3He is the light isotope of helium. At low pressure helium remains liquid down to absolute zero. At around one millikelvin the 3He atoms form Cooper pairs and become superfluid (in analogy with the formation of electron Cooper pairs in a superconductor). In a superconductor, however, the electrons are trapped in a lattice, whereas in superfluid 3He at very low temperatures the Cooper pair condensate comprises the whole system. Thus we can describe the whole material with a single wavefunction. This is the simplest system for which we have “the theory of everything” and provides an ideal model (playground) for simulating other physics from cosmology, turbulence, magnetism and many more. Professor George Pickett is a leader in the field of low temperature physics. In recognition of his achievements he was awarded the Simon Prize. He is Fellow of the Royal Society.

Program of Lectures