ICAM Theme
Professor Lev P. Gorkov
Florida State University
NHMFL
1800 East Paul Dirac Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4005
(904) 644-4187
(904) 644-5038 FAX
On the scientific part:
It seems to me that non-linear LATTICE effects (both, dynamic and static), such as taking part in mamganites, semiconductors, and, possible, in high Tc cuprates, which are usually classified as belonging to the "hard" condensed matter, may have some features in common with the chemical reactions in the presence of a viscous environment, or, more generally, in the presence of a surrounding dissipative media. A way to unite them together is to realize that sometimes the description starts on an atomic or clusters level which then interact softly through and (dissipate due) to underlying lattice. Physical examples are polarons, the Jahn-Teller local distortions, excitations and defects produced by intense laser (or other) sources.
The other topic--percolation studies. It used to be a very popular stuff, polymers included. Currently this physics shows up again in materials like manganites. The sońcalled bad metals may be another realization of such a conductivity mechanism.
It seems to me that these subjects can serve, at least at the beginning, as a link connecting people from different disciplines, to have one or two educational workshops.
Educational component of the project. This excites me most.
Young people have to interact with ICAM on a scale of at least two-three years if we wish to make an impact on their education and approach to physics. I also believe that somehow ICAM should make clear that it would hire a few among the young participants in the educational program, if they work hard, show a real interest in doing science (not only money), or excel otherwise.
I think that many now share a view that, say, physics became terribly polluted by hasty publications, nonsensical results, computer calculations without any thinking etc. Same is true, beyond doubts, in the experimental areas. An attempt to improve the situation may become a difficult but challenging and very noble goal for an institution like ICAM..
ICAM can solicit reviews and text books of high standards, which would not only teach and summarize the state-of-art, but criticize some statements and wrong experimental results: nothing teaches better than pointing out on a mistake in this or that paper.
ICAM can compile a "golden list" of original papers to be read by its students, and many other things along this direction, such as discussing these papers in details on student`s seminars.
I fully understand how difficult it is to do in the American environment, but I know from my own old experience that any such efforts may work only if the senior participants take a team approach: all projects or suggestions must be agreed upon and approved by some institutional body.