This is a book on the dissipative dynamics of ordered fluidswith a particular focus on liquid crystals. It covers a wholerange of different theories, mainly concerned with nematic liquidcrystals in both their chiral and nonchiral variants. The authorsbegin by giving a detailed account of the molecular origins oforientational order in fluids. They then go on to develop a generalframework in which continuum theories for ordered fluids can be phrased.Within this unified setting, they cover both well-established classical  theories and new ones with aspects that are not yet completely settled.  The book treats a wide range of hydrodynamic theories for liquid crystals, from the original 1960s works by Ericksen and Leslie to new, fast-developing  ideas of liquid crystal science. The final chapter is devoted to  nematoacoustics and its applications. Old experiments on the propagation of  ultrasound waves in nematic liquid crystals are interpreted and explainedin the light of a new theory developed within the general theoretical  infrastructure proposed in the body of the book.This book is intended both for graduate students and professionalscholars in mathematics, physics, and engineering of advancedmaterials. It delivers a solid framework for liquid crystalhydrodynamics and shows the unifying concepts at the basis of theclassical theories. It illustrates how these concepts can also beapplied to a wide variety of modern topics.Andre M. Sonnet is in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at  the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (Scotland) and Epifanio G.Virga is in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Pavia (Italy). They have a long history of working together in liquid crystal science and have contributed, in particular, to the theories ofdefects and biaxial nematics.

A unified treatment of microscopic and macroscopic mathematical models for biaxial nematics

Molecular Theories.- Dynamics of Dissipative Fluids.- Director Theories.- Order Tensor Theories.- Nematoacoustics.- Notation and Basic Concepts.- References.- Index.