Ebook: Disordered Solids: Structures and Processes

This book presents an account of the course "Disordered Solids: Structures and Processes" held in Erice, Italy, from June 15 to 29, 1987. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The objective of this course was to present the advances in physical modelling, mathematical formalism and experimental techniques relevant to the interpretation of the structures of disordered solids and of the physical processes occurring therein. Traditional solid-state physics treats solids as perfect crystals and takes great advantage of their symmetry, by means of such mathematical formalisms as the reciprocal lattice, the Brillouin zone, and the powerful tools of group theory. Even if in reality no solid is a perfect crystal, this theoretical approach has been of great usefulness in describing solids: deviations from perfect order have been treated as perturbations of the ideal model. A new situation arises with truly disordered solids where any vestige of long range order has disappeared. The basic problem is that of describing these systems and gaining a scientific understanding of their physical properties without the mathematical formalism of traditional solid­ state physics. While some of the old approaches may occasionally remain valid (e. g. chemical bonding approach for amorphous solids), the old ways will not do. Disorder is not a perturbation: with disorder, something basically new may be expected to appear.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xviii
The Evolving Notion of Order....Pages 1-7
Probabilistic Methods in Physics....Pages 9-29
Dynamical Processes in Disordered Systems....Pages 31-53
Sharp Spectral Lines of Luminescent Centers in Solids....Pages 55-109
Localization and Percolation in Alloy Semiconductors....Pages 111-151
Electronic Properties of Amorphous Semiconductors: An Introduction....Pages 153-194
Excitations and Phase Transitions of Disordered Magnetic Systems....Pages 195-224
Spin Glasses....Pages 225-264
Optical Techniques and Experimental Investigation of Diffusion Processes in Disordered Media....Pages 265-280
Detection of Protonic Percolation on Hydrated Lysozyme Powders....Pages 281-285
Fluctuations in Systems Subject to External Forces....Pages 287-297
Spectroscopy of Inorganic Glasses....Pages 299-315
Effects of Disorder on the Spectral Properties of Cr-Doped Glasses, Glassceramics and Crystals....Pages 317-341
Physics and Spectroscopy of Laser Insulating Crystals with Disordered Structure....Pages 343-378
Fractal Behaviour of Porous Glasses....Pages 379-392
Photochemical Hole Burning....Pages 393-394
Short Seminars....Pages 395-395
Special Topic....Pages 397-416
Summary of the Meeting....Pages 417-420
Back Matter....Pages 421-431

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xviii
The Evolving Notion of Order....Pages 1-7
Probabilistic Methods in Physics....Pages 9-29
Dynamical Processes in Disordered Systems....Pages 31-53
Sharp Spectral Lines of Luminescent Centers in Solids....Pages 55-109
Localization and Percolation in Alloy Semiconductors....Pages 111-151
Electronic Properties of Amorphous Semiconductors: An Introduction....Pages 153-194
Excitations and Phase Transitions of Disordered Magnetic Systems....Pages 195-224
Spin Glasses....Pages 225-264
Optical Techniques and Experimental Investigation of Diffusion Processes in Disordered Media....Pages 265-280
Detection of Protonic Percolation on Hydrated Lysozyme Powders....Pages 281-285
Fluctuations in Systems Subject to External Forces....Pages 287-297
Spectroscopy of Inorganic Glasses....Pages 299-315
Effects of Disorder on the Spectral Properties of Cr-Doped Glasses, Glassceramics and Crystals....Pages 317-341
Physics and Spectroscopy of Laser Insulating Crystals with Disordered Structure....Pages 343-378
Fractal Behaviour of Porous Glasses....Pages 379-392
Photochemical Hole Burning....Pages 393-394
Short Seminars....Pages 395-395
Special Topic....Pages 397-416
Summary of the Meeting....Pages 417-420
Back Matter....Pages 421-431
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