Topological Phenomena in Quantum Dynamics and Disordered Systems (13w5158)
Organizers
Marcel Franz (University of British Columbia)
Netanel Lindner (California Institute of Technology)
Gil Refael (California Institute of Technology)
Description
The Banff International Research Station will host the "Topological Phenomena in Quantum Dynamics and Disordered Systems" workshop from February 3rd to February 8th, 2013.
Recent theoretical and experimental discoveries have unveiled a
tantalizing mathematical structure dividing insulators and
superconductors into many distinct phases of matter. Different
classes of topological insulators and superconductors display
novel physical phenomena, the most striking of which are unique
modes existing at the boundaries of these systems. Dynamics and
non equilibrium conditions, such as those achieved under
irradiation by electromagnetic fields, provide a rich and
versatile resource for controlling topological phenomena. A
complementary approach for a manifestation of a topological phase
in otherwise ``trivial'' media proceeds by considering disordered
systems. Participants of this workshop will address key
theoretical issues related to topological phenomena in these
systems, ranging from mathematical methods, theoretical physical
models, and possible future applications.
The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).
