Emergent Phenomena Under Pressure: Toward Hot Superconductivity

Russell J. Hemley

Director, Chicago/DOE Alliance Center

Distinguished Chair in the Natural Sciences

University of Illinois Chicago, USA

rhemley@uic.edu

Emergent quantum phenomena arise from the collective many-body interactions of electrons and nuclei in high-pressure conditions. Among the most profound are potentially new states of electron order and enhanced coupling of electrons and nuclei, leading to unprecedented superconductivity in the vicinity of room temperature. First envisioned for the ‘simple’ many-body system of protons and electrons, the unveiling of this remarkable superconductivity is now well established experimentally at ever-increasing temperatures in a growing variety of chemical environments under pressure. Made possible by important advances in experimental techniques, these developments are leading to the prospects of ‘hot’ superconductivity at ambient conditions, inspiring prospects for both quantum energy technologies of the future as well as for the discovery of still new physical phenomena under pressure.