Lecturer: Prof. Michael Berry (University of Bristol)
Title: Geometric phases old and new
Abstract. The waves that describe systems in quantum physics can carry information about how their environment has been altered, for example by forces acting on them. This effect is the geometric phase. It occurs in the optics of polarised light, where it goes back to the 1820s. It influences wave interference; and it provides insight into the spin-statistics relation for identical quantum particles. The underlying mathematics is geometric: parallel transport, explaining how falling cats turn upright, and how to park a car. Recent results describe the typical behaviour of the geometric phase curvature and the related quantum metric. Incorporating the back-reaction of the geometric phase on the dynamics of the changing environment exposes an unsolved problem: how can a system be separated from its slowly-varying environment? The concept has a tangled history.
Where
Room: Aula Sironi, U4 Building, Piazza della Scienza
Streaming: to be defined
Timetable: to be defined
Breakthroughs in Materials Science
This event is part of the series of seminars "Breakthroughs in Materials Science", organized by the Department of Materials Science of the University of Milano - Bicocca, brings together lectures by internationally renowned scientists, whose recent studies have promoted a profound evolution in the field of Materials Science. Presented with an informative nature, the seminars are aimed at researchers, students, and a wide audience of people interested in scientific topics. In addition to in-person participation, the streaming connection will be made available.