The AdS/CFT correspondence of string theory offers the hope of direct, mathematically precise and systematically correctable study of strongly coupled quantum systems. Progress toward this goal will be described in the context of a simple example: the probe D-brane dual of a class of relativistic field theories which resemble the description of graphene by relativistic fermions. A hypothesis that graphene can be such a strongly correlated quantum fluid and at the same time exhibit behaviours which are well modeled by non-interacting relativistic fermions will be discussed as well as some interesting new phases of matter which are suggested by the D-brane construction.
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