A perspective of recent developments in high pressure physics with a focus on the advancement of synchrotron radiation based techniques will be presented. The application of First-Principles electronic structure theory in the prediction of crystal structures, lattice dynamics and electron-phonon coupling will be highlighted. Topics to be discussed include observation and elucidation of novel electronic and crystal structures of high pressure phases of simple elements, their unusual transport properties and the recent prediction of superconducting phases with very high critical temperature in main group metal hydride alloys.
University of Saskatchewan, Canada