Theoriekolloquium

May 8, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. in Newton-Raum, Staudinger Weg 9, 01-122

Prof. Dr. P.G.J. van Dongen
Institut für Physik, KOMET 7
peter.vandongen@uni-mainz.de

Jun.-Prof. Dr. J. Marino
Institut für Physik, KOMET 7
jamarino@uni-mainz.de

Melting at Absolute Zero: Quantum Phase Transitions in Condensed Matter
Prof. Matthias Vojta (Universität Köln)


Quantum phase transitions, i.e., phase transitions taking place at zero temperature, have attracted the interest of both theorists and experimentalists in condensed matter physics.
The first part of the talk will describe general aspects of quantum phase transitions, in particular the fascinating interplay of classical and quantum mechanical fluctuations at finite temperatures.
The second part will focus on selected examples of quantum phase transitions and make contact to recent experiments, ranging from Mott insulators and heavy fermion metals to high-temperature superconductors.