Elements of Mechanics,by P.F. Kelly

Applications of optogalvanic spectroscopy developed since the resurgence of interest in optogalvanic detection are reviewed. The optogalvanic effect is a change in the electrical properties of a discharge caused by illuminating the discharge with radiation having a wavelength corresponding to an atomic or molecular transition in the discharge. The general scheme of optogalvanic spectroscopy is presented, followed by a discussion of the gas discharge physics of the optogalvanic effect. Applications of optogalvanic detection in moderate resolution spectroscopy, in Doppler-free spectroscopy, and in analytic studies are discussed.     

Book Review: The Physics of Phase Transitions. P. Papon,J. Leblond and P. H. E., Meijer,Springer-Verlag,New York, 2002.

Journal of Statistical Physics -     

Commentary on the observations of solid-like rheological response in unentangled polymer melts by H. Mendil, P. Baroni, L. Noirez, D. Collin, P. Martinoty

Without abstract.         

Papers presented at the Eleventh Australian Optical Society Conference,University of Adelaide, 10–12 December 1997

Optical and Quantum Electronics -     

Commentary on "Mechanical properties of monodomain side-chain nematic elastomers" by P. Martinoty, P. Stein, H. Finkelmann, H. Pleiner and H.R. Brand

We discuss the background to static and dynamic soft elasticity. The evidence in the static case and the symmetry basis for soft and semi-soft elasticity is well understood. By contrast the dynamic analogy is less clear. Lack of clean time scale separation clouds the interpretation of director relaxation keeping up, or not, with imposed strains. However, the reduction in modulus between geometries obtaining at low frequencies and being lost at high frequencies confirms that director reaction indeed determines dynamical semi-softness.