Title: Why has it been so difficult to arrive at a theory of high temperature superconductivity in the copper oxides

Speaker: Prof. Sumit Mazumdar, University of Arizona, Tucson

Abstract: Discovered in 1911, superconductivity has remained one of the most perplexing quantum phenomena. The mechanism of high temperature superconductivity in the cuprates is still not understood, even as it was first observed 36 years back, and even though more person hours have gone into understanding this particular phenomenon than any other in post-1960s condensed matter physics. In this talk I will argue that this is because by and large theorists have pursued research along a single track, which is now turning out to be a dead end. I will further argue that a broader vision that uses diverse concepts from physical chemistry and atomic physics is essential to reach a ``solution'' to the problem. To summarize: ``Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”