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Rahul Nandkishore

We know the fundamental equations governing the motion of every atom in our brain and every electron in our computers - the motion of each and every atomic and subatomic particle on planet Earth can, in principle, be calculated from well understood physical laws. And yet, the natural world (and the behavior of humans and computers alike) continues to surprise us. This is because when large numbers of objects interact together, they can exhibit qualitatively new emergent phenomena, which are not obviously contained in the equations governing the motion of a single atom or electron. Condensed matter physics is the study of such emergent phenomena.

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We know the fundamental equations governing the motion of every atom in our brain and every electron in our computers - the motion of each and every atomic and subatomic particle on planet Earth can, in principle, be calculated from well understood physical laws. And yet, the natural world (and the behavior of humans and computers alike) continues to surprise us. This is because when large numbers of objects interact together, they can exhibit qualitatively new emergent phenomena, which are not obviously contained in the equations governing the motion of a single atom or electron. Condensed matter physics is the study of such emergent phenomena.

Condensed matter physics is the largest subdiscipline of modern physics. It has generated a wealth of deep concepts that govern our fundamental understanding of the modern world, and which also underpin much of our modern technological society. This specialization provides an introduction to the key concepts underpinning modern condensed matter. These concepts apply widely, and enable a powerful and widely applicable understanding of emergent phenomena in complex systems.

This specialization is aimed at individuals who are curious about what condensed matter physics is all about, and at individuals seeking ways of understanding the complex emergent phenomena using simple but powerful conceptual tools. Extensive prior knowledge of physics is not required.

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What's inside

Three courses

Phases of Matter: Solid, Liquid, Gas and Beyond

(0 hours)
Complex systems exhibit emergent phenomena, where simple rules lead to rich behavior. Condensed matter physics studies this emergence. This course introduces this physics of emergence.

Universal Theories

(0 hours)
This course introduces the notion of universality, whereby a large zoo of seemingly disparate systems can be described by the same theory. It introduces a powerful and widely applicable concept known as renormalization group which explains where this universality comes from. It introduces some paradigmatic frameworks underpinning condensed matter physics, including band structure and the quasiparticle concept.

Modern Topics in Condensed Matter Physics

(0 hours)
This course introduces superconductivity and explores modern topics in quantum condensed matter physics, including fractionalization, anyon statistics, topology, and non-equilibrium phases.

Learning objectives

  • Define a phase of matter.
  • Identify phases of matter using notions of symmetry, topology and renormalization.
  • Apply ideas from condensed matter physics to understand complex phenomena in the natural world.
  • Explain key open frontiers for condensed matter physics.

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