First, detection of the onset allows very precise measurements of relevant material parameters, which very often cannot be measured directly. Second, in complex fluids even first instabilities can show interesting features, thus allowing a rather detailed theoretical description of complicated instability types as well as a quantitative comparison with experiments. Advanced topics are concerned with the spatial structures above onset, their defects and dynamics. The dynamics and stability of thin layers, membranes, films, interfaces and surfaces of complex fluids is investigated. Of special interest is the relation between dynamical processes within a layer and the macroscopic motion of the layer itself.
Examples are surface waves in polymers and amphiphilic sol-gel systems.
Observation of these excitations can then lead to the determination of surface material parameters. IFF Ferienkurs, Juelich 1997.