January, 27, 28, and 29, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Maryland

The model of non-interacting electrons is well established throughout many areas of solid-state physics. However there are material systems whose properties emerge from strong interactions. Such strongly correlated systems host a tremendous variety of fascinating macroscopic phenomena including high-temperature superconductivity, metal-insulator transitions, fractionalized topological phases, and strange metal phases. Despite many years of intensive work, the essential physics of many of these systems is still not understood, and we do not have a unified perspective on strong electron correlations. Notably, our predictive power in the area of strongly correlated systems is almost completely lacking. At the same time, through the problem of strong correlations condensed matter physics is central to a broader range of scientific disciplines, such as atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics, or chemistry, where correlated systems and many-body effects are of significant importance. The universality and relevance of this complex problem contrasts with limited progress in spite of decades of intensive research. Is a unified perspective even possible? Or is the Anna Karenina Principle in effect? e.g. all non-interacting systems are alike; each strongly correlated system is strongly correlated in its own way.

In thinking about the future of the correlated electron problem, myriad questions abound. Is a general framework to understand strong electronic correlations possible? Are numerical approaches essential? Can we make predictions? What new experiments can we design that give essential insight to heretofore unrecognized correlations? Is “hidden order” ubiquitous? Can we hope to understand such systems in the same way we can say we understand conventional superconductors? What would a “solution” to the “problem” even look like? What is the future of correlated electrons? In searching for “the future” should we come back to the possible avenues not fully explored in the past, or invest in completely new directions, or do both?
This workshop “The Future of the Correlated Electron Problem” will mix — in a unique format — early career researchers and a number of distinguished senior scientists with the aim of making progress on the correlated electron problem. It will be a 3 day workshop held at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland on January 27, 28, and 29th, 2020. The format of this unique workshop is as follows:
On Day 1, six senior scientists with broad perspectives on the correlated electron physics will give a series of lectures to approximately 45 early career scientists. These senior scientists will present what they consider to be the important aspects of the correlated electron problem and what they consider to be possible ways forward. On the morning of Day 2, the senior people will depart. Then during the day of Day 2 the early career scientists will have a number of roundtable discussions, working groups, and brainstorming sessions on this physics and clarifying their thoughts on how to make progress. These thoughts will have been informed by the lectures of Day 1. On Day 3 the early career scientists will write up these thoughts. Then the goal will be to collate these thoughts in an organized fashion and publish them as an actual scientific manuscript entitled “The Future of the Correlated Electron Problem”. The paper will be coauthored by all attendees of the workshop.
We welcome early career scientists to apply to attend what is sure to be a unique and interesting workshop. We have a limited number of slots and so preference will be given to applicants who are working in the area of strongly correlated electrons. We enthusiastically welcome applications from the entire community of scientists working in the correlated electron area, but additional preference for admission will be given to scientists at the advanced graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, and assistant professor levels.
Scheduled Lecturers:
- Tony Leggett (Illinois)
- Aharon Kapitulnik (Stanford)
- Brian Maple (UCSD)
- Michael Norman (Argonne)
- Peter Riseborough (Temple)
- George Sawatsky (University of British Columbia)
Principal Organizer: Peter Armitage (Johns Hopkins)
Lectures and sessions will take place in The Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Maryland
Registration is free to all attendees. We expect to be able to cover travel and accommodations for all registered participants.
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Apply to attend – deadline for application is Friday Oct. 25th, 2019
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Registration
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Accommodations
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Schedule
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Advanced reading material