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SUMMARY:Topological Phases of Matter and Why You Should be Interested - Pr
 of. Steve Simon\, University of Oxford
DTSTART:20090129T141500Z
DTEND:20090129T151500Z
UID:TALK15810@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Jonathan Keeling
DESCRIPTION:In two dimensional topological phases of matter\, processes de
 pend on\ngross topology rather than detailed geometry. Thinking in 2+1\ndi
 mensions\, particle world lines can be interpreted as knots or links\,\nan
 d the amplitude for certain processes becomes a topological\ninvariant of 
 that link. While sounding rather exotic\, we believe that\nsuch phases of 
 matter not only exist\, but have actually been observed\nin quantum Hall e
 xperiments\, and could provide a uniquely practical\nroute to building a q
 uantum computer.   Possibilities have also been\nproposed for creating sim
 ilar physics in systems ranging from\nsuperfluid helium to Bismuth Antimon
 y.\n
LOCATION:TCM Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory
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