Excitonic and Photonic Processes in Condensed Matter and Nano Materials

Abstract

AbstractThis issue contains a collection of papers presented at the 11th International Conference on Excitonic and Photonic Processes in Condensed Matter and Nano Materials (EXCON'15) which was held in Montreal, Canada on 18–22 May 2015. Prof. Jai Singh initiated this conference series in 1994. The venue has wandered around the world, appropriately starting in Darwin (Australia). We were delighted to see the momentum prevailing for the 11th time in Canada, where there is vigorous activity in condensed‐matter physics, nanoscience, and photonics.The EXCON series of conferences focuses on multidisciplinary activities related to exciton physics, providing a forum for research communication amongst condensed‐matter physicists, physical chemists, biophysicists, and materials scientists. EXCON'15 hosted exciting discussions within the following topics:– Molecular crystals, aggregates, and polymers– Inorganic materials, organic/inorganic hybrids– Quantum wells, wires, and dots– Biological systems– Opto‐electronic devices; light‐emitting diodes and solar cells– Nonlinear phenomena, biexcitons, and multi‐excitons– Exciton–exciton interactions and Bose–Einstein condensation– Ultrafast dynamics of excitons; relaxation, energy transport, charge transfer– Strong exciton–light interaction; polaritons– Strong exciton–lattice interactions; photo‐induced phase transitions– New experimental techniques applied to studies of excitons– New theoretical and computational techniques applied to excitonic systemsTo underline the international nature of research on excitonic processes and to reflect the diversity of this community, the conference venue has rotated between Australia, Europe, North America, and Japan. EXCON conferences have been held in Darwin (Australia, 1994), Kurort Gohrisch (Germany, 1996), Boston (USA, 1998), Osaka (Japan, 2000), Darwin again (2002), Cracow (Poland, 2004), Winston‐Salem (USA, 2006), Kyoto (Japan, 2008), Groningen (Netherlands, 2012). The 2015 edition was held in the campus of Polytechnique Montréal. The logo of the conference incorporates an iconic symbol of Montreal – the Olympic stadium, whose dome is a valence band associated with an excitonic system.The EXCON'15 conference was attended by 110 participants including 16 Invited Speakers, amongst whom 7 were female. In 2015, EXCON had a particularly privileged role in joining the world in celebrating the International Year of Light, with special invited speakers as an addition to the pool of the regular program.It is a pleasure to announce that the next conference of the EXCON series will be held in 2018 in Japan, which hosts key players in fields associated with excitonic processes in condensed matter. We believe that we represent the community when we express that we are looking very much forward to the 2018 meeting. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)