Seminars and Colloquia
Physics
Exploring novel phases of quantum condensed matter
Wed, Sep 16, 2020,
04:15 PM
at WEBINAR - https://zoom.us/j/94929861217?pwd=SzUwaUt1SXYrV0RVVDlzcCtLelFiQT09
Dr Adhip Agarwala
ICTS Bangalore
Abstract :
Condensed matter phenomena continue to surround and surprise us. That few seemingly simple interactions between basic constituents often lead to nontrivial collective behavior is generally understood within the Landau paradigm; in recent times, however, we are faced with challenges to understand a new class of novel phases -- where topological characteristics, quantum entanglement and strong correlations generate fundamentally distinct features; for instance, one may find Majorana fermions secretly hiding in an insulating magnet! In this talk, while placing in context the various questions, motivations, and ideas that underlie these phenomena, I will discuss some of our recent investigations in trying to understand them. In particular, I will show how the action of mechanical strain on a honeycomb spin model may in fact generate a novel and a highly unusual gapless phase of matter. The talk will end touching upon some of the other explorations which we have taken and may further risk venturing into.
