Ciro Santilli @cirosantilli 37

Condensed matter physics is one of the best examples of emergence. We start with a bunch of small elements which we understand fully at the required level (atoms, electrons, quantum mechanics) but then there are complex properties that show up when we put a bunch of them together.

Includes fun things like:

As of 2020, this is the other "fundamental branch of physics" besides to particle physics/nuclear physics.

Condensed matter is basically chemistry but without reactions: you study a fixed state of matter, not a reaction in which compositions change with time.

Just like in chemistry, you end up getting some very well defined substance properties due to the incredibly large number of atoms.

Just like chemistry, the ultimate goal is to do de-novo computational chemistry to predict those properties.

And just like chemistry, what we can actually is actually very limited in part due to the exponential nature of quantum mechanics.

Also since chemistry involves reactions, chemistry puts a huge focus on liquids and solutions, which is the simplest state of matter to do reactions in.

Condensed matter however can put a lot more emphasis on solids than chemistry, notably because solids are what we generally want in end products, no one likes stuff leaking right?

But it also studies liquids, e.g. notably superfluidity.

One thing condensed matter is particularly obsessed with is the fascinating phenomena of phase transition.

These are basically technically minded people that Ciro Santilli feels have similar interests/psychology to him, and who write too much for their own good:

Maybe one day these will also be legendary, who knows:

Another category Ciro admires are the "computational physics visualization" people, these people will go to Heaven:

Related:

Institution led:

Other mentions:

The markup language of OurBigBook.com.

Also used on Ciro Santilli's website as a static website via the OurBigBook CLI.

The one markup language to rule them all?

Documentation at: docs.ourbigbook.com.

2021-01-28: used this show for the first time after wearing dhb Dorica MTB Shoe (2020-12) exclusively for a while. It felt much much more comfortable, the Dorica is too narrow. Also this one is much more recessed, and walking with it is much easier. Also, I notice that the intentional asymmetry I had put on cleats is not necessary anymore now that my saddle height is not way too high

At 5C feet are too cold. Compatible overshoes are basically impossible to find: bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/73589/what-kind-of-overshoes-can-i-use-with-a-large-touring-spd-cycling-shoe-such-as-t

It is not possible to do long walks with this, unlike some websites suggests, especially on hard surfaces like rock, that would be very dangerous because the cleat area will slip. But it is good for shorter walks on grass/mud, and that does open up some good short walk exploration possibilities compared to a road shoe.

Color "Black/Red 20" (but it's actually orange), size 46 www.wiggle.co.uk/giro-rumble-vr-off-road-shoe (archive). Manual says to use Loctite 243 medium strength, first 2.4 Nm bolt torque to test it out and find good position, and then final bolt torque 5-6 Nm unless cleat says less. Starting with Shimano SM-SH56 cleats (archive), which also says provisional torque 2.5 Nm, tightening torque 5-6 Nm.

As if Chinese character weren't evil enough, their fast hand written form is even more unintelligible. It is like Hell within Hell.

It is also very beautiful it must be said.

The science that studies cell.

Mnemonic: sur means over. So we are going over the codomain, and covering it entirely.