Condensed Matter Theory

In Condensed Matter Theory methods from quantum many-body theory, statistical physics, quantum field theory and computational physics are applied to describe the different states of interacting macroscopic systems.  Just as the solid and liquid phases differ by the presence of spatial order many forms of matter with very different properties - such as metals, insulators, superconductors, superfluids, and the numerous magnetic systems - can be characterized based on a quantum mechanical description of the correlated degrees of freedom.  These states of matter are realized not only in solids but also in synthetic many-body systems such as ultracold Fermi and Bose gases.