Quantum matter refers to a piece of rusted iron, a grain of sand or a drop of water etc. By thinking deeply about these earthly materials and combining valuable clues from experimental results, P.W. Anderson, a theoretical physicist and a quantum mechanic par excellence helped discover some secrets of nature: origin of mass of elementary particles (electron etc.), glitches in pulsar periods, magnetism, superconductivity, science of complexity etc. His works exemplified hierarchical nature of science rather deeply. I will weave a story and share some personal anecdotal experiences with this remarkable and humane Nobel Laureate.
Picture credit- Cartoon of PW Anderson drawn by a friend of his on the occasion of Anderson's 60th birthday and given by Anderson to Baskaran
