WFU Physics Colloquium

TITLE: Berry Phase Effects on Electronic Properties

SPEAKER: Professor Qian Niu ,

TIME: Thursday Apr. 2, 2009 at 4:00 PM

PLACE: Room 101 in Olin Physical Laboratory

Ever since its discovery, the Berry phase has permeated through all branches of physics. Over the last three decades, it was gradually realized that the Berry phase of the electronic wave function can have a profound effect on material properties and is responsible for a spectrum of phenomena, such as ferroelectricity, orbital magnetism, various (quantum/anomalous/spin) Hall effects, and quantum charge pumping. This progress is summarized in a pedagogical manner in this talk. It will be clear that the Berry phase should be added as an essential ingredient to our understanding of basic material properties.