Essay: Fifty Years of Condensed Matter Physics

2008/12/16 by Marvin L. Cohen · 10 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Field (mathematics) #Focus (optics) #Physics #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum and electron transport phenomena #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Theoretical physics

paper · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.101.250001

published in Physical Review Letters 101(25), 250001 (American Physical Society)

openalex publication_date 2008/12/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Since the birth of Physical Review Letters fifty years ago, condensed matter physics has seen considerable growth, and both the journal and the field have flourished during this period. In this essay, I begin with some general comments about condensed matter physics and then give some personal views on the conceptual development of the field and list some highlights. The focus is mostly on theoretical developments.

Citations

• Bound Electron Pairs in a Degenerate Fermi Gas
• Microscopic Theory of Superconductivity
• Self-Consistent Equations Including Exchange and Correlation Effects
• Anomalous Quantum Hall Effect: An Incompressible Quantum Fluid with Fractionally Charged Excitations

Cited by

• Condensed matter physics [wikipedia]
• Physics [wikipedia]
• Quantum mechanics [wikipedia]

Related

• Particle Physics and Condensed Matter: The Saga Continues
• Of Matters Condensed
• Condensed Matter Physics in a Market Economy
• Soft Condensed Matter (Materia Condensata Soffice)
• Have I Really Been a Condensed Matter Theorist? I'm Not Sure, but Does It Matter?