P.G. de Gennes' Impact on Science, Volume II: Soft Matter and Biophysics »

This publication, in two volumes, is devoted to the scientific impact of the work of Nobel Laureate, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. It covers the important fields for which de Gennes was renowned: solid state (magnetism and superconductivity), macroscopic random media and percolation, supersolids, liquid crystals, polymers, adhesion and friction, and biophysics.

The book brings together internationally renowned experts to contribute their perspectives on the significance of de Gennes' works. They have each selected a definitive paper, which gives the state of the field at the time the paper was published, highlights the paper's importance and provides an analysis of the development of the field right up to the modern day. The insightful perspectives of these scientists make the book both unique and intriguing.

This is the second volume devoted to soft matter and biophysics.

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xiii

The n = 0 Discovery Thomas A. Witten 1

Exponents for the excluded volume problem as derived by the Wilson method P. G. de Gennes 18

Dynamics of Entangled Polymers: The Three Key Ideas Michael Rubinstein 20

Reptation of a Polymer Chain in a Presence of Fixed Obstacles P. G. de Gennes 35

Reptation of Stars P. G. de Gennes 43

Polyelectrolytes: The de Gennes Legacy Philip Pincus Omar A. Saleh 48

Remarks on polyelectrolyte conformation P. G. de Gennes P. Pincus R. M. Velasco F. Brochard J. de 56

Polymers in Confined Geometries Karine Guevorkian Francoise Brochard-Wyart 69

Dynamics of confined polymers chains F. Brochard P. G. de Gennes 96

Passive entry of a DNA molecule into a small pore Pierre-Gilles de Gennes 101

Adhesion and Friction Hugh Brown 104

Rubber-rubber adhesion with connector molecules E. Raphaël P. G. de Gennes 115

Adhesion promoters F. Brochard-Wyart P. G. de Gennes L. Léger Y. Marciano E. Raphaël 121

An Approach to Cell Adhesion Inspired from Polymer Physics Pierre Nassoy 127

Unbinding of adhesive vesicles Francoise Brochard-Wyart Pierre-Gilles de Gennes 139

Spreading Made a Splash Lydéric Bocquet 146

Dynamique d'étalement d'une goutte Pierre-Gilles de Gennes 160