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  • © 2015

Structure of Matter

An Introductory Course with Problems and Solutions

  • Third edition of a successful textbook
  • Offers an introduction to the structure of matter that will serve as a sound basis for more complex studies
  • Focuses especially on key concepts and aspects
  • Intertwines solved problems with simplified theory
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: UNITEXT for Physics (UNITEXTPH)

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Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxii
  2. Atoms: General Aspects

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 1-59
  3. Typical Atoms

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 61-87
  4. The Shell Vectorial Model

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 89-120
  5. Atoms in Electric and Magnetic Fields

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 121-155
  6. Nuclear Moments and Hyperfine Interactions

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 157-191
  7. Spin Statistics, Magnetic Resonance, Spin Motion and Echoes

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 193-222
  8. Molecules: General Aspects

    • Pietro Carretta, Attilio Rigamonti
    Pages 223-236
  9. Electronic States in Diatomic Molecules

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 237-269
  10. Electronic States in Selected Polyatomic Molecules

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 271-288
  11. Nuclear Motions in Molecules and Related Properties

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 289-335
  12. Crystal Structures

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 337-351
  13. Electron States in Crystals

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 353-389
  14. Miscellaneous Aspects Related to the Electronic Structure

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 391-416
  15. Vibrational Motions of the Ions and Thermal Effects

    • Pietro Carretta, Attilio Rigamonti
    Pages 417-444
  16. Phase Diagrams, Response Functions and Fluctuations

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 445-476
  17. Dielectrics and Paraelectric-Ferroelectric Phase Transitions

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 477-503
  18. Magnetic Orders and Magnetic Phase Transitions

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 505-538
  19. Superconductors, the Superconductive Phase Transition and Fluctuations

    • Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta
    Pages 539-590
  20. Back Matter

    Pages 591-604

About this book

This textbook, now in its third edition, provides a formative introduction to the structure of matter that will serve as a sound basis for students proceeding to more complex courses, thus bridging the gap between elementary physics and topics pertaining to research activities. The focus is deliberately limited to key concepts of atoms, molecules and solids, examining the basic structural aspects without paying detailed attention to the related properties. For many topics the aim has been to start from the beginning and to guide the reader to the threshold of advanced research. This edition includes four new chapters dealing with relevant phases of solid matter (magnetic, electric and superconductive) and the related phase transitions. The book is based on a mixture of theory and solved problems that are integrated into the formal presentation of the arguments. Readers will find it invaluable in enabling them to acquire basic knowledge in the wide and wonderful field of condensed matter and to understand how phenomenological properties originate from the microscopic, quantum features of nature.

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta

About the authors

Pietro Carretta is Associate Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Pavia. He is a member of the CNISM (Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze Fisiche della Materia) Scientific Committee and from 2011 to 2013 was vice-president of AIMagn (Italian Magnetism Society). Dr. Carretta is a reviewer for several international journals and has worked as an expert for AERES (Agence d’évaluation de la recherche et de l’enseignement supérieur). He has coordinated several national projects and promoted research programs such as the ESF Program on Highly Frustrated Magnetism. His research activity has focused especially on the experimental study of the physical properties of matter by combining magnetic resonance techniques, mainly NMR and μSR, with techniques of complementary character such as magnetization and specific heat measurements.

Attilio Rigamonti is Emeritus Professor of the University of Pavia, Italy, having first been appointed full professor of Structure of Matter at the university in 1976. He is a former Director of the Institute of Physics and first Director of the Department of Physics “A.Volta” at the University of Pavia (1981-1985) and served as First Director of the Graduate School in Science and Technologies (2006-2009). Professor Rigamonti has given courses, lectures and seminars at many Universities in Europe and the United States. He has supervised international research projects and has been a member of academies and various scientific committees. He was a member of the advisory board of the Groupement AMPERE for two decades and of the MECO organization from 1971 to 2005 and was chairman of the program committee for CIMTEC in 2006 and 2010. He was a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Magnetic Resonance from 1978 to 1993 and is the author of more than 210 scientific papers in the most important journals and of textbooks. Rigamonti is presently a member of the Istituto Lombardo,Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Structure of Matter

  • Book Subtitle: An Introductory Course with Problems and Solutions

  • Authors: Attilio Rigamonti, Pietro Carretta

  • Series Title: UNITEXT for Physics

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17897-4

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-17896-7Published: 29 June 2015

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-37444-4Published: 17 October 2016

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-17897-4Published: 13 June 2015

  • Series ISSN: 2198-7882

  • Series E-ISSN: 2198-7890

  • Edition Number: 3

  • Number of Pages: XXII, 604

  • Number of Illustrations: 331 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Condensed Matter Physics, Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra, Optical and Electronic Materials

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access