Quantum theory of condensed matter : proceedings of the 24th Solvay Conference on Physics, Brussels, Belgium, 11-13 October 2008

Ever since 1911, the Solvay Conferences have shaped modern physics. The 24th edition chaired by Bertrand Halperin did not break the tradition. Held in October 2008, it gathered in Brussels many of the leading figures in the quantum theory of condensed matter , addressing some of the most profound open problems in the field. The proceedings contain the "rapporteur talks" giving a broad overview with unique insights by distinguished renowned scientists. These lectures cover the five sessions treating: mesoscopic and disordered systems; exotic phases and quantum phase transitions in model systems; experimentally realized correlated-electron materials; quantum Hall systems, and one-dimensional systems; systems of ultra-cold atoms, and advanced computational methods. In the Solvay tradition, the proceedings include also the prepared comments to the rapporteur talks. The discussions among the participants some of which are quite lively and involving dramatically divergent points of view have been carefully edited and reproduced in full. CONTENTS......Page 20 Board of Directors......Page 6 Solvay Scientific Committee for Physics......Page 8 24th Solvay Conference on Physics......Page 10 Participants......Page 11 Auditors......Page 13 Opening Address by Marc Henneaux......Page 14 Opening Address by David Gross......Page 16 Opening Address by Bertrand Halperin......Page 17 2. What is “Condensed Matter”?......Page 22 4. The Solvay Tradition......Page 23 5. Why This Subject, Now?......Page 24 7. Superconductivity......Page 25 8. Nano-Scale Devices......Page 27 9. Collections of Ultra-Cold Atoms......Page 28 10. Phases and Phase Transitions......Page 29 11. Current Technologies based on Quantum Properties of Condensed Matter Systems......Page 30 Discussion......Page 31 2. Introduction......Page 46 3. Coupled Dimer Antiferromagnet......Page 48 4. Quantum “Disordering” Magnetic Order: Spinons and Visons......Page 50 4.2. Visons......Page 54 4.3. Solvable model......Page 56 4.4. Field theory of spinons and visons......Page 59 5. Spin Liquids near the Mott Transition......Page 61 6.1. Fractionalized Fermi liquids......Page 63 6.2. Algebraic charge liquids......Page 64 7.1. Triangular lattice......Page 67 7.2. Kagome lattice......Page 68 7.3. Hyperkagome lattice......Page 69 References......Page 70 Discussion......Page 74 1. Challenges in Mott Materials......Page 82 3. New Quasi-1D Approach to Spin and Bose Metals......Page 83 References......Page 84 Discussion......Page 85 Prepared comment by Michael Freedman: A Topological Phase in a Quantum Gravity Model......Page 88 H described for the Dfib phase:......Page 89 Discussion......Page 92 Prepared Comment by Leon Balents: Some Promising Model Systems for Exotic Phenomena......Page 95 References......Page 98 Discussion......Page 99 Prepared Comment by Matthias Troyer: Quantum Monte Carlo Simulations: Success and Challenges......Page 102 2. The Negative Sign Problem......Page 104 References......Page 105 Discussion......Page 106 Prepared Comment by Todadri Senthil: Killing the Fermi Sur- face: Towards a Theory of Non-Fermi Liquid Metals......Page 110 Discussion......Page 112 Prepared Comment by Leticia Cugliandolo: Dissipative Quan- tum out of Equilibrium Dynamics......Page 113 Discussion......Page 116 2. Introduction......Page 117 3.1. High temperature cuprate superconductors......Page 118 3.2. Iron pnictide superconductors......Page 124 3.3. Strontium ruthenate......Page 127 4. Frustrated Magnets......Page 133 5. Topological Insulators......Page 134 6. Conclusions......Page 136 References......Page 137 Discussion......Page 140 2. Introduction......Page 144 3. Strong Correlations or Not?......Page 145 4. Gap Nodes and Pairing Symmetry......Page 147 Discussion......Page 148 Prepared Comment by Chandra Varma: Scholia on a Remark by C. Kallin......Page 150 Discussion......Page 153 1. Phase rigidity of condensate......Page 154 2. Nernst Effect......Page 155 4. Phase Diagram......Page 156 References......Page 157 Discussion......Page 158 Prepared Comment by Steve Whitea: Pairing versus Stripes in the t-J Model......Page 161 References......Page 162 Discussion......Page 163 1. Abstract......Page 165 A. Doping Dependence [3-5]......Page 166 B. Temperature Dependence [4]......Page 167 References......Page 168 Discussion......Page 169 2. Some Trends in Current Research......Page 172 3. Perspective: Oxide Heterostructures......Page 174 References......Page 175 Discussion......Page 176 2. Introduction......Page 177 3. Abelian Quantum Hall States......Page 178 4. Non-abelian Quantum Hall States......Page 183 5. Quantum Hall Physics Gets Broader......Page 187 References......Page 189 Discussion......Page 191 2.1. Anyons: Abelian and otherwise......Page 194 2.3. Graphene......Page 195 3.2. Low temperatures......Page 196 References......Page 197 Discussion......Page 198 2. Introduction......Page 199 3. Trial Wavefunctions and QH Phases......Page 200 4. Adiabatic Transport......Page 201 5. Trial Wavefunctions as Conformal Blocks......Page 202 6. Perturbed CFTs......Page 203 8. Hall Viscosity......Page 205 References......Page 206 1. Introduction......Page 207 2. Beyond the Luttinger Model......Page 208 3. Quasi 1D Antiferromagnets......Page 209 5. Stripes in Hubbard and t-J ladders......Page 211 References......Page 213 Discussion......Page 215 2. Introduction......Page 221 3.2. Optical lattice potentials......Page 222 4. Detection Methods......Page 223 4.1. Time-of-flight and adiabatic mapping......Page 224 4.2. Detection of correlations......Page 225 5.1. Hubbard physics......Page 228 5.1.1. Low-Dimensional quantum systems......Page 230 6. Outlook: Novel Systems and Detection Methods......Page 231 6.1. Novel systems......Page 232 6.2. Novel detection methods......Page 233 References......Page 234 Discussion......Page 238 2. Introduction......Page 240 3. Matrix Product States......Page 242 4. Generalizations of DMRG and MPS......Page 245 5. Two Dimensions......Page 247 References......Page 249 Discussion......Page 250 1.1. The Model......Page 256 1.2. Hall conductivity......Page 257 1.4. Vortex mass, and vortex lattice melting......Page 258 Discussion......Page 259 Closing Session Chair of the conference Bertrand Halperin......Page 260 Special Session : On The Quantum Theory Of Condensed Matter / B. Halperin -- Session 1 : Mesoscopic And Disordered Systems / Chair : D. Loss -- Session 2 : Exotic Phases And Quantum Phase Transitions In Model Systems / Chair : A. Georges -- Session 3 : Experimentally Realized Correlated-electron Materials / Chair : M. Rice -- Session 4 : Quantum Hall Systems, And One-dimensional Systems / Chair : J. Chalker -- Session 5 : Systems Of Ultra-cold Atoms, And Advanced Computational Methods / Chair : P. Zoller -- Closing Session : Chair Of The Conference Bertrand Halperin. Editors, Bertrand I. Halperin, Alexander Sevrin. The 24th Solvay Conference On Physics Took Place In Brussels [belgium] From October 11 Through October 13, 2007--p. Ix. Includes Bibliographical References.