Condensed matter Definition and 176 Threads

Condensed matter physics is the field of physics that deals with the macroscopic and microscopic physical properties of matter, especially the solid and liquid phases which arise from electromagnetic forces between atoms. More generally, the subject deals with "condensed" phases of matter: systems of many constituents with strong interactions between them. More exotic condensed phases include the superconducting phase exhibited by certain materials at low temperature, the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases of spins on crystal lattices of atoms, and the Bose–Einstein condensate found in ultracold atomic systems. Condensed matter physicists seek to understand the behavior of these phases by experiments to measure various material properties, and by applying the physical laws of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, and other theories to develop mathematical models.
The diversity of systems and phenomena available for study makes condensed matter physics the most active field of contemporary physics: one third of all American physicists self-identify as condensed matter physicists, and the Division of Condensed Matter Physics is the largest division at the American Physical Society. The field overlaps with chemistry, materials science, engineering and nanotechnology, and relates closely to atomic physics and biophysics. The theoretical physics of condensed matter shares important concepts and methods with that of particle physics and nuclear physics.A variety of topics in physics such as crystallography, metallurgy, elasticity, magnetism, etc., were treated as distinct areas until the 1940s, when they were grouped together as solid state physics. Around the 1960s, the study of physical properties of liquids was added to this list, forming the basis for the more comprehensive specialty of condensed matter physics. The Bell Telephone Laboratories was one of the first institutes to conduct a research program in condensed matter physics.

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  1. K

    Higher Math for Condensed Matter

    So, I am an incoming MS student interested in going into condensed matter theory. I have always been more comfortable running C++ or FORTRAN simulations or crunching contour integrals than doing math proofs. I only gained the interest in CMT relatively late in my undergraduate career when I...
  2. A

    Condensed matter problem with Feynman integral

    Im working on deriving the final expression on the attached picture. The problem is that of a particle in a potential coupled to a "bath" of harmonic oscillators but I'm not sure how you arrive at the final expression. First of all, why are you allowed to assume that q is periodic on the...
  3. J

    Huh? Condensates can exchange particles without effect?

    I have now seen it repeated multiple times that a particle (a fermion, perhaps?) moving in a condensate can exchange particles (bosons, most probably) "without effect" -- the version of this that I run into usually goes something like that the energy of the condensate does not change AT ALL...
  4. AJBMuir

    Intro Physics Best textbooks on condensed matter physics?

    Looking for textbook recommendations for condensed matter physics at both undergrad and graduate level. Preferably to self teach with, and including questions/answers.
  5. 1

    Estimating Resistivity of Amorphous Metal - Condensed Matter

    Homework Statement Estimate the resistivity of an amorphous metal whose mean free path is of the order of an atomic spacing. Compare your answer to crystalline copper.Homework Equations VF = h(bar) KF / m VF = l / τ ρ = m / n e2 τ The Attempt at a Solution I think my real issue with this...
  6. chikou24i

    What you study in Condensed matter physics

    Hello! Could someone tell me what they are studying in the first three years (undergradute) in condensed matter physics.
  7. 1

    Calculating The Fermi Energy - Condensed Matter Physics

    Homework Statement Calculate the Fermi energy, EF at 0K for potassium (atomic weight = 39, density = 860 kgm3). Homework Equations KF3 = 3π2n Fermi Momentum ρ = h(bar)KF The Attempt at a Solution :[/B] For the first part: Using: E = ρ2/ 2m Can substitute Fermi momentum into that to get: EF...
  8. Sivasakthi

    Choosing appropriate length scale in condensed matter

    Hi.. I was reading some papers on continuum dynamics and its application to various material dynamics. The determination of macroscopic behavior is being studied , considering phononic interactions. As a material consists of phonons of various wavelengths, it is necessary to account for various...
  9. B

    Help please -- Is my list okay so far for Condensed Matter? (grad app.)

    Hey Everyone, Would appreciate any advice or suggestions. I know that I do not have many "safeties", but that is because I am applying to a bunch of master's programs (not physics /because of research interest) Physics GPA: 3.5ish ( No grade lower than a B... lots of advanced courses!)...
  10. 1

    Applying condensed matter physics/ soft matter physics to medicine

    What are some ways that people are applying condensed matter physics/ soft matter physics to optimize some treatments in medicine, e.g. in magnetic hypothermia?
  11. 1

    Research areas in condensed matter physics

    What are some exciting research areas in condensed matter physics at the moment?
  12. P

    Useful skills/math courses in condensed matter physics

    Greetings PF! I am in good mood, and I wish you were as well. Everything has been going well since the beginning of the semester: I've been doing well in the three core courses so far, and I am also about to get into research soon hopefully; but not in my initial interest of particle, but in...
  13. M

    Job aspects, medical physics or experimental condensed matter physics

    Hi all It may sound rather silly, but I am a second year graduate student doing experimental condensed matter physics. Recently I've been thinking about the future like job aspects and salaries etc. One of my friend recently transferred to medical physics PhD and said its better in job...
  14. A

    Master in Condensed Matter Physics or Astrophysics

    Hi guys, I have a bachelor's degree in IT (software development, BAC+3), I am 27 years old and I live in Europe. I've always love space and astrophysics but I am interested in physics in general. I decided to go back to school to get a degree in physics but I am not quite sure about which...
  15. S

    Fermi energy condensed matter exam problem

    Homework Statement Hello, I am preparing a condensed matter exam and I was wondering if I could get some help on the following question from a past exam paper: Show that for the free electron gas at zero temperature the Fermi energy is given by: ε_{F}=\frac{\hbar^{2}}{2m}(3π^{2}N)^{2/3} and...
  16. R

    Calculating the saturation magnetic moment (Condensed Matter)

    Show that the experimental data are consistent with a Lande g factor of 2 for each of the ions by calculating the saturation magnetic moment. Explain what this means for Cr. I've calculated J using Hunds rules and have the equation M = gμJn, where M is the saturation magnetic moment. BUT...
  17. C

    Is AMO the Right Fit for My Physics Research Career?

    I got into a top PHD institution for condensed matter physics. I already have a MS in physics doing condensed matter. Now after a few years of actual research, I'm not sure if condensed matter is for me anymore. I feel like a lot of condensed matter physics right now is just pressing a button on...
  18. I

    U Chicago, Cornell or UIUC for experimental condensed matter physics?

    Hello, Grad school admissions are about over, and it looks like I will be choosing between UIUC, Cornell, or U Chicago for CME. I have research fellowships from Cornell and U Chicago, still waiting for financial details from UIUC. I'll visit UC and Cornell over spring break, but location...
  19. B

    Recommend any good Condensed Matter Physics books please?

    Hi all. Can anyone please recommend me a good undergraduate level Condensed Matter Physics book that has a number of examples and concise explanations rather than walls of texts? It should cover typical topics such as scattering, magnetism etc. I apologize if this may strike a nerve with...
  20. W

    What Are the Top Condensed Matter REU Programs?

    I'm looking for an REU program to do over the summer in hard condensed matter. Some connection with quantum information/ quantum computing would be awesome, but not necessary. Does anyone have any recommendations?
  21. H

    Discrete 3-particle system - Condensed Matter Pysics

    1. The problem statement, all variables and givenknown data We have a system of three atoms arranged in a circular arrangements. They each have a valence electron that can tunnel to the nearest neighbor. For a tunneling rate -A/\hbar we have the Hamiltonian (shifted by an energy E_a on the...
  22. T

    Particles QFT for condensed matter physicist (should I?)

    Hi, I would like to ask whether if a course in Quantum Field Theory (in particle physics context) would be of any use to future condensed matter physicist. Is it beneficial to be exposed to things like Canonical Quantization, Interacting Fields, Dirac Equation, Quantizing Dirac field and QED? I...
  23. NATURE.M

    Physics Job prospects for condensed matter physicists

    From reading this thread, it demonstrates a rather pessimistic view of physics (at least in relation to job employment). Would you say that similar job prospects are true, not only for cosmologists but even condensed matter physicists?
  24. R

    Density of States (Condensed Matter)

    Homework Statement I need some help with the following problem: Homework Equations ##\rho(k) dk = \frac{L}{\pi} dk## ##L=Na## ##\omega^2= \omega_m^2 \ sin^2 (qa/2)## The Attempt at a Solution The density of states is given by: ##g(\omega)= \rho (k) / \frac{dw}{dk}## Where...
  25. B

    Best quantum mechanics text for reference in condensed matter theory

    Hi everyone, I would like to ask if anyone can recommend a quantum mechanics textbook as reference for a condensed matter theorist. I am reading a book that requires material I do not remember seeing in my (voluminous) grad QM text (Shankar). It seems to me all quantum textbooks have their...
  26. T

    Condensed Matter: Thermal Expansion coeff. using diffraction angles

    Homework Statement At a temperature of 18°C a beam of diffracted monochromatic x-rays is observed at an angle of 150.8° to the incident beam after being diffracted by a crystal with cubic structure. At a temperature of 318°C the corresponding beam makes an angle of 141.6° with the incident...
  27. L

    Condensed Matter 'Problem Books'

    I've been looking for a condensed matter problem book (undergrad to graduate level) to brush up on a lot of things. I have Kittel and Ashcroft & Mermin but was looking for something more along the lines of 'A Guide to Physics Problems' to get right to the heart of problem solving. I see...
  28. Y

    Intersection of Condensed Matter Physics, EE and Technology

    Greetings! I am currently trying to focus my research interests before I begin applying to grad schools this coming fall. When it comes to Physics, I really enjoy Condensed Matter and everything related to it (say, Thermal Physics, Statistical Physics etc). I also took an Electronics...
  29. S

    Switching from High Energy Physics to condensed matter theory

    Hello, I am a master student, currently starting a master thesis on plasma astrophysics after a master focused on high energy theory (lots of QFT and particle physics, with some supersymmetry, string theory...). I already have funding to continue my master thesis as a PhD, but I am getting...
  30. D

    Physics Computational Condensed Matter Physics

    Hi, I'm in my senior year, planning on going to grad school and get a PhD. At this point, I'm pretty much set on computational and/or theoretical condensed matter physics (with an emphasis on computation). However, two people have given me the impression that experimental condensed matter is...
  31. D

    Physics Job Prospects for Ph.D. Holders in Condensed Matter Physics

    Hello, all. I'm considering applying to Ph.D. programs in experimental condensed matter physics. My general research interests would be in the electrical and optical properties of materials, particularly semiconductors and nanostructures, and their applications to information and solar energy...
  32. D

    Condensed matter - Is quantum effects relevant.

    a) Are quantum effects relevant for the air around us? "Formulas": The Fermi energy of athmosperic air: \epsilon_F = \dfrac{\hbar^2}{2m_{air}}(3\pi^2C)^{2/3} Attempt to solve: I calculated the fermi energy to : \epsilon_F = 1\times 10^{-25}\,\text{J} And k_bT = k_b 293\,\text{K} = 4\times...
  33. D

    Schools Graduate schools for Condensed Matter Physics

    Hi, I am planning on applying to graduate school for condensed matter physics. I'm not entirely sure how I should narrow down my choices though. I have a good GPA, three summers of research experience in different areas (though no publications as of yet, but hoping to have one possibly before...
  34. I

    Learning condensed matter with a high-energy background

    Hi, I just finished my master in theoretical physics with a strong interest in quantum mechanics and relativity. I always picked the courses that where more or less related to that: qft, cft, gr, critical phenomenas, particle physics, qcd, electroweak, statistical physics, susy. But now, I'd...
  35. Y

    Solid State / Condensed Matter Books

    I am looking for some suggestions for Condensed Matter and Solid State books. I currently have a one semester undergrad (soon to be two semesters) of Quantum Mechanics background. I am especially skewed toward something along the lines of Dover books, since they are cheap, and some of them are...
  36. R

    Math for Condensed Matter or Materials Science Theory

    I am a Physics major/ Math minor and would like to know what sort of undergrad upper-level math classes would be the most useful for Condensed Matter or Materials Science Theory?
  37. W

    Condensed Matter Super-Radiant Phase Transition

    Is anyone familiar with this or heard of this concept before? It started in 1953 by a paper by Dicke published in peer reviewed Physical Review Journal called "Coherence in Spontaneous Radiation Processes" http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PR/v93/i1/p99_1 Then in 1973 Hepp and Lieb published...
  38. L

    Master in Condensed Matter Physics

    Hi, I'm looking for a Master Degree (2 years) in Condensed Matter Physics (Theory oriented if possible), starting in Autumn 2012. I was thinking about Europe (e.g. Germany, France), but unfortunately I don't know the most active Universities in this field of research, for this reason I'm asking...
  39. H

    Symmetric and Asymmetric Electron Wave Functions in a Proton-Electron System

    1. Homework Statement [/b] 1. Consider two protons, separated by a distance R, and one electron. Assume that the electron wave function can be symmetric, s, or asymmetric, a, with: ψs = Ns( ψ1 + ψ2); ψa = Na( ψ1 - ψ2): Here 1 and 2 are the electron wave functions for large R when...
  40. R

    Books on properties of matter (condensed matter?)

    I'm mainly looking for how "real" life properties are explained. I'm looking for a book on the properties of matter. Something that covers the why liquids flow, the detailed properties of water, how different colors come about, etc, properties of solids, etc. Why are soft things soft? Stuff...
  41. E

    [Book?] Scattering processes in Condensed Matter

    Hi guys, i know that there are Feynman diagrams in condensed matter around. As far as i understood it they are used to calculate Green's functions but as we all know from qft Feynman diagrams can also be used to calculated scattering amplitudes...so, i wonder if there is a book around with...
  42. C

    What is condensed matter theory?

    Could someone with some familiarity with condensed matter theory explain what exactly it involves? I'm not asking without having done research: I've looked at a lot of faculty pages at various universities looking for what people who call themselves condensed matter theorists do. So far I've...
  43. A

    Programs PhD, Quantum Information and Condensed Matter Physics

    Hi everybody, I ve been thinking a lot lately about the thesis I am supposed to start next year. I will study the categoric formulation for quantum mechanics, polytope correlations and links with the complexity theory (post quantum models etc). But on the other hand, I find my courses on...
  44. I

    Why QFT in condensed matter physics?

    I am currently following a course of condensed matter physics and quite enjoying it. But after doig some research I found that many book deal with QFT applied to condensed matter. I wonder what all the calculus of QFT is needed to describe those phenomenas. I kinda feel that relativistic...
  45. G

    Master in Condensed Matter Physics

    Hello! I would like to know which Universities in the world have an excellent Master in Condensed Matter Physics?. I am aware that this question is not very precise, because the answers will very personal. Nevertheless, I would like to hear them. Thanks for taking your time to help me.
  46. D

    Pop books on Optics, Condensed Matter, and all other non sexy areas of Physics

    Pop books on Optics, Condensed Matter, and all other non "sexy" areas of Physics There's so many pop books on Quantum Mechanics (Philosophical implications), General Relativity, and The Theory of Everything, but are there any pop books on subjects like Condensed Matter, Materials Science...
  47. atyy

    Condensed matter physics, area laws & LQG?

    I think Markopoulou and Oriti have been sniffing this out a long time. Note that Wen has heuristically linked tensor networks and AdS/CFT (strings!) in the final slide of http://dao.mit.edu/~wen/talks/09QHtop.pdf. http://arxiv.org/abs/0907.2994 Tensor network decompositions in the presence...
  48. H

    Specialize in condensed matter physics

    can one without knowledge of chemistry(high school knowledge) and only having little experimental experience specialize in condensed matter physics?
  49. B

    Job Prospects for Theoretical Condensed Matter

    Hi, I was wondering if the job-market for a theoretical condensed matter physicist is any better than the other branches of theoretical physics (e.g., particle and astro-physics). At first glance: it seems so, given how applied a branch of physics it is.
  50. B

    Programs Phd in Condensed Matter or Particle Physics?

    I'm a final year BSc Maths & Physics student and need to start applying for MSc's this autumn. My problem is, I don't know whether to study for a particle physics MSc or a generalist physics/applied maths MSc. I am currently doing a research project in CMT and I'm liking it a lot, but I have no...
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