gonadas91 said:Hi everyone, I am about to finish my PhD and need to start thinking about trying to move somewhere else. One line of research that caughts my attention is that of the cuprates, and the study of their phase diagram. I would like to know if someone can suggest a very recent book or review article where all aspects of the theory of these compounds till date are collected, thanks!
gonadas91 said:Hi, thank you all for the replies, I am sorry I didnt find time to reply sooner. As someone has pointed out above, it would have been useful to say my background and explain a bit more my situation. I am towards the end of my PhD and yes, I am starting to look for postdocs. My field of research is theoretical condensed matter physics, in particular strongly correlated electrons. However, I have reached a point where I have the feeling that my supervisor is not that motivated with the project anymore, and few new things are coming out from it. The situation is quite delicate, since finding a postdoc is not an easy task I would say, moreover when after 2 years of PhD I still have no publications (I have written a draft we plan to publish,but it has been months since then). The post was just to know what is the current research activity of this part of the field, but that doesn't mean that necessarily it is the only option I manage. I believe the knowledge after doing a PhD is very limited, so switching to another branch of the field (or even to another field) is something you can't just ignore.
gonadas91 said:Thanks for the advice, firstly I have to say that the lack of publications can depend on too many factors, being the most relevant your supervisor. Publishing too many papers doesn't necessariy mean that your research is of better quality of someone that, let's say, has published only one. I know it is important to get a position as postdoc to have something published, moreover in a very competitive field like condensed matter theory.
About switching fields, is not that I am considering switching, mostly everything related to theoretical physics or mathematical modelling is of interest to me (that doesn't mean I know about everything, understand what I say). I easily get motivated with a project that requires some intellectual effort and analytic habilities within a mathematical base, in my opinion that is what science should be about: if your research is good enough, results will come out by themselves, and we shouldn't forget about luck, playing also an important role (i.e if you are about to publish something and someone else's suddenly publishes a very similar paper, that has happened to me during my PhD).
radium said:I would take definitely Anderson's paper with a grain of salt. I hear he is a very opinionated person and seems to be pretty dismissive of a lot of work done by very really reputable people in the field.
High temperature superconductors, also known as cuprates, are materials that exhibit superconductivity at temperatures much higher than traditional superconductors. Traditional superconductors require extremely low temperatures, close to absolute zero, to achieve superconductivity. Cuprates, on the other hand, can achieve superconductivity at temperatures above -135°C (-211°F).
HTS cuprates work by allowing electrons to flow through the material with zero resistance at high temperatures. This means that they can conduct electricity with 100% efficiency, which has numerous practical applications such as efficient power transmission and magnetic levitation. They are also important because they offer a potential solution for the global energy crisis by reducing energy loss in power transmission and storage.
The major challenges in studying and working with HTS cuprates include understanding the complex physics behind their superconductivity, controlling the properties of the materials, and developing manufacturing techniques that can produce them in large quantities and at lower costs. Additionally, the high temperatures required for their superconductivity make it difficult to maintain their properties and prevent them from degrading.
HTS cuprates have potential applications in various industries such as energy, transportation, and medicine. In the energy sector, they can be used for efficient power transmission, energy storage, and renewable energy technologies. In transportation, they can be used for magnetic levitation in high-speed trains and frictionless bearings in vehicles. In medicine, they can be used for advanced imaging techniques and in the development of MRI machines.
The field of HTS cuprates is still actively being researched and developed. Scientists are working to understand the fundamental physics behind their superconductivity, improve their properties, and develop new manufacturing techniques. In recent years, there have been significant advancements in the understanding of cuprate superconductivity, but there is still much to learn and many challenges to overcome before they can be widely used in practical applications.