Emergent properties of theoretical physics found in purified molecules in a crystal structure?
As I’m going through a textbook series on “Surface and Interface Science”, I’m struck at the vast differences in how properties, both quantum and classical, are treated vs how I would normally see them in theoretical physics. As this is in the category of Solid State Physics, which is more in the realm of Engineering / Materials Sciences – its focus is going to be more pragmatic than Theoretical Physics.
In this text, the particular elements and molecules being discussed are important: it’s rarely generalized to just electrons, etc, but almost always in terms of the crystal structures, whether it’s elemental crystals or more complex molecules — at this level, they’re treated the same.
It’s “Just barely” zoomed out from the subatomic world. It’s only the tiniest bit further away really – and there is plenty of overlap at the same ‘zoom’. Many of the same equations show up. Many of the same famous names as I’d find in theoretical physics – but here’s theoretical and practical chemistry really, although not only chemistry so much as what it says: surface sciences.