University of Washington

Title: History of the search for a theory of melting: Insight, interfaces
and dimensionality.

Abstract: The struggle to understand the fundamental mechanism of melting has challenged science for over a century. The research has contributed to the development of quantum mechanics, concepts of the role of dimensionality in condensed matter, surface physics, and experimental techniques to test the theories. During most of the history, scientists were looking deeply into the heart of the matter but the answer was lying on the surface.