Statistical Physics of Polymers

1 Introduction.- 2 Gaussian Chain Model and Statistics of Polymers.- 3 Mesoscopic Structures and Self-Consistent Field Theory.- 4 Ginzburg-Landau Theory.- 5 Macroscopic Viscoelastic Theory of Polymers.- References.

From the reviews:

"Kawakatsu (Tohoku Univ., Japan) introduces the theoretical work behind the statistical mechanics of polymers and complex fluids. ... The author uses frequent examples to reinforce the results of the derivations. ... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty." (E. Kincanon, CHOICE, Vol. 42 (5), January, 2005)

"The author does a fine job with this challenging material. The text is concise, logical and written with a clarity that is particularly impressive ... . It is complemented by a wealth of figures ... . Intended as a teaching aid rather than a comprehensive survey, the volume is well suited to its target audience of graduate and advanced undergraduate students with physics backgrounds. However, it is also likely to be valuable to a wider readership of polymer chemists and engineers ... ." (A Uhlherr, Polymer International, Issue: 54, 2005)

"This particular book ... was conceived as an introduction to the concepts as well as theoretical methods used in contemporary research in the physics of polymers and complex fluids. ... All in all this is an interesting and useful book. ... this book seems to be almost a perfect basis for an advanced graduate course of polymer physics and I would certainly recommend it as such." (R. Podgornik, Journal of Statistical Physics, Vol. 122 (2), 2006)