This is a collection of lectures by 11 active researchers, renowned specialists in a number of modern, promising, dynamically-developing research directions in condensed matter/solid state theory. The lectures are concerned with phenomena, materials and ideas, discussing theoretical and experimental features, as well as with methods of calculation.Readers will find up-to-date presentations of the methods of carrying out efficient calculations for electronic systems and quantum spin systems, together with applications to describe phenomena and to design new materials. These applications include systems of quantum dots, quantum gates, semiconductor materials for spintronics, and the unusual characteristics of warm dense matter.

This volume contains the most important lecture notes by experts from condensed matter, particle physics and cosmology and is a MUST for young researchers and graduate students.While covering frontier developments in condensed matter physics, particle physics and cosmology, this school aims to bring out their interdisciplinary nature by emphasizing certain topics such as spontaneous symmetry breaking and renormalization group through a pedagogical set of lectures. In the condensed matter area, the school covered, in the first two weeks, experimental aspects of high temperature superconductivity and its possible applications.

This special issue of “Solid State Phenomena” documents some novel experimental and theoretical approaches applied to fascinating materials. Motivated by the increasing need to synthesize and understand the properties of technologically important materials, this issue represents an important step forward in improving our understanding of how modern materials can be optimised for technology and industry. The issue comprises 9 original review papers covering experimental approaches and theoretical modeling. The contributions will be very useful to researchers working in various areas of CMP and will contribute significantly to the understanding of rapidly developing materials with regard to their synthesis, characterization and properties.