Abstract. In recent years, there has been a tremendous expansion of themes associated with nonlinear science and complexity. A wide range of emerging paradigms and themes are becoming relevant and there is a growing need for cross-pollination and interaction across traditional disciplinary boundaries to address the challenges ahead. As some of the emerging topics, we note the proposal of PT-symmetric media in quantum mechanics with applications in optics, as well as in electronic and mechanical systems; the growing interest in (linear and nonlinear) Dirac systems and their mathematical and physical properties due to applications in graphene, in photorefractive optical media or in spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensates in atomic physics; the examination of open systems and the realm of polariton condensates which sustain gain and loss in semiconductor microcavities; the exploration of Skyrmions which are twisted topological excitations arising in magnetic and Superconducting systems, as well as in nematic liquid crystals; and finally the emergence of nonlinear metamaterials, namely artificial structures featuring negative refractive index at specific frequency bands which have been implemented and used in a plethora of applications including switches, couplers, antennas, super-lenses and electromagnetic cloaking.
The purpose of this workshop is to bring together leaders from each of these diverse fields in a unique meeting that will enable cross-fertilization, beneficial interactions and collaborations across and beyond these fields. In addition to the state-of-the-art research opportunities and perspectives, it will provide an excellent source of exposure to the students and researchers of the Santa Fe Institute and at Los Alamos National Lab to some of the most groundbreaking research conducted within the US and across the world today on these important and emerging themes.