3 CFU - Luigi Cristofolini Time: Second term3CFU -3 ECTS, divided in a theoretical part, optionally followed by an experimental part.Program Theoretical partIntroduction to Soft Matter: its structural and dynamical properties, the experimental techniques to investigate it, and brief reference to the theoretical tools to describe it.Interfacial systems: from planar interfaces to bubbles, drops, emulsions and foams in increasing order of complexity.Experimental partOne experiment chosen among the following- Langmuir Blodgett- Ellipsometry- Scanning Electron Microscopy- Atomic Force Microscopy- Correlation Spectroscopy (Dynamic Light Scattering & Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy)- Analysis of data from neutron reflectivity experimentsReadings from the following textbooks will be suggested: R.A.L. Jones, Soft Condensed Matter, Oxford University Press 2002. O. Lavrentovich, M. Kleman Soft Matter Physics: An Introduction J.N. Israelachvili, Intermolecular and Surface Forces, Academic 1985. G. Roberts, Langmuir Blodgett Films, Plenum Press (1990) S.A. Safran, Statistical Thermodynamics of Surfaces, Interfaces and Membranes, Addison Wesley 1994. R.G. Larson, The Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids, Oxford University Press 1999 R. M. A. Azzam, N. M. Bashara, Ellipsometry and Polarized Light, North Holland, 1988 Als Nielsen Mc Morrow, Elements of modern X-ray physics, Wiley, (2012) J Daillant, A. Gibaud X-ray and Neutron reflectivity: Principles and Applications, Springer (1999)