Physics Club: George Bertsch, Institute for Nuclear Theory, University of Washington, “The quantum many-body problem: the view from nuclear theory”

The quantum many-body problem is central to many fields of physics. The methods employed are often similar, and this has sometimes been helped by cross-fertilization between fields. I will review some of the most successful theoretical tools from my perspective as a nuclear theorist. The topics include mean-field theory, symmetry-breaking, dynamics, and the quest for better wave functions.