Discover Complex Phenomena: This specialization showcases physicists’ wisdom on understanding the complex behaviors in interacting systems with a large number of particles.
Suggested by: Coursera (What is Coursera?)
No prior knowledge required
No unnecessary risks
We know the fundamental equations that dictate the motion of every atom in our brains and every electron in our computers—we can, in principle, calculate the motion of every atomic and subatomic particle on Earth according to well-known physical laws. And yet, the natural world (and all human and computer behavior) continues to surprise us. That’s because when large numbers of objects interact, they can exhibit new and meaningful phenomena that are not clearly seen in the equations that describe the motion of a single atom or electron. Condensed matter physics is the study of these emergent phenomena.
Condensed matter physics is the largest subfield of modern physics. It has produced a wealth of profound insights that dictate our fundamental understanding of the modern world, and also provide the foundations for much of modern technological society. This specialization provides an introduction to the key concepts behind modern condensed matter physics. These concepts touch on a wide range of topics and enable a broad and powerful understanding of phenomena that arise in complex systems.
This specialization is intended for people who are curious to know more about condensed matter physics, and who are engaged in searching for ways to understand the complex and emergent phenomena using simple but powerful conceptual tools. No prior in-depth knowledge of physics is required.
Students will apply key concepts from condensed matter physics to understand paradigmatic phenomena in the natural world, such as:
They will also examine the applications of these concepts to other collective phenomena in the world around us, in a variety of contexts not limited to physics.
