Preface
Water is not only a substance No.1, but also an exceptional media of electromagnetic waves propagating on scales from the molecular to the global. Chemical
reactions in aqueous solutions, nerve pulse transmission, and global communication
systems are only a few of the many fields, which are significantly determined by the
electromagnetism of water and ice. The dielectric properties of water and ice are
equally important for many aspects of physical chemistry, soft-matter physics,
electrochemistry, atmospheric sciences, radiophysics, medicine, biophysics, and
neurosciences. The electrodynamic properties of water are accounted for in acid–
base reactions, solvation processes, electric double layers, and in systems where
water plays a role of solvent or reference liquid. The dielectric properties of ice,
liquid water, and water vapor are also crucial for location and navigation, as they
directly determine the quality of radio communications. In addition, such atmospheric phenomena as thunderstorms, lightning, precipitation charging, surface
condensation, and evaporation depend on the unique dielectric properties of water
and ice. Finally, people wonder how microwave ovens work, why water is transparent, how and why it conducts electricity, and how biological systems communicate. In spite of the fact that we would like to use the properties of water for many
practical purposes, the electrodynamics of water and ice still do not have an
exhaustive description, and is also poorly studied from a microscopic point of view.
In this book, I address a wide range of questions related to the electromagnetism
of water and ice. The book contains a variety of experimental data on the dielectric
properties of water in all its thermodynamic forms. The data are collated and
ultra-broadband dielectric responses are combined in the unified terms for liquid
water, ice, water vapor, and aqueous solutions. The interaction of electromagnetic
waves with water is analyzed through the prism of microscopic molecular
dynamics. The mechanisms behind different features of the water dielectric spectrum are discussed in fine detail. Well-established classic views on the structure of
water and ice are critically analyzed and accompanied by new ideas. The physicochemical concepts of the electromagnetism of water and ice are formulated considering them on the same footing. Atomic-molecular dynamics are discussed in the
context of microfluidics, atmospheric sciences, and electrochemistry.
vii
Water is not only a substance No.1, but also an exceptional media of electromagnetic waves propagating on scales from the molecular to the global. Chemical
reactions in aqueous solutions, nerve pulse transmission, and global communication
systems are only a few of the many fields, which are significantly determined by the
electromagnetism of water and ice. The dielectric properties of water and ice are
equally important for many aspects of physical chemistry, soft-matter physics,
electrochemistry, atmospheric sciences, radiophysics, medicine, biophysics, and
neurosciences. The electrodynamic properties of water are accounted for in acid–
base reactions, solvation processes, electric double layers, and in systems where
water plays a role of solvent or reference liquid. The dielectric properties of ice,
liquid water, and water vapor are also crucial for location and navigation, as they
directly determine the quality of radio communications. In addition, such atmospheric phenomena as thunderstorms, lightning, precipitation charging, surface
condensation, and evaporation depend on the unique dielectric properties of water
and ice. Finally, people wonder how microwave ovens work, why water is transparent, how and why it conducts electricity, and how biological systems communicate. In spite of the fact that we would like to use the properties of water for many
practical purposes, the electrodynamics of water and ice still do not have an
exhaustive description, and is also poorly studied from a microscopic point of view.
In this book, I address a wide range of questions related to the electromagnetism
of water and ice. The book contains a variety of experimental data on the dielectric
properties of water in all its thermodynamic forms. The data are collated and
ultra-broadband dielectric responses are combined in the unified terms for liquid
water, ice, water vapor, and aqueous solutions. The interaction of electromagnetic
waves with water is analyzed through the prism of microscopic molecular
dynamics. The mechanisms behind different features of the water dielectric spectrum are discussed in fine detail. Well-established classic views on the structure of
water and ice are critically analyzed and accompanied by new ideas. The physicochemical concepts of the electromagnetism of water and ice are formulated considering them on the same footing. Atomic-molecular dynamics are discussed in the
context of microfluidics, atmospheric sciences, and electrochemistry.
vii