High pressure has been proved to be an outstanding external parameter to stabilize and promote phase transformations, and to reach states of matter that cannot be accessed otherwise. This is because pressure modifies the inter-atomic distances and interactions to a much larger extent than any other parameter, such as, e.g., temperature, epitaxial strain, or magnetic field.

Thanks to the effort put into building dedicated research infrastructures for high pressure studies in several large facilities over the world, the scientific impact of high pressure states of matter has hugely increased in many fields of condensed matter physics, but also in chemistry, material science and geology. This effort has been driven by a large number of spectacular discoveries. Among these are the metallization of hydrogen, quantum criticality, high Tc superconductors, polymorphism, hidden magnetic phases and exotic metals. Particularly noticeable are the pressure-induced phase transitions in both molecular and ionic compounds, and high-pressure chemical reactions assisted by photochemistry and electrochemistry.

The information obtained from high-pressure studies has been of great value for understanding the physical property changes observed in epitaxial low-dimensional systems, opening new opportunities for technology.

The purpose of this mini-colloquium is to present and discuss the emerging theoretical, numerical, and experimental results, share ideas and current knowledge, and expand the scope of future research towards advanced technologies based on high pressure research. The mini-colloquium will address:

1. New trends on high-pressure technology
2. High-pressure induced phase transitions and hidden phases
3. Dynamics under high pressure
4. Experimental challenges and new trends on high-pressure technology
5. Theory and simulation

The proposed mini-colloquium aims to encourage the participation of well-known high-level scientists, who will be invited to present talks on their own theme of research within this topic. The sessions are open to all researchers; abstract submissions are solicited from all that have carried out work on this field, and in particular, from young scientists. This mini-colloquium also aims at providing open discussions, and strengthening future scientific collaborations among its participants.

References

[1] Baroni S ; Gironcli S ; Dal Corso A ; Giannozzi P ; Phonons and related crystal properties from density funtional theory, Reviews of Modern Physics, 73, 515-562 (2001).

[2] Togo A ; Oba F ; Tanaka I ; First-principles calculations of the ferroelastic transition between rutile-type and CaCl2-typa SiO2 at high pressures. Phys. Rev. B 78, 134106 (2008)

[3] MujicaA ; Rubio A ; Munoz A ; Needs R J ; High-pressure phases of group-IV, III-V, and II-VI compounds, Review of Moderm Physics, 75, 863-912 (2003).

[4] Dozdov AP ; Eremest MI ; Troyan IA ; Ksenofontov V ; Sylin SI ; Conventional superconductivity at 203 kelvin at high pressures in the sulfur hydride system, Nature, 525, 73 (2015)