Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
Condensed Matter Physics is the study of the physical properties of solid and liquid materials. It explores the behavior of electrons, atoms, and molecules in condensed phases, and investigates phenomena such as superconductivity, magnetism, and phase transitions. This field has applications in materials science, electronics, and nanotechnology.
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10 Key excerpts on "Condensed Matter Physics"
No longer available |Learn more- (Author)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- Academic Studio(Publisher)
The most familiar examples of condensed phases are solids and liquids, which arise from the electromagnetic forces between atoms. More exotic condensed phases include the superconducting phase exhibited by certain materials at low temperature, the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases of spins on atomic lattices, and the Bose-Einstein condensate found in certain ultracold atomic systems. The aim of Condensed Matter Physics is to understand the behavior of these phases by using well-established physical laws, in particular those of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and statistical mechanics. The diversity of systems and phenomena available for study makes Condensed Matter Physics by far the largest field of contemporary physics. By one estimate, one third of all United States physicists identify ________________________ WORLD TECHNOLOGIES ________________________ themselves as condensed matter physicists. The field has a large overlap with chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology, and there are close connections with the related fields of atomic physics and biophysics. Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics also shares many important concepts and techniques with theoretical particle and nuclear physics. Historically, Condensed Matter Physics grew out of solid-state physics, which is now considered one of its main subfields. The name of the field was apparently coined in 1967 by Philip Anderson and Volker Heine when they renamed their research group in the Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge from Solid-State Theory to Theory of Condensed Matter. In 1978, the Division of Solid State Physics at the American Physical Society was renamed as the Division of Condensed Matter Physics. One of the reasons for this change is that many of the concepts and techniques developed for studying solids can also be applied to fluid systems.
No longer available |Learn more- (Author)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- Learning Press(Publisher)
The most familiar examples of condensed phases are solids and liquids, which arise from the electromagnetic forces between atoms. More exotic condensed phases include the sup-erconducting phase exhibited by certain materials at low temperature, the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases of spins on atomic lattices, and the Bose-Einstein condensate found in certain ultracold atomic systems. The aim of Condensed Matter Physics is to understand the behavior of these phases by using well-established physical laws, in particular those of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and statistical mechanics. The diversity of systems and phenomena available for study makes Condensed Matter Physics by far the largest field of contemporary physics. By one estimate, one third of all United States physicists identify ________________________ WORLD TECHNOLOGIES ________________________ themselves as condensed matter physicists. The field has a large overlap with chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology, and there are close connections with the related fields of atomic physics and biophysics. Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics also shares many important concepts and techniques with theoretical particle and nuclear physics. Historically, Condensed Matter Physics grew out of solid-state physics, which is now considered one of its main subfields. The name of the field was apparently coined in 1967 by Philip Anderson and Volker Heine when they renamed their research group in the Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge from Solid-State Theory to Theory of Condensed Matter. In 1978, the Division of Solid State Physics at the American Physical Society was renamed as the Division of Condensed Matter Physics. One of the reasons for this change is that many of the concepts and techniques developed for studying solids can also be applied to fluid systems.
eBook - PDFPhysics of Condensed Matter
New Research
- Jae Lord Dexter C. Filipinas, Syeda Ramsha Ali(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Arcler Press(Publisher)
Now setting up the most important goal that is of explaining the all and every material world that includes “structural and electronic properties of solids and liquids,” one of the most important fields of Condensed Matter Physics, which has become giant. It combines “statistical physics, material physics, fluid, and solid mechanics.” The systems that are studied under the ground of Condensed Matter Physics are very much complicated for anyone to infer their qualitative performance from the gauge of atomic scale if taken under considerations. If only the experience has resolute the flora of the qualitative problems will be able to do theory and having a chance of thoroughly explaining it. On the other side, a lot of experiments are not possible to explain quantitatively without the support of the theoretical approach. Condensed Matter Physics actually searches over relations between separate points of description. The fundamental original equations are largely unserviceable, so theories of Condensed Matter Physics relied upon equations whose form is predicted or solved rather than being derived, and in that parameters or methods of approximation are embarrassed by a proper knowledge of symmetry and can also be determined by experiments. Most often there is always a healthy competition between simple models that are employed for an understanding of concepts and goes for realistic computation. Few more times there are a tendency, to speak a bit disapprovingly of the models that are seemed to be simple. However, for many purposes, a theory whose consequences are easily followed is preferable to one which is more fundamental but also more unwieldy. Advanced and latest experimental advances in Condensed Matter of Physics and ultracold physics related to atomic issues, present challenges Overview 5 to the researchers and theorists that are extremely hard and challenging.
eBook - PDF- Steven M. Girvin, Kun Yang(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
1 Overview of Condensed Matter Physics Matter that we encounter in our everyday life comes in various forms: air is gaseous, water (between 0 o C and 100 o C under ambient pressure) is a liquid, while ice and various kinds of metals and minerals are crystalline solids. We also encounter other familiar forms of matter from our daily expe-rience, including glasses and liquid crystals , which do not fall into the categories of gas, liquid, or solid/crystal. More exotic forms of matter exist under extreme conditions, like very low (all the way to almost absolute zero) or very high temperatures, extremely high pressures, very far from equi-librium, etc. Roughly speaking, “Condensed Matter Physics” studies physical properties of matter in “condensed” forms (where the density is high enough that interaction among the constituent particles is crucial to these properties). In the rest of this chapter we will attempt to give a more precise (but far from unique) definition of Condensed Matter Physics, and discuss how to classify, theoretically describe, and experimentally probe various forms or phases of condensed matter. In this book we will deal exclusively with condensed matter systems that are made of atoms or molecules and, in partic-ular, the electrons that come with them (though on occasion we will study collective excitations in which photons play an important role). On the other hand, the methodology developed here and many specific results apply to more exotic condensed matter systems, like neutron stars and quark–gluon plasmas that are best described in terms of quarks, gluons, or nucleons. 1.1 Definition of Condensed Matter and Goals of Condensed Matter Physics Matter which surrounds us is made of huge numbers (of order 10 23 ) of atoms or molecules, which have a characteristic size of 10 − 10 m or 1 Å.
eBook - PDF- Michael P. Marder(Author)
- 2010(Publication Date)
- Wiley(Publisher)
In 1963, Busch began editing ajournai called Physik der Kondensierten Materie/Physique de la matière condensée/Physics of condensed matter. The daring term gained usage slowly. The American Physical Society Division of Solid State Physics voted in April 1978 to change its name to the Division of Condensed Matter Physics. Having set itself the modest goal of explaining the whole material world, in- cluding structural and electronic properties of solids and liquids, the field of con- densed matter physics has become enormous. It overlaps statistical physics, ma- terials physics, and fluid and solid mechanics. The diversity in topics obscures a unity of approach. Experiments play a crucial role. The systems studied by condensed matter Preface xxi physics are far too complicated for anyone to deduce their qualitative behavior from atomic scale considerations. Only once experience has determined the nature of the qualitative problem does theory have a chance of explaining it. On the other hand, most experiments are impossible to interpret quantitatively without theoretical support. Condensed matter theories search for relations between separate levels of de- scription. The fundamental underlying equations are largely useless, so theories of condensed matter are largely based upon equations whose form is guessed rather than derived, and in which parameters or methods of approximation are constrained by symmetry and determined by experiment. Often there is a friendly competition between simple models, employed for conceptual understanding, and attempts at realistic computation. There is sometimes a tendency to speak a bit contemptuously of the simple models. However, "for many purposes a theory whose consequences are easily followed is preferable to one which is more fundamental but also more unwieldy" [Thomson (1907), p. 2].
eBook - PDF- Dietrich Stauffer(Author)
- 1995(Publication Date)
- World Scientific(Publisher)
Like-wise, these concepts and methods have also been used to answer questions of 243 244 J. Potvin astrophysical or nuclear interest, such as the properties of the core in neutron stars or the evolution of matter created by the collisions of relativistic heavy ions. Answering these questions involves condensed matter theory because one is studying gases of elementary particles, that is, systems consisting of a large number of particles in volumes commensurate with the typical length scale of their interactions. Thus the scope of Condensed Matter Physics has greatly expanded, to include not only the topics discussed in the Physical Review B but also many more covered in the Physical Review D. The goal of this essay is to introduce the non-expert to the methods and the results of the numerical simulations of condensed matter systems in parti-cle physics, focusing on the study of quark matter which exists at the extreme temperature of 10 12 K — a tera-Kelvin. Other gases such as those made of electrons, Higgs particles, W-bosons and Z-bosons have also been studied nu-merically but the results are still very preliminary. Of all topics in elementary particle thermodynamics, quark matter physics is one which has most bene-fitted from the methods of analysis developed in Condensed Matter Physics, starting with the use of Monte Carlo techniques to numerically simulate a heat bath, the use of criticality in phase transition analysis, and the use of histogram techniques in the production and analysis of numerical data. We begin with a general introduction to the basic concepts and theory of quark matter physics, including the discussion of the relationships between quantum field theory and statistical mechanics. We then introduce the for-malism commonly called Lattice Gauge Theory which is used to solve nu-merically any quantum field theory based on gauge fields.
eBook - ePub- Herman Feshbach, Tetsuo Matsui, Alexandra Oleson(Authors)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
Clearly there are elements of Bohr’s “complementarity” in thesepoints of view. However, I think it is a mistake to view complementarity as merely a two-terminal black box. In real science there are many layers and interleavings, some of which we may hope to see disappear, but many of which will remain, both complementary and supplementary. In a word, a fully reductionist philosophy, while tenable purely as philosophy, is the wrong way to practice real science!The Task of Condensed Matter Physics
With that over-lengthy preamble let me return to the main subject. My aim is, first of all, to explain what I think Condensed Matter Physics does, or should be doing, and what defines Condensed Matter Physics, and thence to approach the question, “Does quantum mechanics matter ?”The key fact about Condensed Matter Physics is the existence of many states of matter—and we keep discovering more! In fact, one of the things that makes Condensed Matter Physics exciting is that every year or two, something new turns up.* We will consider some of these new things.So the first question is, “What are the states of matter? “ Can we elucidate them? When we have discovered them, can we characterize them? What is their nature? More specifically, this usually means determining the type of order, and the particular spatial and temporal correlations that build up. Then, we may ask, “How do the various states transform into one another? How are they interrelated?” These latter questions demonstrate that the study of phase transitions, my own love, is one of the fundamental aspects of Condensed Matter Physics.The Stability of Matter
Now there is one most basic way in which quantum mechanics truly matters. We would not even have condensed matter if we did not have quantum mechanics! But even here it is worth enquiring as towhich aspects of quantum mechanics are actually important. The first issue to appreciate is that the very term “condensed matter” implies a large number of elementary units, atoms, electrons and nuclei, spins, etc., say N in number. Then the so-called “thermodynamic limit” in statistical mechanics, namely N
- Eduardo C. Marino(Author)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
Part III Quantum Field Theory Approach to Condensed Matter Systems 13 Quantum Field Theory Methods in Condensed Matter Condensed Matter Physics invariably exhibits many-particle systems, which must be treated according to the laws of quantum-mechanics. Such particles may be electrons, holes, phonons, magnons, polarons, Cooper pairs and so on. A quantum field theory, conversely, describes the dynamics of fields according to the same laws. It turns out that the energy eigenstates of a quantum field are precisely quan- tum many-particle states: photons, in the case of the quantized electromagnetic field; phonons, in the case of the elastic vibrating field of a crystal; magnons, in the case of the oscillating magnetization vector of magnetic materials; electrons and holes, in the case of Schrödinger or Dirac matter fields. Because of this fact, quantum field theory has become a powerful instrument in the realm of condensed matter systems, in the same way as it used to be in particle physics. In this chapter we describe the contact point between a quantum field theory and a quantum many-particle system. This may be summarized by the fact that a particle position eigenstate, which forms the base for its full quantum-mechanical description, is obtained by acting on the vacuum state with a local quantum field operator, which is the basic piece of a quantum field theory. After introducing this point, we derive several results that will be relevant for applications of the latter in condensed matter systems. 13.1 Quantum Fields and Many-Particles We have seen in Chapter 3 that a particle in a state of definite momentum p, such that P|p = p|p (13.1) has the state-vector given by |p = c † (p)|0. (13.2) 225 226 Quantum Field Theory Methods in Condensed Matter Here c(p) is a commuting or anti-commuting operator, according to whether the particle is a boson or a fermion. For the sake of simplifying the notation, we are neglecting any spin index.
- Albert Furrer(Author)
- 1998(Publication Date)
- World Scientific(Publisher)
60 These nanotubes offer another route to unusual electronic conductors. In combination with other nanostmctured matter they offer a variety of new possibilities, from single electron transistors 61 to extremely sharp tips for scanning probe applications. A lot of these new forms of carbon is expected for topics in inorganic and organic chemistry. 296 6 Soft Condensed Matter Of clearly increasing importance are physical investigations of soft condensed matter which includes polymers and biologically relevant condensed matter. Although the main thrust in polymer research seems again to be directed towards applications of these technically increasingly important materials, a lot still has to be done for a basic understanding of their structures and their physical (and chemical) properties. Although biophysics is by no means a new branch of science, the application of sophisticated experimental techniques usually employed in Condensed Matter Physics, have only recently become fashionable and the obtained results are reaching even non professional media. The latter is certainly true for recent structure detenninations of important proteins, both by x-ray 62 and NMR techniques. 63 Physical measurements are now being applied to identify biological compatibility and activity between molecular structures. The methods of choice are again scanning probe methods. 64 Here the future has just begun and this topic is likely to stay in the limelight for some time. 7 Summary and Conclusions This brief overview on researdi topics in Condensed Matter Physics that appear to be of high current interest ought to be considered as non exhaustive or incomplete. Because of the personal interests of the author, some topics are covered in more detail than others which, given the time and space, is hopefully acceptable and the rather coarse coverage of some of the research activities will be excused.
- Horatiu Nastase(Author)
- 2017(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
PART I CONDENSED MATTER MODELS AND PROBLEMS 1 Lightning Review of Statistical Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Phases, and Phase Transitions In Part I, I will describe various condensed matter models and problems of interest. In other words, we will study the condensed matter issues that can be described in one way or another using string theory methods. To set up the notation, in Chapter 1, I will make a lightning review of thermodynamics, phase transitions, and statistical mechanics. These are issues that are supposed to be known, but we will review them in a way that will be useful for us later and in order to have a common starting point. 1.1 Note on Conventions In most of this book, I will use field theorists, conventions, with ¯ h = c = 1, unless needed to emphasize some quantum or (non)relativistic issues. We can always reintroduce ¯ h and c by dimensional analysis, if needed. In these conventions, there is only one dimensionful unit, namely mass = 1/length = energy = 1/time = · · · . When I speak of dimension of a quantity, I refer to mass dimension. For the Minkowski metric η μν I use the mostly plus signature convention, so in the most relevant case of 3+1 dimensions the signature is (− + + +), for η μν = diag(−1, +1, +1, +1). I also use the Einstein summation convention, i.e. repeated indices are summed over. The repeated indices will be one up and one down, unless we are in Euclidean space, when it doesn’t matter, so we can put all indices down. 1.2 Thermodynamics In thermodynamics, we use two types of quantities: Intensive quantities, which are quantities that are independent of the size of the system. The relevant examples for us are T, P , E , H , μ α , {P j }. (1.1) Here T is the temperature, P is the pressure, E is the electric field, H is the magnetic field, μ α are chemical potentials for the particle species α, i.e. the increase in energy required to add one particle to the system, and P j are generalized pressures (such that P 0 = P). 3
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