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This book covers basic and advanced aspects in the field of Topological Matter. The chapters are based on the lectures presented during the Topological Matter School 2017. It provides graduate level content introducing the basic concepts of the field, including an introductory session on group theory and topological classification of matter. Different topological phases such as Weyls semi-metals, Majoranas fermions and topological superconductivity are also covered. A review chapter on the major experimental achievements in the field is also provided. The book is suitable not only for master, graduate and young postdoctoral researchers, but also to senior scientists who want to acquaint themselves with the subject.

This thesis elucidates electron correlation effects in topological matter whose electronic states hold nontrivial topological properties robust against small perturbations. In addition to a comprehensive introduction to topological matter, this thesis provides a new perspective on correlated topological matter. The book comprises three subjects, in which electron correlations in different forms are considered. The first focuses on Coulomb interactions for massless Dirac fermions. Using a perturbative approach, the author reveals emergent Lorentz invariance in a low-energy limit and discusses how to probe the Lorentz invariance experimentally. The second subject aims to show a principle for synthesizing topological insulators with common, light elements. The interplay between the spin–orbit interaction and electron correlation is considered, and Hund's rule and electron filling are consequently found to play a key role for a strong spin–orbit interaction important for topological insulators. The last subject is classification of topological crystalline insulators in the presence of electron correlation. Unlike non-interacting topological insulators, such two- and three-dimensional correlated insulators with mirror symmetry are demonstrated to be characterized, respectively, by the Z4 and Z8 group by using the bosonization technique and a geometrical consideration.

A groundbreaking conception of interactive media, inspired by continuity, field, and process, with fresh implications for art, computer science, and philosophy of technology.In this challenging but exhilarating work, Sha Xin Wei argues for an approach to materiality inspired by continuous mathematics and process philosophy. Investigating the implications of such an approach to media and matter in the concrete setting of installation- or event-based art and technology, Sha maps a genealogy of topological media—that is, of an articulation of continuous matter that relinquishes a priori objects, subjects, and egos and yet constitutes value and novelty. Doing so, he explores the ethico-aesthetic consequences of topologically creating performative events and computational media. Sha's interdisciplinary investigation is informed by thinkers ranging from Heraclitus to Alfred North Whitehead to Gilbert Simondon to Alain Badiou to Donna Haraway to Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari.Sha traces the critical turn from representation to performance, citing a series of installation-events envisioned and built over the past decade. His analysis offers a fresh way to conceive and articulate interactive materials of new media, one inspired by continuity, field, and philosophy of process. Sha explores the implications of this for philosophy and social studies of technology and science relevant to the creation of research and art. Weaving together philosophy, aesthetics, critical theory, mathematics, and media studies, he shows how thinking about the world in terms of continuity and process can be informed by computational technologies, and what such thinking implies for emerging art and technology.

This thesis presents the first systematic electron transport investigation of rhombohedral graphite (RG) films and thus lies at the interface of graphene physics, vdW heterostructure devices and topological matter. Electron transport investigation into the rhombohedral phase of graphite was limited to a few layers of graphene due to the competing hexagonal phase being more abundant. This work reports that in exfoliated natural graphite films, rhombohedral domains of up to 50 layers can be found. In the low energy limit, these domains behave as an N-layer generalisation of graphene. Moreover, being a potential alternative to twisted bilayer graphene systems, RG films show a spontaneous metal-insulator transition, with characteristic symmetry properties that could be described by mean-field theory where superconductivity is also predicted in these low energy bands. A nodal-line semimetal in the bulk limit, RG thin films are a 3D generalisation of the simplest topological insulator model:the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain. Similar to the more usual topological insulators, RG films exhibit parallel conduction of bulk states, which undergo three-dimensional quantum transport that reflects bulk topology.

The ideal textbook for a one-semester introductory course for graduate students or advanced undergraduatesThis book provides an essential introduction to the physics of quantum many-body systems, which are at the heart of atomic and nuclear physics, condensed matter, and particle physics. Unlike other textbooks on the subject, it covers topics across a broad range of physical fields—phenomena as well as theoretical tools—and does so in a simple and accessible way.Edward Shuryak begins with Feynman diagrams of the quantum and statistical mechanics of a particle; in these applications, the diagrams are easy to calculate and there are no divergencies. He discusses the renormalization group and illustrates its uses, and covers systems such as weakly and strongly coupled Bose and Fermi gases, electron gas, nuclear matter, and quark-gluon plasmas. Phenomena include Bose condensation and superfluidity. Shuryak also looks at Cooper pairing and superconductivity for electrons in metals, liquid ³He, nuclear matter, and quark-gluon plasma. A recurring topic throughout is topological matter, ranging from ensembles of quantized vortices in superfluids and superconductors to ensembles of colored (QCD) monopoles and instantons in the QCD vacuum.Proven in the classroom, Quantum Many-Body Physics in a Nutshell is the ideal textbook for a one-semester introductory course for graduate students or advanced undergraduates.Teaches students how quantum many-body systems work across many fields of physicsUses path integrals from the very beginningFeatures the easiest introduction to Feynman diagrams availableDraws on the most recent findings, including trapped Fermi and Bose atomic gasesGuides students from traditional systems, such as electron gas and nuclear matter, to more advanced ones, such as quark-gluon plasma and the QCD vacuum

This book provides an introduction to topological matter with a focus on insulating bulk systems. A number of prerequisite concepts and tools are first laid out, including the notion of symmetry transformations, the band theory of semiconductors and aspects of electronic transport. The main part of the book discusses realistic models for both time-reversal-preserving and -violating topological insulators, as well as their characteristic responses to external perturbations. Special emphasis is given to the study of the anomalous electric, thermal, and thermoelectric transport properties, the theory of orbital magnetisation, and the polar Kerr effect. The topological models studied throughout this book become unified and generalised by means of the tenfold topological-classification framework and the respective systematic construction of topological invariants. This approach is further extended to topological superconductors and topological semimetals. This book covers a wide range of topics and aims at the transparent presentation of the technical aspects involved. For this purpose, homework problems are also provided in dedicated Hands-on sections. Given its structure and the required background level of the reader, this book is particularly recommended for graduate students or researchers who are new to the field.

This book offers a theoretical description of topological matter in terms of effective field theories, and in particular topological field theories, focusing on two main topics: topological superconductors and topological insulators.Even though there is vast literature on these subjects, the book fills an important gap by providing a concise introduction to both topological order and symmetry-protected phases using a modern mathematical language, and developing the theoretical concepts by highlighting the physics and the physical properties of the systems. Further, it discusses in detail the topological interactions for topologically ordered matter, and the response to smooth external fields for symmetry protected matter. The book also covers more specialized topics that cannot be found elsewhere. Specifically, the response of superconductors to geometry, including the newly discovered geo-Meissner effect; and a correction to the usual Meissner effect, only present in the topologically interesting chiral superconductors.

Is there a connection between the environmental, climate, and political crises facing us today and Western dualism? By critically examining the subject/object dualism that has supported Western philosophy and aesthetics since the 17th century, Nicola Perullo presents a relational and co-operative account of aesthetic experience and human existence.Exploring science, ontology and aesthetics through the perspectives of quantum physics'relational interpretation and non-dualistic philosophies, Perullo draws on Western theories in anthropology and cultural traditions such as Buddhism and Daoism. We see how the ontology supported by dualism renders the world to consist of static, solid, and discrete things, making them vulnerable to be controlled, dominated, and possessed. In Perullo's ground-breaking analysis an alternative way of perceiving is offered: the “haptic” modality which is guided by cooperation, communication, and correspondence. Such a mode of perception and experience is ecological, precluding the possibility of domination, hierarchy, and exploitation. This challenge to the ramifications of the subject-object model, the very cornerstone of Western thought, is an exciting invitation to rethink the purpose of philosophizing and its impact on life.

'Can you kick a black hole?''What about electrons?'As a child, quantum-physicist Smitha Vishveshwara pondered such questions with her astrophysicist father, C. V. Vishveshwara (Vishu); decades later, their musings grew into a series of letter exchanges in Two Revolutions: Relativity and Quantum Physics. The letters between father and daughter lead the scientifically curious reader through these two remarkable branches of physics that dramatically changed our perception of nature. From the subatomic to the astronomical realms, they weave a rich tapestry of scientific insight, history, personal anecdotes, philosophy, and wonder. The book traces Einstein's tenacious journey in formulating the theory of relativity, in which space and time merge, and gravitation warps spacetime, forming the very fabric of the Universe. The authors reveal how black holes and gravitational waves emerge as bizarre and awe-inspiring constructs within this framework. In the quantum realm, the book mulls over conundrums posed by wave-particle duality, Schrodinger's curious cat, the beautiful dance of electrons in atoms, and entanglement. It explores communities of particles acting in marvelous concert in magnetic resonance imaging, superfluids, and more. Fate took unforeseen twists while the book was still in the making. In 2016, after decades of work by numerous researchers, the detection of gravitational waves — Vishu's lifelong dream — finally came to pass. Emanating from two spiraling blackholes a billion light years away, the waves'signals even showed hints of Vishu's pioneering predictions on black hole ringdowns from the 1970s. But soon after that glorious culmination, Vishu fell critically ill. Smitha concludes their story by recreating the euphoria of scientific discovery against the intimate backdrop of life and death.

This textbook introduces topological defects and solitons at a level suitable for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in physics and materials science. It avoids the formal mathematics of topology, and instead concentrates on the physical properties of these topological structures. The first half of the book concentrates on fundamental principles of defects and solitons, and illustrates these principles with a single example—the xy model for 2D magnetic order. It begins by defining the concept of a winding number, and uses this concept to describe the topology of defects (vortices or disclinations) and solitons (domain walls), carefully identifying the similarities and differences between these two types of topological structures. It then goes on to discuss physical properties of defects and solitons, including free energy, dynamics, statistical mechanics, and coupling with curvature. It shows how these concepts emerge from a theory with variable magnitude of order, and hence how topology can be viewed as an approximation to physics. The second half goes on to explore a wider range of topological defects and solitons. First, it considers more complex types of order—2D nematic liquid crystals, 3D magnetic or liquid-crystal order, 2D or 3D crystalline solids—and shows how each type of order leads to specific topological structures. Next, it discusses defects and solitons that are characterized by 2D or 3D measuring surfaces, not just 1D loops, including hedgehogs, skyrmions, and hopfions. These structures are more complex, but they can still be understood using the same fundamental principles. A final chapter describes the formation of phases with regular arrays of defects or solitons.

This thesis describes key contributions to the fundamental understanding of materials structure and dynamics from a microscopic perspective. In particular, the thesis reports several advancements in time-domain methodologies using ultrafast pulses from X-ray free-electron lasers (FEL) to probe the interactions between electrons and phonons in photoexcited materials. Using femtosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction, the author quantifies the coherent atomic motion trajectory upon sudden excitation of carriers in SnSe. This allows the reconstruction of the nonequilibrium lattice structure and identification of a novel lattice instability towards a higher-symmetry structure not found in equilibrium. This is followed by an investigation of the excited-state phonon dispersion in SnSe using time-resolved X-ray diffuse scattering which enables important insight into how photoexcitation alters the strength of specific bonds leading to the novel lattice instability observed in X-ray diffraction. Finally, by combining ultrafast X-ray diffraction and ARPES, the author performs quantitative measurements of electron-phonon coupling in Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se3. The findings highlight the importance of time-resolved X-ray scattering techniques based on FELs, which reveals the details of interplay between electron orbitals, atomic bonds, and structural instabilities. The microscopic information of electron phonon interaction obtained from these methods can rationalize ways to control materials and to design their functional properties.

The proposed book will be a “one-stop” place for all the young material researchers to understand the recent and reliable material making process, characterization, and reliability test tools. The proposed book is designed to provide basic knowledge to understand and analyse structure-property relationship for reliable emerging material systems for next generation of semiconductor technologies.The book is suggested to engineers and scientists across the world working on various new and novel materials for reliable semiconductor device applications. The book is expected to serve as a reference guide for young scientists and engineers in the field of material science and electronic engineers to acquire latest state-of-art experimental and computational tools to encourage their research activities.Since the scope of the book is generic, the book can be referred by all the students of science and engineering students to create a common awareness about the latest material systems and state-of-art characterization tools that have been broadly utilized to study the physical and chemical properties of different material systems.It introduces the readers to a wide variety of new emerging materials systems including their synthesis, fabrication, measurement, reliability test, modelling and simulations with in-depth analysis of selective applications.This book contains the state-of-art research updates in the various fields of semiconductor, artificial intelligence (AI), bio-sensor, biotechnology, with respect to reliable material research. Therefore, various students who are eager to get a job in semiconductor/AI/Autonomous car/biotechnology are strongly recommended to read this book and learn about related state-of-art knowledge.

What is'topological'about topological quantum states? How many types of topological quantum phases are there? What is a zero-energy Majorana mode, how can it be realized in a solid-state system, and how can it be used as a platform for topological quantum computation? What is quantum computation and what makes it different from classical computation?Addressing these and other related questions, Introduction to Topological Quantum Matter & Quantum Computation provides an introduction to and a synthesis of a fascinating and rapidly expanding research field emerging at the crossroads of condensed matter physics, mathematics, and computer science. Providing the big picture and emphasizing two major new paradigms in condensed matter physics – quantum topology and quantum information – this book is ideal for graduate students and researchers entering this field, as it allows for the fruitful transfer of ideas amongst different areas, and includes many specific examples to help the reader understand abstract and sometimes challenging concepts. It explores the topological quantum world beyond the well-known topological insulators and superconductors and unveils the deep connections with quantum computation. It addresses key principles behind the classification of topological quantum phases and relevant mathematical concepts and discusses models of interacting and noninteracting topological systems, such as the toric code and the p-wave superconductor. The book also covers the basic properties of anyons, and aspects concerning the realization of topological states in solid state structures and cold atom systems.Topological quantum computation is also presented using a broad perspective, which includes elements of classical and quantum information theory, basic concepts in the theory of computation, such as computational models and computational complexity, examples of quantum algorithms, and key ideas underlying quantum computation with anyons. This new edition has been updated throughout, with exciting new discussions on crystalline topological phases, including higher-order topological insulators; gapless topological phases, including Weyl semimetals; periodically-driven topological insulators; and a discussion of axion electrodynamics in topological materials.Key Features:· Provides an accessible introduction to this exciting, cross-disciplinary area of research.· Fully updated throughout with new content on the latest result from the field.· Authored by an authority on the subject.Tudor Stanescu is a professor of Condensed Matter Theory at West Virginia University, USA. He received a B.S. in Physics from the University of Bucharest, Romania, in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 2002. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Rutgers University and at the University of Maryland from 2003 to 2009. He joined the Department of Physics and Astronomy at West Virginia University in Fall 2009. Prof. Stanescu's research interests encompass a variety of topics in theoretical condensed matter physics including topological insulators and superconductors, topological quantum computation, ultra-cold atom systems in optical lattices, and strongly correlated materials, such as, for example, cuprate high-temperature superconductors. His research uses a combination of analytical and numerical tools and focuses on understanding the emergence of exotic states of matter in solid state and cold atom structures, for example, topological superconducting phases that host Majorana zero modes, and on investigating the possibilities of exploiting these states as physical platforms for quantum computation.

This open access book presents a comprehensive exploration of diffusion metamaterials that control energy and mass diffusion. Currently, if from the perspective of governing equations, diffusion metamaterials and wave metamaterials (pioneered by J. B. Pendry in the 1990s) are recognised as the two most prominent branches in the field of metamaterials. These two branches differ in their emphasis on the diffusion equation (as the governing equation) and time-dependent characteristic lengths in diffusion metamaterials, as opposed to the wave equation (as the governing equation) and time-independent characteristic lengths in wave metamaterials. Organized into three distinct parts –'Thermal Diffusion Metamaterials','Particle Diffusion Metamaterials', and'Plasma Diffusion Metamaterials'– this book offers a rigorous exploration spanning physics, engineering, and materials science, aimed at advancing our understanding of diffusion processes controlled by diffusion metamaterials. Incorporating foundational theory, computational simulations, and laboratory experiments, the book equips researchers and scholars across these disciplines with comprehensive methods, insights, and results pivotal to the advancement of diffusion control. Beyond facilitating interdisciplinary discourse, the book serves as a catalyst for innovative breakthroughs at the crossroads of physics, thermodynamics, and materials science. Essentially, readers will acquire profound insights that empower them to spearhead advancements in diffusion science (diffusionics) and the engineering of metamaterials.

A topological insulator is an area that has yet to be fully explored and developed. The charge-induced bandgap fluctuation in the best-known bismuth-chalcogenide-based topological insulators is approximately 10MeV in magnitude. The major focus has shifted to the investigation of the presence of high-symmetry electronic bands as well as the utilization of easily produced materials. As the subject of topological insulators is still in the nascent stage, there is growing research and knowledge in the emerging field. This book is intended to provide the readers with an understanding of the needs and application of these materials. Keywords: Topological Insulators, Insulators, One-Dimensional Topological Insulators, Graphene, Magnetic Topological Insulator, Antiferromagnetic Phase, Ferromagnetic Phase, Topological Superconductor, Nonlinear Optical Behavior, Saturable Absorber, Quantum, Band Gap, Photonic Topological Insulators.

In The Fold, Laura U. Marks offers a practical philosophy and aesthetic theory for living in an infinitely connected cosmos. Drawing on the theories of Leibniz, Glissant, Deleuze, and theoretical physicist David Bohm—who each conceive of the universe as being folded in on itself in myriad ways—Marks contends that the folds of the cosmos are entirely constituted of living beings. From humans to sandwiches to software to stars, every entity is alive and occupies its own private enclosure inside the cosmos. Through analyses of fiction, documentary and experimental movies, interactive media, and everyday situations, Marks outlines embodied methods for detecting and augmenting the connections between each living entity and the cosmos. She shows that by affectively mediating with the ever-shifting folded relations within the cosmos, it is possible to build “soul-assemblages” that challenge information capitalism, colonialism, and other power structures and develop new connections with the infinite. With this guide for living within the enfolded and unfolding cosmos, Marks teaches readers to richly apprehend the world and to trace the processes of becoming that are immanent within the fold.

'High-order harmonics emerging from the interaction of strong laser fields with solid matter constitute a novel, highly sensitive tool for interrogating electronic structure and dynamics in solids. At the interface of attosecond physics and condensed matter physics, this book provides an excellent overview of the current state of the art.'Ferenc KrauszNobel Laureate in Physics, 2023High-order harmonic generation (HHG) in solids, the nonlinear upconversion of coherent radiation resulting from the interaction of a strong and short laser pulse with bulk matter, has come of age. Since the seminal experiments and theoretical developments, there has been a constant and vibrant interest in this topic. In this book, we invite experimental and theoretical experts in the field with the aim to summarize the progress made so far and propose new possibilities and prospects for the generation of high-order harmonics using solid samples. Nowadays, it is possible to engineer, both spatially and temporally with nanometric and attosecond resolution, the driven fields. This could bring solid HHG to the next exciting frontier as novel and fully tunable table-top coherent sources.

This comprehensive book delves into the fascinating world of quasiparticle properties of graphene-related materials. The authors thoroughly explore the intricate effects of intrinsic and extrinsic interactions on the material's properties, while unifying the single-particle and many-particle properties through the development of a theoretical framework. The book covers a wide range of research topics, including long-range Coulomb interactions, dynamic charge density waves, Friedel oscillations and plasmon excitations, as well as optical reflection and transmission spectra of thin films. Also it highlights the crucial roles of inelastic Coulomb scattering and optical scattering in the quasiparticle properties of layered systems, and the impact of crystal symmetry, number of layers, and stacking configuration on their uniqueness. Furthermore, the authors explore the topological properties of quasiparticles, including 2D time-reversal-symmetry protected topological insulators with quantum spin Hall effect, and rhombohedral graphite with Dirac nodal lines. Meanwhile, the book examines the gate potential application for creating topological localized states and shows topological invariants of 2D Dirac fermions, and binary Z2 topological invariants under chiral symmetry. The calculated results are consistent with the present experimental observations, establishing it as a valuable resource for individuals interested in the quasiparticle properties of novel materials.

This book deals with the discovery and explanation of the quantum Hall effect and its fundamental principles. It is meant for undergraduate and graduate students of physics, engineering, and applied sciences studying condensed matter physics. Doctoral students and researchers of this subject will also find it equally useful. It begins with a historical overview of this effect wherein the experiment and the physical systems are described. It progresses to cover discrete symmetries like inversion symmetry, time reversal symmetry, particle-hole symmetry, and chiral symmetry. It also examines how the Hamiltonian transforms under such symmetry operations. Two 1D models, namely the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model and a Kitaev chain with superconducting correlations, are discussed too. Then, the quantum Hall effect in graphene is explained. Further, the spin Hall effect is studied which may have prospects of using graphene as spintronic devices. The book ends with a brief review on fractional quantum Hall effect.

This thesis provides an in-depth investigation of effective non-Hermiticity and topology in many-mode, non-interacting, bosonic systems. It also establishes the extent to which one must move beyond the Hamiltonian, closed-system setting, in order to uncover signatures of genuine symmetry-protected topological (SPT) physics in'free'(mean-field) bosons. While SPT phases of free fermionic matter and their associated zero-energy boundary-localized modes have been thoroughly explored, similar physics in free bosonic systems still remains elusive. No fermionic counterpart exists for the distinctive dynamical behavior that arises from the effective non-Hermiticity, intrinsic even at equilibrium, to bosonic Hamiltonians. Therefore, a much needed paradigm shift is required to address major conceptual roadblocks in the search for SPT bosonic phases.The analysis within develops, in particular, the notion of topological metastability in quadratic bosonic systems subject to Markovian dissipation. The resulting dynamical paradigm was found to be characterized by both a sharp separation between transient and asymptotic dynamics and non-trivial topological invariants. It also features long-lived boundary-localized'Majorana boson'and'Dirac boson'modes, which realize tight bosonic analogues to the edge modes characteristic of fermionic SPT phases. This comprehensive look into non-interacting bosonic systems breaks important new ground for re-imagining quantum phenomena beyond equilibrium, with novel applications in quantum science.

Dynamic Relationality Theory of Creative Transformation: Grounding Machinic Ecosystems in Life Experiences introduces a visionary approach to understanding the evolving relationship between technology and human experiences. It delves into the transformative potential of Machinic Generalized Intelligence (MGI), where AI and human intelligence converge harmoniously, creating a new paradigm of interactive, machinic life experiences. This book challenges the traditional tech-centric view, advocating for a life and experience-first perspective. It presents the Dynamic Relationality Theory (DRT), a novel conceptual framework that redefines our interaction with technology, emphasizing cocreative, emergent experiences over mere digital platformization.Through an interdisciplinary approach combining philosophical insights and social theories with practical applications, this book navigates the complexities of digitalized life ecosystems, employing concepts and tools from assemblage theory, category theory, sheaf theory, differential topology, and gauge theory. For readers grappling with the complexities of AI and its societal implications, this book offers clarity and direction. It provides a robust theoretical framework to understand the changing landscape of human–technology interaction. Furthermore, it integrates philosophical insights and ethical considerations into the discussion of AI and technology, providing a well-rounded perspective that aids in ethical decision-making and responsible innovation. It also delves into practical applications and future implications of AI, aiding readers in applying these concepts in real-world scenarios.By moving beyond a purely technological focus, this book equips readers with the insights needed to navigate the ethical, philosophical, and practical challenges posed by the integration of AI into daily life. A crucial resource for academics, professionals, and policymakers, this book serves as a guide to making informed decisions and fostering responsible innovation in the age of AI. - Provides a novel and holistic approach—comprehensive framework of Dynamic Relationality Theory (DRT)—to understanding the interplay between AI and human experiences, helping readers grasp the complexities of this coevolution - Uses an interdisciplinary approach which integrates philosophical, sociological, and technological perspectives, offering a multifaceted view that is crucial for a deep understanding of the subject - Focuses on ethical and societal implications, guiding readers through the moral complexities of technology integration

High magnetic fields are a vital tool in many areas of science and technology that impact our everyday lives. Magnetic resonance imaging enables a wide range of medical diagnostics and research, while nuclear magnetic resonance is critical for drug discovery research and more. High magnetic fields are an essential component to many proposed fusion energy reactors and are necessary to push the boundaries towards the development of new quantum technologies and semiconductors. At the request of the National Science Foundation, the National Academies organized a study to identify scientific opportunities and key applications for high-magnetic-field science and technology for the next decade and beyond. This report explores the current state and future prospects for high-magnetic-field technologies and recommends actions to support the workforce, facilities, magnet development, and critical materials access necessary to promote U.S. innovation.

The book offers a pedagogical introduction to higher-spin gauge theories. These theories build upon fundamental gauge theories that are crucial for understanding core interactions. Electromagnetism and nuclear forces are associated with gauge fields of spin 1, while gravity can be conceptualized as a gauge theory of spin 2. This prompts the intriguing inquiry: do higher-spin gauge theories exist? Such theories would extend gravity, incorporating massless gauge fields of spins higher than two. They appear to bear connections to string theory and offer a captivating framework for exploring gravity and aspects of quantum gravity. The book initiates with a primer offering a comprehensive discussion on higher spins, delving into the challenges of establishing coherent interactions. It then explores methodologies to surmount these challenges within three-dimensional space-time. Furthermore, it investigates the emergence of asymptotic symmetry algebras, establishing links to a holographic dual conformal theory. The final chapter introduces Vasiliev's approach to higher-spin gauge theory in four dimensions. Designed for advanced students and young researchers in theoretical physics and mathematical physics, the book aims to elucidate fundamental ideas, concepts, and tools underpinning higher-spin gauge theories. The inclusion of numerous exercises complements and illustrates the content, preparing readers for engagement with the subject's original literature and ongoing developments. To fully engage with the book's arguments, a prerequisite understanding of field theories and conventional gauge theories, including gravity, is assumed.

A geometric figure has chirality, or handedness, if its mirror image cannot be brought to coincide with itself. The concept of chirality was instrumental in establishing the tetrahedral valences of the carbon atom, and has continued to play a key role in chemistry and molecular biology ever since.The fact that living organisms use only one of two mirror isomers of such molecules as amino acids and sugars, that is, the question of the origin of homochirality of the molecular basis of life, remains an unsolved problem of the same dignity as the origin of dark matter and dark energy.The increasing importance of chirality and topology in condensed matter physics and chemistry, and the production of new states of matter in heavy-ion collisions, have brought the concept of chirality into physics and cosmology in a tangible way while at the same time expanded the physics/chemistry interface. The book is the first to address all aspects of chirality in a single volume.

Driven by the advent of two-dimensional materials, valleytronics is emerging as the next hot field of research in materials science. While the use of charge or spin degrees of freedom in electronic materials as information carriers is familiar and well-appreciated, employment of the valley degree of freedom as an information carrier has remained elusive for many decades. Shortly following the discovery of isolated graphene, 2D semiconductors such as transition metal dichalcogenides were also isolated and investigated. We now understand that these materials can have separately addressable valleys because each valley can be uniquely coupled to a spin state. This imparts the ability to address different valleys (like pseudospins) with electric field, magnetic field, or light, and there is now a real possibility to engineer practical devices based on using valley as the information carrier.Valleytronics in 2D Materials is the first book in the world on the topic of valleytronics. The reader is introduced to the concept via a brief history emphasizing the challenges that impeded its development for so long. We then dive into the valley physics of 2D semiconductors to explain the recent excitement in 2D valleytronics, the scientific investigations to confirm the addressable valleys, and the attempts to engineer valley devices for practical purposes. The text takes on a decidedly practical approach towards the subject, seeking to bring the reader quickly into the field by presenting the minimum theoretical basis for understanding the use of the valley degree of freedom in devices. A selection of key works establishing the scientific underpinnings of valley addressability and control are described to help the reader grasp the current stage of understanding, the technical foundations established, and the open questions. The renewal in valleytronics is yet unfinished, but with more than a decade of research and engineering efforts devoted in recent times, this book seeks to provide a timely reference for students, scientists and engineers to join this exciting journey and perhaps help to create the next disruption in information technology.

Encyclopedia of Condensed Matter Physics, Second Edition, Five Volume Set is an authoritative and comprehensive expansion of the classic 2005 work, delivering over 300 brand new or fully updated articles focused on core theoretical discoveries and modern applications. Meticulously planned and structured into approximately 60 sections, the book allows the user to quickly gain a solid footing in the key theoretical aspects of quantum mechanics, mechanics, electrodynamics, relativity, statistical mechanics and the elementary particles that form the core physics background for the field. The work also presents useful coverage of experimental techniques, materials processing, and materials systems, as well as applied topics. Novel topics, including topology in condensed matter, graphene, integer and fractional quantum Hall effect, and other nanoscale phenomena in optics, in semiconductors, and in superconductors are presented in unusual depth. The encyclopedia solves the problem that students and interdisciplinary researchers often have of finding clear, accessible foundational information to answer their initial questions on a topic. - Presents an authoritative, modern presentation of advances in graphene, topology, quantum effects, optics, semiconductors and superconductors, and many more areas - Meticulously organized into approximately 300 articles and 60 sub-sections, offering a thematically balanced and navigable portrait of an unusually diverse interdisciplinary field - Contains logical and consistent chapter templating and writing styles adopted throughout, including use of next generation pedagogic features

An award-winning Oxford physicist draws on classic sci-fi, fantasy fiction, and everyday phenomena to explain and celebrate the magical properties of the world around us.If you were to present the feats of modern science to someone from the past, those feats would surely be considered magic. Theoretical physicist Felix Flicker proves that they are indeed magic—just familiar magic. The name for this magic is “condensed matter physics.” Most people haven't heard of the field, yet more than a third of physicists identify as condensed matter researchers, making it the most active area in the subject—with good reason. Condensed matter is the solids, liquids, and gasses that surround us—and the more exotic matters—which dictate every aspect of our present existence and hold the keys to a brighter future, from quantum computing to real-life invisibility cloaks. Flicker teases out the magical threads that run through our daily lives. Condensed matter physics allows you to create anything abiding by the laws of reality—and often, we find that those laws can be bent. Flicker explains how to create new particles that never existed before, how to make crystals shoot out of such intense light they can cut through metal, how to separate the poles of a magnet, and more. The book's endearing conceit is that you are an aspiring wizard whose ability to cast spells (i.e. to do science) is dependent on your grasp of the fundamentals of our universe. This book contains no equations or charts—instead, it's full of owls and mountains and infinite libraries, and staffs and wands, and martial arts and mythical islands ruled by sage knot-makers. Part of the book's magic is that, for all these fanciful trappings, it still feels practical and applicable. The Magick of Physics will open your eyes to magic that surround us everyday.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Distributed, Ambient and Pervasive Interactions, DAPI 2023, held as part of the 25th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2023, which took place as an hybrid event in Copenhagen, Denmark, in July 2023.A total of 1578 papers and 396 posters have been accepted for publication in the HCII 2023 proceedings from a total of 7472 submissions. The 60 papers included in the DAPI 2023 proceedings were organized in topical sections as follows: Part I: Designing and evaluating intelligent environments; user experience in intelligent environments; pervasive data; Part II: Smart cities and environment preservation; media, art and culture in intelligent environments; supporting health, learning, work and everyday life.

At the intersection of physics, mathematics, and computer science, an exciting new field of study has formed, known as “Topological Quantum.” This research field examines the deep connections between the theory of knots, special types of subatomic particles known as anyons, certain phases of matter, and quantum computation. This book elucidates this nexus, drawing in topics ranging from quantum gravity to topology to experimental condensed matter physics. Topological quantum has increasingly been a focus point in the fields of condensed matter physics and quantum information over the last few decades, and the forefront of research now builds on the basic ideas presented in this book. The material is presented in a down-to-earth and entertaining way that is far less abstract than most of what is in the literature. While introducing the crucial concepts and placing them in context, the subject is presented without resort to the highly mathematical category theory that underlies the field. Requiring only an elementary background in quantum mechanics, this book is appropriate for all readers, from advanced undergraduates to the professional practitioner. This book will be of interest to mathematicians and computer scientists as well as physicists working on a wide range of topics. Those interested in working in these field will find this book to be an invaluable introduction as well as a crucial reference.

The book is mainly designed for post-graduate students to learn modern-day condensed matter physics. While emphasizing an experiment called the ‘Quantum Hall effect', it introduces the subject of'Topology'and how the topological invariants are related to the quantization of the Hall plateaus. Thus, the content tries to deliver an account of the topological aspects of materials that have shaped the study of condensed matter physics in recent times. The subject is often quite involved for a student to grasp the fundamentals and relate them to physical phenomena. Further, these topics are mostly left out of the undergraduate curriculum, although they often require a simplistic view of the concepts involved to be presented pedagogically. The book contains examples, worked-out concepts, important derivations, diagrams for illustration, etc. to aid the understanding of the students. The book also emphasizes the experimental discoveries that put the subject in its perspective and elaborate on the applications which are likely to be of interest to scientists and engineers.

This book contains the Proceedings of the Ninth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, held at Indiana University in Bloomington May 17-26, 2022. The Meeting focused on tests of these fundamental symmetries and on related theoretical issues, including scenarios for possible violations. Experimental topics covered at the meeting include astrophysical observations of neutrinos, photons, cosmic rays, pulsars, and gravitational waves; investigations at accelerators and storage rings involving neutral mesons, muons, quarks, and flavor-changing processes; gravity tests in the laboratory and in the solar system; spectroscopic studies of ions, atoms, molecules, and exotic atoms; measurements involving spin motion; comparative tests between matter and antimatter; lasers and masers; measurements involving neutrons; investigations with cavities, oscillators, and resonators; neutrino oscillations, propagation, and endpoint measurements.Theoretical and phenomenological topics discussed involved the identification of signatures for CPT and Lorentz violation in particle physics, electromagnetism, and gravity; mechanisms and toy models for spacetime-symmetry breakdown; studies in field theory, gravitation, and particle physics; and condensed-matter applications.

Technology is a host of social, material, and epistemic transformation techniques, tools, and methods. The common perception of digital technology today is that it is determined, even over-determined. This volume suggests a different view: the digital is indeterminate. Mobilising insights from philosophy, art and architecture theory, mathematics, computer science and anthropology, it situates digital indeterminacy within the wider context of material and immaterial processes, causations, triggerings, and their performative working. The book's tripartite structure reflects technology's inherent capacity to transform knowledges, practices, and time. Part I: Social-Digital Technologies juxtaposes arguments for machinic indeterminacy to those of overdetermination in blockchain, cognitive augmentation, and digital ideology. Part II: Spatial, Temporal, Aural and Visual Technologies delves deeper into received ideas about technologies for building spatial structures, manufacturing instruments and constructing the visual space. Part III: Epistemic Technologies analyses the use of plasticity in cognitive science, contingency in thinking habits, ontogenesis in experimental computing, and divination techniques with an inbuilt margin of indeterminacy.List of contributors: Franco'Bifo'Berardi, Iain Campbell, Stephen Darren Dougherty, Aden Evens, Oswaldo Emiddio Vasquez Hadjilyra, Stavros Kousoulas, Natasha Lushetich, Peteer Müürsepp, Luciana Parisi, Andrej Radman, Alesha Serada, Dominic Smith, Sha Xin Wei, Joel White, Ashley Woodward, and David Zeitlyn.

Ever since 1911, the Solvay Conferences have shaped modern physics. The format is quite different from other conferences as the emphasis is placed on discussion. The 28th edition held in May 2022 in Brussels and chaired by David Gross and Peter Zoller continued this tradition and addressed some of the most pressing open questions in the fields of quantum information, gathering many of the leading figures working on a wide variety of profound problems.The proceedings contain the'rapporteur talks'giving a broad overview with unique insights by distinguished renowned scientists. These lectures cover the five sessions: The Physics of Quantum Information, Many-Body Entanglement, Quantum Information and Spacetime, Quantum Platforms, Quantum Algorithms.In the Solvay tradition, the proceedings also include the prepared comments to the rapporteur talks. The discussions among the participants — expert, yet lively and sometimes contentious — have been edited to retain their flavor and are reproduced in full. The reader is taken on a breathtaking ride through a fascinating field which is expanding rapidly.

This is the first graduate level textbook of topologically ordered phases with emphasis on graphene zigzag nanoribbons. It also explains common properties of several other topologically ordered phases as well as the e/2 fractional charge quantization and spin-charge separation of an electron.

A P Balachandran has a long and impressive record of research in particle physics and quantum field theory, bringing concepts of geometry, topology and operator algebras to the analysis of physical problems, particularly in particle physics and condensed matter physics. He has also had an influential role within the physics community, not only in terms of a large number of students, research associates and collaborators, but also serving on the editorial boards of important publications, including the International Journal of Modern Physics A.This book consists of articles by students and associates of Balachandran. Most of the articles are scientific in nature, with topics ranging from noncommutative geometry, particle physics phenomenology, to condensed matter physics. Various chapters focus on new perspectives and directions resulting from Balachandran's contributions to physics, as well as some reminiscences of collaborating and working with Balachandran.

C N Yang is a towering figure of science who has significantly extended human understanding of nature, headed one of the foremost research institutes in physics for three decades, and made great contributions to the advances of Chinese physics. This Festschrift in honor of Professor Yang on his centenary birthday consists of two volumes: Volume A consists of general essays concerning Professor Yang the person, as well as the authors'impressions and reminiscences of him, which are mainly (but not exclusively) in Chinese. This volume, that is Volume B, consists of over thirty scientific papers in English on subjects broadly related to his work and contributed by two different groups: Professor Yang's colleagues, friends, and former students; and graduates from the Tsinghua University Physics Department or Institute for Advanced Study, who have come under the influence of Professor Yang and are now established in their own careers; review papers presented at a Symposium held in his honor in 2021 are also included. It is hoped that this Festschrift can serve as a fit tribute to Professor Yang's lifelong achievements, and also increase public awareness of the many different sides of this giant — his life, his personality, his work, his influence, as well as what he strives for.

This highly interdisciplinary book, covering more than six fields, from philosophy and sciences all the way up to the humanities and with contributions from eminent authors, addresses the interplay between content and context, reductionism and holism and their meeting point: the notion of emergence. Much of today's science is reductionist (bottom-up); in other words, behaviour on one level is explained by reducing it to components on a lower level. Chemistry is reduced to atoms, ecosystems are explained in terms of DNA and proteins, etc. This approach fails quickly since we can't cannot extrapolate to the properties of atoms solely from Schrödinger's equation, nor figure out protein folding from an amino acid sequence or obtain the phenotype of an organism from its genotype. An alternative approach to this is holism (top-down). Consider an ecosystem or an organism as a whole: seek patterns on the same scale. Model a galaxy not as 400 billion-point masses (stars) but as an object inits own right with its own properties (spiral, elliptic). Or a hurricane as a structured form of moist air and water vapour. Reductionism is largely about content, whereas holistic models are more attuned to context. Reductionism (content) and holism (context) are not opposing philosophies — in fact, they work best in tandem. Join us on a journey to understand the multifaceted dialectic concerning this duo and how they shape the foundations of sciences and humanities, our thoughts and, the very nature of reality itself.

The book explains, in an easy way, the diffi cult to grasp concepts behind 2D exotic material properties for physicists, materials scientists, and engineers. This is a new class of phenomena highlighted in 2D materials with strong implications on physics. Physics, also for complex phenomena, is explained in easy terms that are ideal for newcomers to the fi eld and advanced students alike. Theory and specifi c examples of materials and their intriguing properties are discussed focusing on the structure property relationships that govern materials science. Applications for each phenomenon are evoked and a roadmapping is performed.

This book reviews evidence for the existence of information storing states present in specific materials systems called Topological Materials. It discusses how quantum computation, a possible technology for the future, demands unique paradigms where the information storing states are just not disturbed by classical forces. They are protected from environmental disturbance, suggesting that whatever information is stored in such states would could be safe forever. The authors explain how the topological aspect arises from the configuration or the shape of energy space. He further explains that the existence of related topological states has not been conclusively established in spite of significant experimental effort over the past decade. And The book as such illustrates the necessity for such investigations as well as application of the topological states for new computational technologies. The scope of coverage includes all the necessary mathematical and physics preliminaries (starting at the undergraduate level) enabling researchers to quickly understand the state of the art literature.

This book consists of contributions from the participants of the Abel Symposium 2019 held in Ålesund, Norway. It was centered about applications of the ideas of symmetry and invariance, including equivalence and deformation theory of geometric structures, classification of differential invariants and invariant differential operators, integrability analysis of equations of mathematical physics, progress in parabolic geometry and mathematical aspects of general relativity.The chapters are written by leading international researchers, and consist of both survey and research articles. The book gives the reader an insight into the current research in differential geometry and Lie theory, as well as applications of these topics, in particular to general relativity and string theory.

Perovskite-based ceramics are a significant class of innovative materials with fascinating physical properties, which are now receiving intensive research attention in condensed matter physics and in the area of practical device applications. Perovskite Ceramics provides a state-of-the-art review on the latest advances in perovskite-based ceramic materials, as well as the development of devices from these materials for different applications. Perovskite Ceramics: Recent Advances and Emerging Applications is divided into two main parts. The first part focuses on the basics of perovskite-based ceramic materials and includes chapters on the fundamentals, synthesis and processing, characterization, and properties of these materials. Chapters are also included on bulk and thin materials, phase transitions, polaronic effects and the compensation and screening of ferroelectricity. This section will allow the reader to familiarize themselves with the standard traditional approach, but it will also introduce new concepts that are fast evolving in this field. The second part presents an extensive review of up-to-date research on new and innovative advances in perovskite-based ceramic materials. Chapters cover multiferroic applications, lead-free perovskites, energy storage applications, perovskite-based memories, light manipulation and spectral modifications, and solar cells and fuel cells. All these fields of research are rapidly evolving, so the book acts a platform to showcase latest results on optical strategies and materials for light manipulation, and spectral up- and down-conversion too (mainly rare earth doped oxides and complexes). The book will be an essential reference resource for academic and industrial researchers working in materials research and development particularly in functional and oxide ceramics and perovskites. - A comprehensive and systematic review of advanced research in perovskite-based ceramics - Covers both oxide and halide perovskites, their synthesis, processing, properties and applications - Presents advanced methods of synthesis as well as latest applications - Discusses all aspects from theory to production - Covers the most important advances both in terms of new materials and application strategies

The volume includes papers presented at the 4th Postgraduate International Conference of the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage of Ca'Foscari University of Venice (Venice, 5-7 October 2022). Our understanding of reality is filtered through myriad media, and we have the ability – and power – to gather, ignore, tweak, and explore the information needed to define what we mean by ‘reality'. The concept of ‘space'– in its broadest sense – plays an essential role in an individual's explanation of reality, and we must deal with a plurality of models and concepts of it. As elaborated in the text Space and Time in Art, the Russian theologian, philosopher, and art theorist Pavel Florensky states: “all culture can be interpreted as the activity of organising space”. Starting from this culturological reading, Florensky identifies three spatial “dimensions” and three corresponding genres of activity: (1) The space of our strong relations and the activity of ‘Technique'; (2) The mental space and its organisation and the activities of ‘Science'or ‘Philosophy'; (3) The space between the previous two, and the activity of ‘Art'. Ultimately, all have the same aim: to change reality to reconstruct space. According to leading scholars and critics, the late 1980s saw a “spatial turn” take place in literary, social, and cultural studies. In 1991 Fredric Jameson theorised a shift from the paradigm of time to the paradigm of space, from modernism to postmodernism. The pandemic era has refocused investigation on the present paradigm, where Florensky's spaces have been concentrated through cyberspace almost overnight. Through the notion of the ‘semiosphere'– as elaborated by Juri Lotman 100 years ago – we collectively pondered the question: “should we reconsider the concept of space as a cultural category altogether?”.

A transdisciplinary approach to practice-as-research, complete with its own elaborate theory of practice and a set of four multi-year-performance research projects through which the theory plays out. Its methodology is at times ethnographic as Henry Daniel deftly inserts himself and his Caribbean West African ancestry into a series of complex cortical and geographic maps, which become choreographic in every sense of the term. The central argument in the book is based on a claim that human beings are cognitively embodied through their own lived experiences of movement through space and time; the spaces we inhabit and the practices we engage in are documented through cortical and cartographic maps. In short, as we inhabit and move through spaces our brains organise our experiences into unique cortical and spatial maps, which eventually determine how we see and deal with, i.e., ‘become'subjects in a world that we also help create. The argument is that through performance, as a re-cognising and re-membering of these movements, we can claim the knowledge that is in the body as well as in the spaces through which it travels. To demonstrate how the brain organises our experiences of the world according to cartographic (graphically mapping procedures) and cortical (motor, sensory and visual functions) mapping and exploring the impact of this mapping to choreographic practice, considering how maps might be disrupted or altered by change of circumstances. This is illustrated through scientific, creative and reflective approaches to exploring neurological process of embodied experiences, as well as the analysis of projects that have utilized this practice thus far. Audience will include Dance and Performance Studies Scholars; Dancers and Choreographers; Undergraduate and Advanced Students; Researchers

This book, edited by M. A. Ramos and contributed by several reputed physicists in the field, presents a timely review on low-temperature thermal and vibrational properties of glasses, and of disordered solids in general. In 1971, the seminal work of Zeller and Pohl was published, which triggered this relevant research field in condensed matter physics. Hence, this book also commemorates about 50 years of that highlight with a comprehensive, updated review.In brief, glasses (firstly genuine amorphous solids but later on followed by different disordered crystals) were found to universally exhibit low-temperature properties (specific heat, thermal conductivity, acoustic and dielectric attenuation, etc.) unexpectedly very similar among them — and very different from those of their crystalline counterparts.These universal'anomalies'of glasses and other disordered solids remain very controversial topics in condensed matter physics. They have been addressed exhaustively in this book, through many updated experimental data, a survey of most relevant models and theories, as well as by computational simulations.

Modern Perspectives in the Study of Electronic Systems focuses on recent developments in selected critical areas of condensed matter physics. The book blends theoretical developments and experimental discoveries of materials, helping the reader understand different phenomena. It studies the Quantum Hall Effect (integer and fractional) and superconductivity from phenomenological and microscopic perspectives. Magnetism and magnetic phenomena in solids via approximate solutions of the Hamiltonian model are also addressed. The book also discusses the topological aspects of materials that have fundamentally changed the study of condensed matter physics in the recent times. This timely and practical book: • Introduces topology that has governed the study of two-dimensional Dirac materials and led to the discovery of three-dimensional materials • Includes illustrations and plots for better visualization and understanding of the book content • Uses a hands-on approach to teach subjects that have influenced teaching and research worldwide Modern Perspectives in the Study of Electronic Systems is an excellent tutorial for senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and early-career researchers. It will be helpful for teachers in teaching courses on specialized topics in condensed matter physics.