Science and Technology of Spin-Charge Coupling in Materials

The field of multiferroic and magnetoelectrics represents the frontier of our understanding of multifunctional materials and contains some of the deepest open scientific issues within the broad area of quantum phenomena of matter. It is a rapidly progressing area due to a combination of new experimental advances driven by improvements in materials synthesis, growth of epitaxial thin films, and characterization tools such as scanning magnetoelectric microscopy. Theoretical understanding is in a similar stage of expansion benefiting from the convergence of condensed matter theory, quantum magnetism, improvements in computational methods, and atomic physics techniques. Finally, multiferroic and magnetoelectric materials have enormous potential for revolutionary applications in future energy technologies.

The Gordon Conference will bring together experts and interested junior colleagues and students together to work on the key current and future problems in this field. The Gordon conference format allows uniquely informal and extended interactions and is especially exciting because of the emphasis on presenting unpublished data. The organizers are particularly encouraging participation of the junior attendees, both in the open sessions and in the presentations and discussions at poster sessions. We will particularly focus on participation by members of underrepresented groups. To stimulate interactions and discussions that go beyond the focus of the speakers, the chairpersons will be strongly encouraged to provide thematic overview of each issue and to guide discussions towards conclusions that will help advance the field.

The unique Gordon conference format provides exposure and interaction for junior scientists that are of inestimable value in our national competitiveness in this important scientific area. The education and research of participation scientists at all levels will be stimulated by this meeting. The success of the Gordon Conferences in this regard is a historical fact.