Physics Colloquium - Paul Canfield 10/1/2025

Title: “Negotiations with Nature — What happens when a Physicist tries to be a Chemist.”

Abstract: Over the past 30 plus years my group has made over 10,000 solution growth attempts to grow or explore 1,000’s of different compounds or phase spaces.  Over the past decade we have been developing a variety of different algorithms for identifying and accessing poorly explored spaces, partly with an eye toward discovering new phases, partly with an eye toward discovering new electrical or magnetic phase transitions and ground states.  In this talk I will try to address the basic research questions of, “where should I look for new materials or physics?” and “how can I enhance my chances of discovering X, Y, or Z (where XYZ can be your favorite state, structure or behavior)?”.  Specific examples spanning superconductors, quasicrystals, heavy fermions, fragile magnets, topological electronic systems, local moment magnets and a few lost puppies will be given and reviewed. 

The goal of this talk is to inspire and entertain, any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. This talk is based on parts of my recent review article, “New Materials Physics” as well as recent technical papers on solution growth.