Solid-state physics.

Solid state physics is a branch of the scientific study of the microscopic and macroscopic properties of things that take a solid form (that is, are not gases or liquids). Sometimes referred to as condensed matter physics, this field of science is particularly interested in the new properties that form when many small atoms are placed close together to form a larger solid object. It is a field of study with great importance in the development of many forms of modern technology. It also has applications in several other scientific fields, including chemistry, engineering, biology, medicine, and crossover fields such as bioengineering and biochemistry. Research efforts in solid state physics have led to such technological breakthroughs as the semiconductors that are an integral part of many modern electronic devices and many developments that have earned researchers Nobel Prizes in physics.