From quasicrystals to more complex systems

The prime objective of this book is to bring about a fundamental understanding of aperiodic solids with long range order (incommensurate phases, quasicrystals), and of glasses and more complex systems (fractal, chaotic). It provides a comprehensive insight into the most recent concepts and tools of Condensed Matter Physics. On a thematic level, it can be viewed both as a continuation and an extension of the previous "Beyond Quasicrystals" (EDP Sciences-Springer Series of the les Houches Center for Physics volume 3). It is the collection of most of the written versions of the Physics Courses given at the Winter School "Order, Chance and Risk : Aperiodic Phenomena from Solid State to Finance" held at the Les Houches Center for Physics (February 23 to March 6, 1998). Besides the indispensable mathematical tools and concepts at work in theoretical descriptions, relevant experimental data were also presented during the School, together with methods allowing their interpretation. Therefore, the first part of this book is devoted to methods and results on quasicrystals. Next, it deals with models and concepts currently at work in studies on aperiodic media and phenomena. The third part is devoted to glasses, and to dynamical systems as applied to condensed matter with emphasis on the most salient experimental and theoretical developments on fractal and multifractal analysis relevant to the fields. The deliberate pedagogical aim of the School also stands out in the Glossary written by the Editors, with suggestions by the Authors. It will help the readers, - particularly the experimentalists, - to find their way throughout the book.