Electron-lattice coupling in the cuprates

This article summarizes the principal points of discussions at the Erice workshop on the relevance of electron-lattice coupling to high temperature superconductivity. While the majority in the field still believes that the phonons and lattice are irrelevant to the superconductivity in the cuprates, such a view is strongly challenged by recent experimental results, particularly in conjunction with the increasing evidence of intrinsic electronic inhomogeneity. It is likely that phonons are a vital component of the phenomenon through the unconventional electron-phonon coupling.