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There is considerable interest in the intrinsically multiscale structure and dynamics of complex electronic oxides, especially since these materials include those of technological importance, such as colossal magnetoresistance manganites and cuprate high temperature superconductors. Current microscopies, such as diffuse X-ray and inelastic neutron scattering, electromagnetic and acoustic response, NMR and scanning tunneling microscope probes, have revealed static and dynamic multiscale patterns in charge positioning, lattice structure and magnetic orientation, that respond to both external stress and magnetic field. These self-organized patterns include charge and orbital ordering; stripes in strain/spin; and labyrinth-like conductance modulations. The materials exhibit nanoscale phase segregation and mesoscale inhomogeneous clustering, and their phase transitions can have a percolative character.This volume presents experimental and theoretical work on these exciting new developments in condensed matter physics and materials science.

Rarely do so many leading physicists attend one symposium. No less than nine Nobel laureates and some 40 other top researchers gathered for this symposium and this book contains the material presented in invited talks as well as the posters. The 34 papers are organised into three groups corresponding to various aspects of low dimensional physics of solids.

These proceedings include 76 papers on vortex structure and dynamics, flux pinning, flux creep and melting, critical state phenomena, weak links as well as technical problems for fabrication of materials with high critical current density, for both high-temperature and low-temperature superconductors.

The main objective of this workshop was to review and discuss the electronic and chemical properties of layered cuprate superconductors. These are doped antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulators, and there is the possibility of a dynamic phase separation into metallic clusters and AFM areas. A clarification on the existence and the mechanism of such a phase separation is believed to be crucial for the understanding of high-Tc superconductivity in cuprates.On the one hand, theoretical and recent experimental indications in favor of this possibility were presented, on the other hand experimental papers expressing more skeptical views were also delivered. Related work on phase separations of chemical and structural origin was also included, followed by contributions on the question; “If phase separation is present, what is the pairing mechanism in the metallic clusters?”.