AlbaNova colloquium

Chiral critical matter

Prof. Leo Radzihovsky (University of Colorado at Boulder)

28 Sep 2023, 15:15 - Oskar Kleins auditorium

Abstract:
Liquid crystals are fascinating materials - quintessential condensed matter exhibiting an array of complex phases of fundamental scientific interest and at the heart of liquid crystal display revolution. I will take the audience on a bit of a roller coaster ride, pedagogically discussing a recently discovered exotic liquid crystal state, the "heliconical nematic", that exhibits a long sought-after spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking. I will also explain how low-energy physics of some states of matter can be understood as an emergent Higgs mechanism, with critical fluctuations extending throughout the low-temperature "critical phase”.

About the speaker:
Leo Radzihovsky is a Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado. He got his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1993. His distinctions include Simons Investigator in Physics (since 2014), Miller Professor at Berkeley (2008), Fellow of the American Physical Society (2003), and the US National Science Foundation CAREER Award (1996-2000).

NOTE: The AlbaNova colloquium fika will be at Ljusgården B4, 14:45.