Bond-Orientational Order in Condensed Matter Systems

The focus of this book is on the contribution made by the ordering of bond orientations (as distinguished from the orientations of the molecules themselves) on the behaviour of condensed systems, particularly their phase transitions. Examples in which bond-orientational effects play an important role are liquid crystals, quasicrystals and two-dimensional crystals. The chapters are structured to form tutorial reviews of the subjects involved and they are suitable either for the student researching a new area or for an already active researcher requiring review material. Topics addressed include a discussion of computer simulation studies and chapters on phase transition in hexatic liquid crystals and on quasicrystals.