Physics Colloquium: "The Softest Crystals"

Date: 
Mon, 19/03/201812:00-13:30
Location: 
Levin building, Lecture Hall No. 8
Lecturer: Randy Kamien,  University of Pennsylvania

Abstract:
Usually, crystals have three-dimensional periodicity.  Smectic liquid crystals, however, have one-dimensional order, even in three-dimensional samples.  These systems, as simple as they might seem, connect the physics of biomembranes, superconductivity, and even special relativity.  I will provide an introduction for non-specialists and show how this diverse set of ideas comes together in these very, very soft systems. 
Flower bright field.pdf