edited by Agnes Buka (KFKI, Hungary)

This volume contains 19 review articles, written by leading experts in the field of neutron scattering, NMR, dielectric spectroscopy, ferroelectricity, liquid crystal polymers as well as related subjects. The articles cover a broad range of topics which are currently the center of focus and interest in this field. The book will be useful for experienced researchers as well as students and those who want to enter the field. Apart from the fact that such a publication covers a gap in the literature, there is also a personal actuality. This volume will be devoted to Professor L Bata, who started the liquid crystal research in Hungary some 25 years ago and who is still head of the department at KFKI today. He initiated a lot of new subjects in the field and supported many young scientists during these years. He is celebrating his 60th birthday this year.

• Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) Studies on “Side-End Fixed” and “Side-On Fixed” Liquid Crystal Polymers (F Hardouin et al.)
• Molecular Dynamics and Phase Transitions in Thioesters Studied by Dielectric Methods (J Chrusciel et al.)
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Nematic Liquid Crystals Confined to Curved Geometries (G P Crawford & J W Doane)
• Optical Solitons in Liquid Crystals (L Lam & Y S Yung)
• Electroacoustic Effect in Liquid Crystals (V L Aristov et al.)
• Dielectric Study of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal at High Pressure (S K Prasad et al.)
• On the Electroclinic Effect in Smectic A^∗ Polymers and Low Molar Mass Analogues (L Komitov et al.)
• Dielectric Properties in Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystals (H Takezoe et al.)
• and other papers