, but also a deep affection for a great human being, who possesses a rare combination of outstanding personal qualities. We thank him for enriching our lives, and we shall forever carry cherished memories of this noble man. Scientists best express their thanks by contributing their thoughts and observations to a Festschrift. This one honoring Sir Nevill fills three volumes, with literally hundreds of authors meeting a strict deadline. The fact that contributions poured in from all parts of the world attests to the international cohesion of our scientific community. It is a tribute to Sir Nevill's stand for peace and understanding, transcending national borders. The editors wish to express their gratitude to Ghazaleh Koefod for her diligence and expertise in deciphering and typing many of the papers, as well as helping in numerous other ways. The blame for the errors that remain belongs to the editors.