High Temperature Superconductivity in the Cuprates

Understand

The discovery of high temperature superconductivity in the cuprates in 1986 triggered a spectacular outpouring of creative and innovative scientific inquiry.

• Much has been learned over the ensuing 28 years about the novel forms of quantum matter that are exhibited in this strongly correlated electron system.
• This progress has been made possible by improvements in sample quality, coupled with the development and refinement of advanced experimental techniques.
• In part, avenues of inquiry have been motivated by theoretical developments, and in part new theoretical frameworks have been conceived to account for unanticipated experimental observations.