News

+++ The Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence is officially heading into its second funding period starting in 2026, as just announced by the German Research Foundation (DFG). +++ Our groundbreaking research into topological quantum materials will continue – now with an exciting new focus on dynamics. To reflect this expanded scope, the cluster will relaunch under a new name in the upcoming funding phase: ctd.qmat. +++

Topological quantum materials are hailed as a cornerstone of future technological advancements. Yet, validating their exceptional qualities has always been a lengthy business. However, researchers at the Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat have now developed an experimental technique that systematically identifies two-dimensional topological materials through a rapid test.

Dive into the world of quantum physics with Kitty Q, the cute, half-dead cat who adores cold chips and quantum puzzles. This freaky feline is the main character and namesake of the first quantum physics-themed escape room in Germany for youngsters, currently being set up at the Dresden Museum of Science and Technology in partnership with the Dresden-Würzburg Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat. Join us for an exclusive sneak peek at the SPIN2030 Science Festival in Dresden on March 8 and 9, 2024, and be among the first to try out the cold chips puzzle table from the quantum kitchen.

In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat have engineered a protective film that shields quantum semiconductor layers just one atom thick from environmental influences without compromising their revolutionary quantum properties. This puts the application of these delicate atomic layers in ultrathin electronic components within realistic reach. The findings have just been published in Nature Communications.

Dresden physicists discover the source of unique surface superconductivity, published in the journal Nature.

A significant breakthrough has been achieved by quantum physicists from Dresden and Würzburg. They’ve created a semiconductor device where exceptional robustness and sensitivity are ensured by a quantum phenomenon. This topological skin effect shields the functionality of the device from external perturbations, allowing for measurements of unprecedented precision. Published in Nature Physics.

Elena Hassinger, a renowned low-temperature physicist, has been awarded €2.7 million in funding by the European Research Council. This ERC Consolidator Grant will support her pioneering work on unconventional superconductors, which could lead to a breakthrough in topological quantum computing.