New Approaches to Problems in Liquid State Theory

The theory of simple and complex fluids has made considerable recent progress due to the emergence of new concepts and theoretical tools, the availability of a large body of new experimental data on increasingly complex systems, and far-reaching developments in numerical simulation. Two clear trends emerge from the present book: first, the diversity of new and unexpected theoretical results relating to classical models of liquids; and secondly, the parallel emergence of new concepts, models and methods for the investigation of complex fluids and phenomena. The book lays stress on a tutorial presentation of the main topics, including liquid structure, metastability and phase transitions, confined fluids and interfaces, complex fluids and quantum fluids. Audience: Physicists, physical chemists, materials scientists and engineers who require an up-to-date account of recent progress in a rapidly growing, interdisciplinary area. Graduate students who need and introduction to the novel concepts and methods in the field.