Classifying and Understanding Phases of Matter with Effective Theories

Abstract: Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. This classic Einstein's quote summarizes beautifully the spirit of effective field theories (EFTs), where the measure of simplicity is dictated by the symmetries of the system. In this talk, I will promote the role and the power of EFT methods by discussing with you some interesting open questions such as the difference between liquids and solids, the nature of glassy materials and the role of periodicity in crystals. I will guide you through the different theoretical layers, from standard EFT and hydrodynamics to holographic techniques, emphasizing the leading role of spacetime symmetries and the wide range of applicability of these methods. The talk is designed in a colloquium format suitable for all IFT members from the 1st to 5th floor and it will be my farewell to IFT after these 2 productive years.

condensed matterhigh energy physicsmathematical physics

Audience: researchers in the topic

IFT-Madrid Webinars