Sommerfeld Lecture Series (ASC)
Episodes
Life on a Noisy Seascape: Extinction, Growth, and Diversity
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Populations and communities rarely evolve in static environments; their fitness landscapes fluctuate across space and time, forming what may be called...
Boundaries, inclusions and disorder in active matter
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Active systems are driven out of equilibrium by exchanging energy and momentum with their environment. This endows them with anomalous mechanical prop...
The Force of Nothing: Attraction and Repulsion in the Quantum Void
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Quantum physics teaches us that even the emptiest vacuum is teeming with fluctuations of electromagnetic fields. When these fluctuations are confined ...
Comments on the phase of the Euclidean gravity partition function on spheres
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Euclidean gravity on a sphere (euclidean de-Sitter) gives rise to some phase factors. We discuss how these phase factors change when we include an obs...
The meaning of spacetime: Black holes, wormholes and quantum entanglement
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We start by describing the geometrical notions central to Einstein's theory of gravity. We then discuss current ideas for how spacetime geometry could...
Quantum Spin Liquids and New Phases in M-Point twisted material platforms
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I will show how a new set of twisted materials based on the M point rather than the K point can realize a series of exotic phases of matter, including...
Nano-engineering from a Theoretical Physics Perspective
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We will review the beginning of experimental and theoretical studies of moire systems and their evolution up to present. This type of systems represen...
In Integers We Trust: The Periodic Table of Materials From Mendeleev to Topology
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Materials science has always balanced on the twin pillars of observation and abstraction—from the alchemists’ crude recipes to today’s AI-driven...
Eugene Demler: Photons for many body physics: a platform and probe
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, I will discuss the applications of cavity electrodynamics for controlling many-body electron systems. The focus will be on achieving str...
Yaron Oz: The Quantum Universe: Information, Communication and Computation
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The amazing and mysterious laws of the quantum world will be outlined: superposition, entanglement and no cloning. Their impact on science and technol...
Eugene Demler: New colors of light
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It is commonly recognized that scientific discoveries result in new technologies. In this talk we will discuss the reverse: behind every conceptual br...
Eugene Demler: Lighting up superconductivity
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Recent experiments suggest the phenomenon of light induced superconductivity above Tc in two different materials: fullerene superconductor K3C60 an...
Hirosi Ooguri: Symmetry Resolution at High Energy
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The density of states of a unitary quantum field theory is known to have a universal behavior at high energy. In two dimensions, this behavior is desc...
Hirosi Ooguri: Constraints on Quantum Gravity
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Although predictions of quantum gravity are typically at extremely high energy, several non-trivial constraints on its low energy effective theory hav...
Yaron Oz: Entanglement, Chaos and Quantum Computation
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We consider information spreading measures in randomly initialized variational quantum circuits and introduce entanglement diagnostics for efficient c...
Yaron Oz: Unraveling Turbulence: Modern Viewpoints on an Unsolved Problem
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fluid turbulence is a major unsolved problem of physics exhibiting an emergent complex structure from simple rules. We will briefly review the problem...
Thibault Damour: Black Hole Binary Dynamics from Classical and Quantum Gravitational Scattering
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Gravitational wave signals from coalescing binary black holes are detected, and analyzed, by using large banks of template waveforms. The construction...
Thibault Damour: Gravitational Waves and Binary Black Holes
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The observation of gravitational wave signals by the two interferometers of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), and by the...
Thibault Damour: 100 Years of General Relativity
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In November 2015, Albert Einstein finalized a new theory of gravitation, General Relativity (GR), which describes gravitation as a deformation of the ...
Theory Colloquium: Scaling Down the Laws of Thermodynamics
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Thermodynamics provides a robust conceptual framework and set of laws that govern the exchange of energy and matter. Although these laws were original...
Statistical Physics Seminar: Quantum Impulse Control
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The quantum adiabatic theorem governs the evolution of a wavefunction under a slowly time-varying Hamiltonian. I will consider the opposite limit of a...
Fields and Strings Seminar: Duality in 2 + 1 Dimensions
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A combination of ideas originating from Condensed Matter physics, Supersymmetric Field Theory, and AdS/CFT has led to a detailed web of conjectured du...
Public Lecture: Adventures of an Idea – the Life and Travels of Maxwell’s Demon
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In a letter written in 1867, James Clerk Maxwell described a hypothetical creature: a “neat-fingered being” capable of separating fast molecules f...
Theory Colloquium: When a Symmetry Breaks
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking is a very universal concept applicable for a wide range of subjects: crystal, superfluid, neutron stars, Higgs boson, ma...
Public Lecture: Quantum Universe
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Where do we come from? Science is making progress on this age-old question of humankind. The Universe was once much smaller than the size of an atom. ...
Fields and Strings Seminar: What is dark matter?
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I review what we know about dark matter right now and some hints about its nature. In particular, I discuss candidates away from the conventional WIMP...
Public Lecture: The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Quantum Physics in Mathematics
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mathematics has proven to be "unreasonably effective" in understanding nature. The fundamental laws of physics can be captured in beautiful formulae. ...
Theory Colloquium: Topological Gravity and Matrix Models
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Random matrix models are ubiquitous in physics and have been studied from many perspectives. One important application is producing exactly solvable t...
Theory Colloquium: The Life and Death of Turbulence
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Turbulence is the last great unsolved problem of classical physics. But there is no consensus on what it would mean to actually solve this problem. In...
What can Theoretical Physics tell us about the Origin and Evolution of Early Life?
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Life on Earth is wonderfully diverse, with a multitude of life forms, structures and evolutionary mechanisms. However, there are two aspects of life t...
Condensed Matter Theory Seminar: Electronic Squeezing of Pumped Phonons: Negative U and Transient Superconductivity
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Advances in light sources and time resolved spectroscopy have made it possible to excite specific atomic vibrations in solids and to observe the res...
Theory Colloquium: Meeting Dirac’s Challenge: modern approaches to the Correlated Electron Problem
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This talk will present an overview of recent progress towards a solution of one of the grand-challenges of modern science: understanding the properti...
Public Lecture: Superconductivity
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Superconductivity, the ability of certain materials to conduct electricity with no resistance whatsoever, has fascinated scientists since its discove...
Theory Colloquium: Symmetries, Duality, and the Unity of Physics
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Global symmetries and gauge symmetries have played a crucial role in physics. The idea of duality demonstrates that gauge symmetries can be emergent ...
Public Lecture: The Frontiers of Fundamental Physics
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In recent decades, physicists and astronomers have discovered two beautiful Standard Models, one for the quantum world of extremely short distances, ...
Fields and Strings Seminar: Holographic Quantum Codes
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two of the most amazing ideas in physics are the holographic principle and quantum error correction. The holographic principle asserts that all the ...
Theory Colloquium: Quantum Information and Spacetime
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Aside from enabling revolutionary future technologies, quantum information science is providing powerful new tools for attacking deep problems in fu...
Public Lecture: Quantum Computing and the Entanglement Frontier
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The quantum laws governing atoms and other tiny objects seem to defy common sense, and information encoded in quantum systems has weird properties t...
ASC Theory Colloquium: Physics and Geometry of Morphogenesis
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One hundred years ago, D’Arcy Thompson – a nineteenth century polymath, working at the turn of the twentieth century – wrote a beautiful monog...
Public Lecture: On the Possibility of Evolutionary Forecasting
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about evolution, it is typically in the context of natural history, seeking an explanation for the amazing diversity of life. Yet evolu...
Theory Colloquium: Towards Material Design Using Strongly Correlated Electron Materials
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Our understanding of simple solids, is firmly grounded on the Fermi liquid concept and powerful computational techniques built around the density fu...
Condensed Matter Theory Seminar: Shining Light on Transition Metal Oxides: Resilient Quasiparticles and the Unveiling of the Hidden Fermi Liquid
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Strongly correlated metals exhibit anomalous transport properties which have puzzled condensed matter physicists for many years. They are characteri...
Public Lecture: The Quest for High Temperature Superconductivity
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Superconductivity is a state of matter where electrons can flow without resistance and where magnetic fields are expelled. It was discovered serendi...
Public Lecture: The Principle of Least Action, from the “Vis-viva” to Quantum Black Holes
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Principle of Least Action is both profound and practical. Since its first formulation by Maupertuis and Euler nearly three centuries ago, the Prin...
Biophysics Seminar: Statistical Physics in Biology: Twisting transitions for DNA, and Ising Models for cell Membranes
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The theory of phase transitions splits between abrupt transitions (nucleation and growth, critical droplets) and continuous transitions (scaling and u...
Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium: Sloppy Models and How Science Works
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
“With four parameters I can fit an elephant; with five I can make it wag its tail.” Systems biology models of the cell have an enormous number of ...
Public Lecture: Crackling Noise
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A piece of paper or candy wrapper crackles when it is crumpled. A magnet crackles when you change its magnetization slowly. The earth crackles as the ...
Public Lecture: Quantum Beauty
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Does the world embody beautiful ideas? Pythagoras and Plato intuited that it should, Newton and Maxwell showed, in impressive examples, how it could. ...
Solid State Theory Seminar: Dipole Excitations in 2D insulators. Quantum Levy flights
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This talk is devoted to quantum propagation of dipole excitations in two dimensions in the presence of disorder. This problem differs from the convent...
Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium: Many- Body Anderson Localization
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Localization of the eigenfunctions of quantum particles in a random potential was discovered by P.W. Anderson more than 50 years ago in connection wit...
Public Lecture: How to tell quantum condensates from pendulul clocks?
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
During more than 100 years of its history Quantum Mechanics passed all of the experimental checks and transformed itself from a counterintuitive conc...
Solid State Theory Seminar: Quantum phase transitions, and the high temperature superconductors
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The last three decades have witnessed the discovery of many new superconductors, with properties dramatically different from the conventional low temp...
Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium: What can string theory teach us about condensed matter physics?
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
String theory was originally constructed as a unification of the quantum field theory of elementary particles with Einstein's theory of gravitation. U...
Public Lecture: The quantum phases of matter
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In many modern materials, electrons quantum‐entangle with each other across long distances, and produce new phases of matter, such as high temperatu...
Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium: Looking for Cosmic Strings
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cosmic strings are linear defects that could be formed at a phase transition in the early universe. Strings are predicted in a wide class of particle ...
Public Lecture: Many Worlds in One
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Recent developments in cosmology suggest that the big bang was not a unique event in the cosmic history. Other big bangs constantly erupt in remote pa...
Solid State Theory Seminar: Death of a Quasiparticle: Strong Correlations from Hund's Coupling
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
According to the Landau description of Fermi liquids, low- energy excitations in metals are constructed out of quasiparticles – long-lived excitatio...
Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium: Quantum Matter with Strong Correlations
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From copper-oxide superconductors to rare-earth compounds, materials with strong electronic correlations have focused enormous attention over the last...
Public Lecture: From Atoms to Novel Materials: A Quantum Engineer's Dream
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Which property of a material is more familiar to us than its color? And yet, the strange laws of quantum mechanics, which rule atoms, electrons and ph...