Table of Contents

1: Liquid crystals: main types and properties
2: Long- and short-range order in nematics
3: Static distortion in a nematic single crystal
4: Defects and textures in nematics
5: Dynamic properties of nematics
6: Cholesterics
7: Macroscopic behaviour of smectics and columnar phases
8: Dynamical properties of smectics and columnar phases
9: Defects in smectics and columnar phases
10: Phase transition in smectics

Reviews

"The first modern book to survey and discuss the physical properties of liquid crystals....presented in a clear and systematic way." --Nature
"A remarkable book that ought to be on the shelf of every liquid crystal physicist. It continues to be the best introductory book for a beginning graduate student as well as a very valuable reference source for experts in the field."--Physics Today