Surface Modes in Physics

Electromagnetic surface modes are present at all surfaces and interfaces between material of different dielectric properties. These modes have very important effects on numerous physical quantities: adhesion, capillary force, step formation and crystal growth, the Casimir effect etc. They cause surface tension and wetting and they give rise to forces which are important e.g. for the stability of colloids.
This book is a useful and elegant approach to the topic, showing how the concept of electromagnetic modes can be developed as a unifying theme for a range of condensed matter physics. The author concentrates in finding out the basic origin of the force and how they are developed from the collective excitations of the solids. Different materials are treated, e.g. metals, semiconductors, plasmas, liquids and gases all with different collective modes. In close relation to the theoretical background, the reader is served with a broad field of applications. The book serves readers who are concerned with applications to real world problems with a deep knowledge on surface modes, and inspires new developments of the field.

Bo E. Sernelius, Professor in Theoretical Physics. Dept. of Physics and Measurement Technology. Linköping University, Sweden. Background: Theoretical solid state physics. Expert in many-body physics.
1948 born in Sweden
1973 Degree in Civil Engineering
1978 PhD in Theoretical Physics
1985-1987 Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA in the group of Prof. G.D. Mahan
Research Field: Many-Body Theory and in particular Theoretical Semiconductor Physics; Optical Properties, Transport Properties, Quantum Structures, Heterostructures; Collective Modes, Surface Modes, Van der Waals and Casimir Forces, Surface Energies, Wetting, Colloidal Physics, catalytic Effects, Bioloical Physics
More than 100 scientific publications
Member of the Swedish, European and Americanl Physical Societies