Landau's symmetry breaking theory can be viewed as a theory of
"particle'' condensations. Therefore, string-net condensation gives rise to a
new form of matter, that cannot be described by symmetry breaking. The
collective excitations in string-net condensed phases can behave just like the
gauge bosons and fermions. This suggests that gauge interactions and
Fermi statistics may have a common origin -- string-net condensation. In
addition, the string-net picture teach us how to make artificial photons,
electrons, and quarks in condensed matter systems.
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