good textbooks are available on solid-state (or condensed matter) physics, they
generally treat simple systems such as metals and crystals consisting of atoms. On
the other hand, in solid-state chemistry, textbooks give a diverse variety of fascinating examples but often avoid descriptions of theoretical background even at the
simplest level. This book gives a coherent description starting from intermolecular
interaction up to properties of condensed matter ranging from the isotropic liquid to
molecular crystals in terms of molecular language. The contents should serve as a
starting point based on the current status for further study.
It may be useful to give some comments about the adoption of subjects. The
book highlights the effects of molecular properties, i.e., the presence of the shape
and its deformation, on structure and properties. However, I omitted details for
specific subjects for which a comprehensive monograph is available. Linear and
branched polymers correspond to the case though they well fit the category. Many
specialized textbooks are available. Besides, they need specific treatment as a string
or ribbon. This coarse-grained treatment mostly throws the identity of molecules
away. It is a kind of idealization of a higher order. On the other hand, even if the
subject remains, the topic non-relevant to molecular nature is excluded. The continuum theory of liquid crystals is an example.
Other subjects omitted from the content are systems, for which effective theories
usually do not incorporate molecular natures. These include optical properties,
molecular conductor and magnets, and properties of liquid solutions. Although the
optical properties are directly related to spectroscopies of molecular systems, their
effective theories, i.e., quantum-mechanical models, treat molecules only indirectly.
Molecular conductors and magnets are spreading research fields, but their arguments rely on anisotropic and exotic crystal structures and the resulting effective
Hamiltonians. For solutions, it seems difficult to give a coherent molecular
description at present. When the researches in these fields begin to involve
molecular natures of systems, a new version should be necessary.
I assumed the pieces of knowledge of classical and quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics at the elementary level, for which undergraduate classes are available in chemical school. Mathematics behind them is
implicitly assumed. It contains analysis including partial derivatives of multivariable functions, linear algebra, and group theory. However, the manipulation in the
text does not go far beyond the very elementary level. I explicitly included
step-by-step derivations for many issues because such examples seem valuable for
practical applications to specific problems by readers. This necessity for particular
treatments to case by case reflects the diverse nature of molecular systems.
Concerning chemistry, on the other hand, I only assumed the meaning of chemical
formulas and the fact that the bulk substance consists of a vast number of molecules! In total, this book should be readable for graduate students majoring in either
chemistry or physics. However, I am grateful if the book is enjoyable to established
researchers in physical chemistry and condensed matter physics.
This book stands on my research/teaching activity with many colleagues.
Drs. H. Chihara, T. Atake, Ichiro Hatta, and M. Sorai were my professors, and they
guided directly or indirectly with their profound insights and broad perspective on
vi
Preface
generally treat simple systems such as metals and crystals consisting of atoms. On
the other hand, in solid-state chemistry, textbooks give a diverse variety of fascinating examples but often avoid descriptions of theoretical background even at the
simplest level. This book gives a coherent description starting from intermolecular
interaction up to properties of condensed matter ranging from the isotropic liquid to
molecular crystals in terms of molecular language. The contents should serve as a
starting point based on the current status for further study.
It may be useful to give some comments about the adoption of subjects. The
book highlights the effects of molecular properties, i.e., the presence of the shape
and its deformation, on structure and properties. However, I omitted details for
specific subjects for which a comprehensive monograph is available. Linear and
branched polymers correspond to the case though they well fit the category. Many
specialized textbooks are available. Besides, they need specific treatment as a string
or ribbon. This coarse-grained treatment mostly throws the identity of molecules
away. It is a kind of idealization of a higher order. On the other hand, even if the
subject remains, the topic non-relevant to molecular nature is excluded. The continuum theory of liquid crystals is an example.
Other subjects omitted from the content are systems, for which effective theories
usually do not incorporate molecular natures. These include optical properties,
molecular conductor and magnets, and properties of liquid solutions. Although the
optical properties are directly related to spectroscopies of molecular systems, their
effective theories, i.e., quantum-mechanical models, treat molecules only indirectly.
Molecular conductors and magnets are spreading research fields, but their arguments rely on anisotropic and exotic crystal structures and the resulting effective
Hamiltonians. For solutions, it seems difficult to give a coherent molecular
description at present. When the researches in these fields begin to involve
molecular natures of systems, a new version should be necessary.
I assumed the pieces of knowledge of classical and quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics at the elementary level, for which undergraduate classes are available in chemical school. Mathematics behind them is
implicitly assumed. It contains analysis including partial derivatives of multivariable functions, linear algebra, and group theory. However, the manipulation in the
text does not go far beyond the very elementary level. I explicitly included
step-by-step derivations for many issues because such examples seem valuable for
practical applications to specific problems by readers. This necessity for particular
treatments to case by case reflects the diverse nature of molecular systems.
Concerning chemistry, on the other hand, I only assumed the meaning of chemical
formulas and the fact that the bulk substance consists of a vast number of molecules! In total, this book should be readable for graduate students majoring in either
chemistry or physics. However, I am grateful if the book is enjoyable to established
researchers in physical chemistry and condensed matter physics.
This book stands on my research/teaching activity with many colleagues.
Drs. H. Chihara, T. Atake, Ichiro Hatta, and M. Sorai were my professors, and they
guided directly or indirectly with their profound insights and broad perspective on
vi
Preface