Derived from lectures at the University of Freiburg, this textbook introduces solid-state physics as well as the physics of liquids, liquid crystals and polymers. The five chapters deal with the key characteristics of condensed matter: structures, susceptibilities, molecular fields, currents, and dynamics. The author strives to present and explain coherently the terms and concepts associated with the main properties and characteristics of condensed matter, while minimizing attention to extraneous details. As a result, this text provides the firm and broad basis of understanding that readers require for further study and research.
From the reviews:
From "Applied Rheology", Vol. 14/2, 2004, p. 81:
" 'Condensed Matter Physics' is one of few books covering both hard and soft condensed matter on a graduate studies level. ... Strobl's book provides an excellent, well organized introduction to the fundamentals of condensed matter physics. Although the topic is approached from a physicist's point of view and ca. one half is devoted to crystals, the book will not only be of high value for physics students. Other scientists and engineers who need to learn about hard or soft condensed matter will find it very helpful as well."
"This is a translation of the original German edition. It is a textbook covering the lectures given by the author at the University of Freiburg. ... The presentation is very concise with due insistence on the interrelations between the various phenomena and concepts. As such it provides a good introduction to the physics of condensed matter which will be of value to a broad audience of scientists." (Marc Baus, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005)
"The underlying aim of the book is to cover the whole of condensed matter ... in a form which is concise enough to be the basis of an undergraduate course. ... As someone who has worked in solid state physics ... I found the book quite stimulating. ... an admirable book which fully succeeds in its basic aim and would be of interest to many already working in the field ... . would integrate well into the course structure of many Physics Departments." (Dr. M. Blamire, Contemporary Physics, Vol. 46 (2), 2005)
"Even though exciting new fields open up in bio- and polymer physics, few textbooks so far cover soft matter adequately. In this sense, Strobl follows a very modern approach for undergraduate teaching by trying a unified treatment of "condensed matter" properties. This is a tribute to the increasing importance of life sciences and modern materials sciences, which do no more focus on simple structures such as perfect crystals, but handle a continious spectrum of pure liquids, solutions, liquid crystals, amorphous rubbers and glasses, nanocrystals, and finally perfect solids.... As is intended by the author, the book distinguishes from similar volumes by putting emphasis on polymers and liquid crystals, and especially by combining elementary physics with modern and ambitious thematic...."Condensed Matter Physics" is a clearly structured and well-written textbook which may certainly be recommended for undergraduate students not only in experimental physics but also in materials and engineering sciences. ... Like many other good textbooks, it benefits from the great experience of the lecturer in presentation and, last but not least, from valuable exercises at the end of the parts with corresponding solutions in the appendix." (Walter Langel, Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry, 2006)
