Condensed concepts

Some people might expect me to be enthused that the Australian government recently announced  that the tuition costs for university degrees in the humanities and social sciences would increase and the costs of undergraduate degrees in mathematics and sciences has decreased. This is based on three unquestioned assumptions and values. First, university is a job-training program. Second, all these extra mathematics and science graduates will get employment in the area that they study.  Third, there is no need to address the massive other problems that Australian universities are facing, further accentuated by covid-19. The central purpose of a university education is to learn to think. Why study the classics? Recently, I read the following letter to The Economist  written by  Robert Machado , a PhD student in classics at Cambridge. As a teacher and researcher in classics, I care profoundly about the subject’s purpose ( Johnson , May 2nd) . Too many of my colleagues rely on the guff that

Reflecting on macroscopic quantum effects in condensed matter I have come to the view that Brian Josephson is a key figure. But, the observation of magnetic flux quantisation in superconducting cylinders is also a landmark. The significance of Josephson is nicely laid out in a fascinating article published by in Physics Today in 2001 by Donald G. McDonald The Nobel Laureate Versus the Graduate Student  John Bardeen, the leading condensed matter theorist of his day, was quite wrong when he dismissed a startling prediction by the unknown Brian Josephson.  The article nicely lays out several important precursors to Josephson's work that all occurred after BCS theory in 1957. 1. The experimental (unanticipated) discovery by Ivar Giaever in 1960 of single-particle tunneling in SIS junctions [superconductor-insulator-superconductor sandwiches]. I-V curves clearly showed the structure of the BCS energy gap. [Aside. This discovery was also laid the foundation for John Rowell's tunne

For  Condensed Matter Physics: A Very Short Introduction,  I have started writing a chapter on "Quantum matter". It is a challenge to decide what to include, particularly given how the content needs to be accessible to a general audience. The question, " What is quantum matter ?" is an interesting one. Currently, I have decided to focus on how superconductors and superfluids can exhibit macroscopic quantum effects. More on that later.  In the process, I was reminded of the last lecture in the celebrated Feynman Lectures on Physics . These are now available online, including photos. The Schrödinger Equation in a Classical Context: A Seminar on Superconductivity Here is Feynman's introduction to the lecture, given on June 4, 1964. This was the last lecture in a two-year ``introductory" physics course for Caltech undergraduates. This lecture is only for entertainment. I would like to give the lecture in a somewhat different style—just to see how it work

Covid-19 and the associated fallout marches on. Increasing attention is being given to the impact of social isolation (sheltering in place) on mental health.  Finally, it caught up with me. This is in spite of my personal situation and that in Australia being relatively easy. Almost immediately when I moved my office to home I started having significant neck and back problems. I made six trips to the physiotherapist over the course of four weeks, carefully monitored my posture, did exercises, and limited my sitting time. I got better. But, I know wonder how much was psychosomatic. I pretty quickly got zoom fatigue. Then a few weeks ago I started to see other mental health warning signs, particularly being easily overstimulated and anxious. I was disappointed because I thought I was managing it relatively well.  So I bit the bullet. I took 9 days off work and never looked at email. Social distancing requirements are now relaxing in Australia and we are now allowed in-state travel. My wi