This volume deals with physical properties of electrically one-dimensional conductors. It includes both a description of basic concepts and a review of recent progress in research. One-dimensional conductors are those materials in which an electric current flows easily in one specific crystal direction while the resistivity is very high in transverse directions. It was about 1973 when much attention began to be focussed on them and investigations started in earnest. The research was stimulated by the successful growth of crystals of the organic conductor TTF-TCNQ and of the inorganic conductor KCP. New concepts, characteristic of one dimension, were established in the in vestigations of their properties. Many new one-dimensional conductors were also found and synthesized. This field of research is attractive because of the discovery of new ma terials, phenomena and concepts which have only recently found a place in the framework of traditional solid-state physics and materials science. The relation of this topic to the wider field of solid-state sciences is therefore still uncertain. This situation is clearly reflected in the wide distribution of the fields of specialization of researchers. Due to this, and also to the rapid progress of research, no introductory book has been available which covers most of the important fields of research on one-dimensional conductors.

Inhalt

1. What Are One-Dimensional Conductors?.- 2. Fundamental Properties of Electronic Systems in One Dimension.- 2.1 The One-Dimensional Conduction Band and the Peierls Instability.- 2.2 Charge Density Waves.- 2.3 Fluctuations and Three-Dimensionality.- 2.4 Roles of the Coulomb Interaction.- 3. Properties of TTF-TCNQ and Its Family.- 3.1 Molecular Synthesis and Crystal Growth.- 3.2 Electrical Properties.- 3.3 Magnetic Properties.- 3.4 Behaviour of the CDW.- 3.5 Characteristic Properties of Compounds Belonging to the Family of TTF-TCNQ.- 3.6 Superconductivity in (TMTSF)2X and Its Family.- 4. Properties of MX3.- 4.1 Preparation and Crystal Structure.- 4.2 Charge Density Waves in NbSe3.- 4.3 Charge Density Waves in TaS3.- 4.4 Superconductivity in TaSe3.- 5. Properties of KCP.- 5.1 Mixed Valence Pt Compounds.- 5.2 Crystal Structure and the Preparation of Single Crystals.- 5.3 Electrical Properties.- 5.4 Magnetic Properties.- 5.5 Charge Density Waves and the Kohn Anomaly.- 5.6 Behaviour of the Water of Crystallization.- 5.7 Band Model and Mixed Valence Model.- 6. Properties of the Linear Chain Polymers (CH)x and (SN)x.- 6.1 Properties of (CH)X.- 6.2 Properties of (SN)x.- 7. Properties of Linear-Chain Mercury Compounds.- 7.1 Synthesis and Crystal Structure.- 7.2 Metallic Conductivity and Superconductivity.- 7.3 The One-Dimensional Lattice of Mercury Chains.- References.