“More is different” – Fascinating phenomena of many-particle systems

Although we have a good understanding of a single atom (see the periodic table of elements) and of the fundamental interactions between the atoms (such as gravitational and electromagnetic interactions), our knowledge of the collective behaviours of interacting many atoms (e.g. of the order of 10²³ in a solid-state material) is far from comprehensive. In this talk I will presen a collection of fascinating phenomena (e.g. superconductivity, quantum magnetism, etc) which emerge as a characteristic feature of the many-particle systems, and introduce the studies of these phenomena as the frontiers of the contemporary solidstate research. In particular, I will discuss their unique responses to an external stimulus, light.