Teaching

Physics 135: Introduction to Condensed Matter

Caltech physics league

Physics 1a: Section 2
Physics 2a: Waves and quantum mechanics
Physics 127a: Statistical MechanicsPhysics 12b: Introduction to quantum-mechanics
Physics 127b: Phase transitions and critical phenomena
Physics 127c: Advanced statistical mechanics
Physics 129 (1st half): Mathematical methods for physicists
Physics 223c (2nd half): localization in disordered quantum systems

Talks

Powerpoint PDF and images go here.

Public Lectures

Real-Space Renormalization grouop of disordered quantum systems
- http://boulderschool.yale.edu/2013/boulder-school-2013-lecture-notes
Introduction to Majorana Fermions
- http://www.asc.physik.lmu.de/activities/schools/asc_school_15/videos_topmat/videos_refael/index.html
Cool video on Majoranas
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKFecm9NKbM

Two Views of the Eclipse
I am sure many of us are thinking about the eclipse. It all starts with how far are we going to drive in order to see totality. My family and I are currently in Colorado, so we are relatively close … Continue reading →
Entropy Avengers
As you already know if you read my rare (but highly refined!) blog samples, I have spent a big chunk of my professorial career teaching statistical mechanics. And if you teach statistical mechanics, there is pretty much one thing you … Continue reading →
Modern Physics Education?
Being the physics department executive officer (on top of being a quantum physicist) makes me think a lot about our physics college program. It is exciting. We start with mechanics, and then go to electromagnetism (E&M) and relativity, then to … Continue reading →
The physics of Trump?? Election renormalization.
Two things were high in my mind this last quarter: My course on advanced statistical mechanics and phase transitions, and the bizarre general elections that raged all around. It is no wonder then, that I would start to conflate the … Continue reading →
Quantum mechanics – it’s all in our mind!
Last week was the final week of classes, and I brought my ph12b class, aka baby-quantum, to conclusion. Just like the last time I taught the class, I concluded with what should make the students honor the quantum gods – … Continue reading →
The Eiger et al.
When I was a graduate student, on my second year I was put in an office that was shared with two postdocs – Arne Brataas and Stefan Kehrein. It made me really feel like I was being initiated into this … Continue reading →

Gil Refael

Professor of Theoretical Physics, Condensed Matter Theory

Teaching

Teaching

Talks

Public Lectures