Undergraduate Course: Geometry and Physics of Soft Condensed Matter (PHYS11055)
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Year 5 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | THIS COURSE WILL NOT BE RUNNING IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/27
In this course, we explore how to build theories for the complex fluids introduced in the Soft Matter Physics and Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics courses; we will often be taking examples from the world of biology. The focus of the course will be to emphasise generic features in order to build up a repertoire of theoretical tools that are widely applicable to analyse a diversity of soft materials. Topics covered may vary from year to year depending on the specialisms of the staff involved. |
| Course description |
Physics and nonequilibrium thermodynamics of binary mixtures
Symmetries and phases of liquid crystals
Topological defects in liquid crystals
Hydrodynamic theories of complex fluids
Topological properties of DNA: knots and supercoiling
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Write down continuum (hydrodynamic) equations for complex fluids starting from a suitable free energy.
- Understand the physics of binary mixtures and liquid crystals.
- Understand and identify topological defects in liquid crystals, and understand their consequences for the physics of these materials.
- Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of DNA knots and supercoiling, and their basic consequences for DNA biophysics.
- Demonstrate a grasp of the order of magnitude of the central quantities and develop confidence with "intuitive" estimates as well as calculations based on concepts presented in this course.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | GeoPhySoftCM |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Davide Marenduzzo
Tel: (0131 6)50 5283
Email: dmarendu@ph.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Gillian MacDonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 7525
Email: gillian.macdonald@ed.ac.uk |
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