Universität Wien

260014 VO Principles of soft matter physics (2025S)

5.00 ECTS (3.00 SWS), SPL 26 - Physik
Moodle
Mo 28.04. 08:45-11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Register/Deregister for this course

Details

Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 03.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 10.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 17.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 24.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 31.03. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 07.04. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 05.05. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 12.05. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 19.05. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 26.05. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 02.06. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 16.06. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien
  • Monday 23.06. 08:45 - 11:15 Kurt-Gödel-Hörsaal, Boltzmanngasse 5, EG, 1090 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course, aimed at master students, PhDs, and postdocs, introduces the fundamental physical principles of soft matter, emphasizing the concepts necessary to understand the behavior of colloids, polymers, and other soft materials. It combines theoretical concepts with experimental approaches, particularly highlighting the interplay between thermal fluctuations, hydrodynamics, and (visco)elasticity in governing soft matter behavior.

A tentative syllabus of the Course is provided below.

1. Introduction to soft matter (03.03 and 10.03)
• Definition and properties of soft matter
• Classical soft matter systems
• Brownian motion: the Einstein intuition
• Brownian motion: the Perrin experiment

2. Fluid dynamics (17.03 and 24.03)
• Continuum description of fluids
• Navier-Stokes equations
• Low-Reynolds-number hydrodynamics and Stokes flow

3. Elements of rheophysics (31.03)
• Elasticity of incompressible soft solids: stress-strain relations, elastic moduli, Poisson ratio
• Incompressible viscoelastic soft materials (oscillatory rheology)

4. Colloids (07.04, 28.04 and 05.05)
• Colloidal dispersions
• Colloidal forces: Van der Waals, depletion, and electrostatic interactions
• Colloidal dynamics (Langevin and Fokker-Planck)

5. Probing soft matter in reciprocal space (12.05 and 19.05)
• From direct to reciprocal space
• Static light scattering
• Dynamic light scattering and Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy
• Differential dynamic microscopy

6. Polymers (26.05 and 02.06)
• Polymer chain models
• Polymer solutions
• Polymer dynamics

7. Advanced rheological tests (16.06 and 23.06)
• Creep, Stress relaxation
• Microrheology
• Nonlinear rheology: Flow curves, LAOS
• Rheology of colloids and polymers: selected examples

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment will be conducted via oral examination, which allows for a comprehensive view of your knowledge/abilities and gives a unique opportunity for interaction. A list of current topics in colloidal science with literature hints will be set at disposal of the participants and during the oral exam you will choose and briefly present the key paper(s) for a topic and answer questions on the paper(s) and on the corresponding course topic. You will then be asked at least one question about at least one topic different from the chosen one.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Previous knowledge of Statistical Mechanics at the T4-level is required. The final grade will be determined by considering both the breadth and depth of the individual learning process, in terms of acquired knowledge and abilities, including the clarity and content of the presentation. Critical thinking skills will be also considered.

Examination topics

Exam topics include all the topics that are treated in the lectures. The lecture notes and the key papers are made available after each lecture on the Moodle page of the course.

Reading list

The course will broadly be based on the recently published textbook "Soft Matter: Concepts, Phenomena, and Applications", authored by Wim Van Saarloos, Vincenzo Vitelli, and Zorana Zeravcic, published by Princeton University Press in 2024. Copies (printed and electronic) of the book have been made available through the university library.

Other useful resources are:
- W. B. Russel, D. A. Saville, and W. R. Schowalter, Colloidal Dispersions (Cambridge University Press, 1989)
- Joseph M. Powers, Mechanics of Fluids (Cambridge University Press, 2024)
- J. K. G. Dhont, An Introduction to Dynamics of Colloids, (Elsevier, 1996)
- M. Rubinstein and R. Colby, Polymer Physics (Oxford University Press , 2003)
- M. Doi, Soft matter physics. Oxford University Press, 2013

Association in the course directory

M-VAF A 2, M-VAF B, PM-SPEC

Last modified: Tu 04.03.2025 00:02