| Summary: | Current major topics in condensed matter physics mostly focus on the investigation of materials having exotic quantum phases. For instance, Z2 topological insulators have novel quantum states, which are distinct from ordinary band insulators. Recent developments show that these nontrivial topological phases may provide a platform for creating new types of quasiparticles in real materials, such as Majorana fermions. In correlated systems, high-Tc superconducting cuprates are
complicated due to the richness of their phase diagram. Surprisingly, the discovery of iron pnictides demonstrates that high-Tc superconductivity related phenomena are not unique to copper oxide compounds. Many people believe that the better the understanding of the electronic structure of cuprates and iron pnictides, the higher chances to unveil the high temperature superconductivity mystery. Despite the fact that silicon is a fundamental element in modern semiconductor electronics
technology, the chemical bonding properties of liquid silicon phase still remain a puzzle.
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