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Introductions to solid state physics have, ever since the initial book by F. Seitz in 1940, concentrated on simple crystals, with few atoms per cell, bonded together by strong ionic, covalent, or metallic bonds. References to weaker bonds, such as van der Waals forces in rare gases, or to geometric or chemical disorder (e.g., alloys or glasses) have been limited. The physical understanding of this ?eld started well before Seitz’s book and led to a number of Nobel prizes after the last war. Applications cover classical metallurgy, el- tronics, geology and building materials, as well as electrical and ionic transport, chemical reactivity, ferroelectricity and magnetism. But in parallel with this general and well publicized trend, and sometimes earlier as far as physical concepts were concerned, an exploration and increasingly systematic study of softer matter has developed through the twentieth century. More often in the hands of physical chemists and crystallographers than those of pure physicists, the ?eld had for a long time a reputation of complexity. If progress in polymers was steady but slow, interest in liquid crystals had lain dormant for forty years, after a bright start lasting through 1925, to be revived in the late 1960s based on their possible use in imaging techniques. The optoelectronic properties of the ?eld in general are even more recent.

Soft condensed matter --- Order-disorder models --- Matière molle (Physique) --- Modèles ordre-désordre --- Order-disorder models. --- Soft condensed matter. --- Atomic Physics --- Physics --- Physical Sciences & Mathematics --- Matière molle (Physique) --- Modèles ordre-désordre --- EPUB-LIV-FT SPRINGER-B --- Physics. --- Polymers. --- Condensed matter. --- Solid state physics. --- Surfaces (Physics). --- Interfaces (Physical sciences). --- Thin films. --- Materials science. --- Solid State Physics. --- Surface and Interface Science, Thin Films. --- Polymer Sciences. --- Condensed Matter Physics. --- Characterization and Evaluation of Materials. --- Surface chemistry --- Surfaces (Technology) --- Polymere --- Polymeride --- Polymers and polymerization --- Macromolecules --- Polymers  . --- Material science --- Physical sciences --- Condensed materials --- Condensed media --- Condensed phase --- Materials, Condensed --- Media, Condensed --- Phase, Condensed --- Liquids --- Matter --- Solids --- Films, Thin --- Solid film --- Solid state electronics --- Coatings --- Thick films --- Surfaces (Physics) --- Disorder models --- Models, Order-disorder --- Matter, Soft (Condensed matter) --- Matter, Soft condensed --- Soft matter (Condensed matter) --- Condensed matter --- Complex fluids