title: Essay: fifty years of condensed matter physics.
abstract: Since the birth of Physical Review Letters fifty years ago, condensed matter physics has seen considerable growth, and both the journal and the field have flourished during this period. In this essay, I begin with some general comments about condensed matter physics and then give some personal views on the conceptual development of the field and list some highlights. The focus is mostly on theoretical developments.
authors.forename: Marvin L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cohen