Surface Modes in Physics

Electromagnetic surface modes are present at all surfaces and interfaces between material of different dielectric properties. These modes have very important effects on numerous physical quantities: adhesion, capillary force, step formation and crystal growth, the Casimir effect etc. They cause surface tension and wetting and they give rise to forces which are important e.g. for the stability of colloids. This book is a useful and elegant approach to the topic, showing how the concept of electromagnetic modes can be developed as a unifying theme for a range of condensed matter physics. The author concentrates in finding out the basic origin of the force and how they are developed from the collective excitations of the solids. Different materials are treated, e.g. metals, semiconductors, plasmas, liquids and gases all with different collective modes. In close relation to the theoretical background, the reader is served with a broad field of applications. The book serves readers who are concerned with applications to real world problems with a deep knowledge on surface modes, and inspires new developments of the field.

Table of Contents:
BULK MODES Bulk modes in terms of fields Bulk modes in terms of potentials MODEL DIELECTRIC FUNCTIONS Lorentz' classical model for the dielectric function of insulators Drude's classical model for the dielectric function of metals Modelling Dielectric function of a plasma Static dielectric function for a dilute gas of permanent dipoles Debye rotational relaxation Dielectric properties of water Superluminal speeds ZERO-POINT ENERGY OF MODES MODES AT FLAT INTERFACES Modes at a single interface Modes in slab geometry The Casimir effect Metal surfaces Quantum wells FORCES Two molecules with permanent dipole moments One ion and one molecule with permanent dipole moment Two molecules one with and one without permanent dipole moment Two molecules without permanent dipole moments Two ions Three or more polarizable atoms Ineraction between macroscopic objects Interaction between two spheres: limiting results Interaction betweeen two spheres: general results Gernal expression for small separations Cylinders and half-spaces Summation of pair interactions Derivation of the van der Waals equations of state ENERGY AND FORCE Interaction energy at zero temperature Interaction energy at finite temperature Surface energy, method 1: no retardation Surface energy, method 1: retardation Surface energy, method 2: no retardation Surface energy, method 2: retardation Finite temperatures Recent results for metals Adhesion, cohersion, and wetting Finding the pair interactions MODES AT NON-PLANAR INTERFACES Modes at the surface of a sphere Modes at the surface of a cylinder Modes at an edge Modes in a needle (a paraboloid of revolution) DIFFERENT MODE TYPES Polar semiconductors or ionic insulators Metallic systems Characterization of different surface mode types Spatial dispersion Surface roughness The ATR method Earthquakes, rainbow and optical glory COLLOIDS Milk Stability of colloids Formation of the double layer Gouy and Chapman theory Stern's theory of a flat double layer The Zeta-potential Interaction energy and force between

About the Author :
Bo E. Sernelius, Professor in Theoretical Physics. Dept. of Physics and Measurement Technology. Linkoping University, Sweden. Background: Theoretical solid state physics. Expert in many-body physics. 1948 born in Sweden 1973 Degree in Civil Engineering 1978 PhD in Theoretical Physics 1985-1987 Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA in the group of Prof. G.D. Mahan Research Field: Many-Body Theory and in particular Theoretical Semiconductor Physics; Optical Properties, Transport Properties, Quantum Structures, Heterostructures; Collective Modes, Surface Modes, Van der Waals and Casimir Forces, Surface Energies, Wetting, Colloidal Physics, catalytic Effects, Bioloical Physics More than 100 scientific publications Member of the Swedish, European and Americanl Physical Societies

Review :
"This entertaining and, at the same time, rigorous electrodynamic approach to surface physics makes the reader more conscious of the surrounding reality." ChemPhysChem "...highly enjoyable, illustrative, and rigorous work which shows how surface modes in different systems surround us and mediate many of our daily actions." Chem PhysChem