EFFECTIVE FIELD APPROACH TO PHASE TRANSITIONS AND SOME APPLICATIONS TO FERROELECTRICS

by Julio A. Gonzalo

This book begins by introducing the effective field approach, the simplest approach to phase transitions. It provides an intuitive approximation to the physics of such diverse phenomena as liquid-vapor transitions, ferromagnetism, superconductivity, order-disorder in alloys, ferroelectricity, superfluidity and ferroelasticity. The connection between the effective field approach and Landau's theory is stressed.

The main coverage is devoted to specific applications of the effective field concept to ferroelectric systems, both hydrogen bonded ferroelectrics, like those in the TGS family, and oxide ferroelectrics, like pure and mixed perovskites.

236 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 1991

About the author

Professor of Materials Physics at the Universidad Autónoma (Madrid)( 1978-2006).

At present he is research collaborator at UAM, and Professor Emeritus at the EPS- U. San Pablo CEU, Madrid. He worked as Senior Scientist in the PRNC (1962-1975) and as research collaborator in Brookhaven National Laboratory (1964-65).

Previously or simultaneously he was teacher or professor at the universities of Salamanca(1959-62), UPR Mayaguez(1962-75), UPR Río Piedras (1975-76),Puerto Rico, and Barcelona (1976-77).

President Asociacion Espanola Ciencia y Cultura:

Author of books on Phase Transitions, Solid State Spectroscopies, Ferroelectricity, Cosmology, Philosophy and History of Science, and on various other subjects like "Cursillos in Christianity,, " of which there are versions in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Korean.

He was elected member of the Advisory European (1979- ) and International(1981- ) Commitees on Ferroelectricity and Member of the advisory board of the international Journals "Ferroelectrics" and "Phase Transitions."

In 2003 he received the "Cruz de Alfonso X el Sabio", Encomienda de Caballero.

In 2006 he was made Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao (Spain)

He has been privileged to collaborate/publish with four Noble Prize Physics winners: K.A.Müller(Zurich), V.Ginzburg (Moscow) ,J.C.Mather (NASA) and G.F.Smoot (Berkeley).